Although as we write The Prospect of Peace nothing definite has come from General Luna's request for a truce, except a voluntary temporary cessation of hostilities on the part of our forces, it is generally believed that the end of the war in Luzon is in sight. The Filipino emissaries, Colonel Arguelles and Lieutenant Bernal, asked on General Luna's behalf that a truce should continue for two or three weeks until the Filipino Congress might be assembled, and a peace be negotiated between the Congress and General Otis. This proposition was, as a matter of course, rejected by General Otis, as the attitude of the United States has throughout included a refusal to recognize the existence of a civil government among the Filipinos. It is said that the so-called Congress is already assembling, but we presume that our representatives in Luzon will deal solely with the military leaders of the insurgents. General Otis has given assurance of a general amnesty as soon as the insurgents lay down their arms. There are those who think that the proposal for a truce is merely a device to gain time for a better defense, but there is better reason to suppose that the insurgents are, as a regular military organization, nearly at the end of their resources. The tribes in the hills to the north are assuming a hostile attitude to ward Aguinaldo, and may embarrass his further retreat. Mr. Schurman, of the Mr. Schurman, of the Philippine Commission, is reported to have said, after a talk with the insurgent

officers:

I believe Colonel Arguelles is personally sincere and honest, though I have no means of ascertaining the sentiments and aims of the authorities behind him. The Filipino people, like other Asiatic peoples, have no trust in mere words, without force behind them; but, with force, I consider a conciliatory spirit of the utmost importance. I believe that, when peace has been established, governing the Fili

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plnos will not be a difficult matter, provided we show them firmness, justice, and kindliness. At the present time they distrust and dislike us; but these sentiments, which are perhaps not unnatural, will soon be dispelled by the effects of the good government we have promised to establish here. It will be the foremost duty of American officials to understand and sympathize with the Filipinos themselves. In one account of the interview between Mr. Schurman and Colonel Arguelles it is stated that the former revived the question of independence, and was referred to the statement in the Commissioners' proclamation tha. the Filipinos would obtain an increasing measure of self-government as soon as they proved themselves worthy of it. In reply to Colonel Arguelles's protest that unconditional surrender would be humiliation, Mr. Schurman replied: "There would be no humiliation in General Otis treating our brother Filipinos as General Grant treated our brother Americans at Appo

mattox."

The Advance Movement

The week's fighting, preceding this effort for peace, had been active and abounded a forward movement from Malolos last in picturesque and heroic incidents. By week the Filipino forces were again driven

northward. General MacArthur's com

mand-its two brigades being led by General Wheaton and General Hale-on Tuesday drew so close to Calumpit that, after a series of retreats and repeated skirmishes, the enemy abandoned the with Malolos. Our line was followed by town, burning part of it, as they had done an armored car which shelled the enemy's trenches from the railroad. This and the carrying of telephone communication with the advance up to the very firing-line are striking illustrations of modern military science employed in a war waged with a

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