The Katipunan Part 11

"Malolos, Jan. 9, 1899--Instructions to the Brave Soldiers of Sandtahan of Manila.

"Article 1. All Filipinos should observe our fellow-countrymen in order to see whether they are American sympathizers. They shall take care to work with them in order to inspire them with confidence of the strength of the holy cause of their country. Whenever they are a.s.sured of the loyalty of the converts they shall instruct them to continue in the character of an American sympathizer in order that they may receive good pay, but without prejudicing the cause of our country. In this way they can serve themselves, and at the same time serve the public by communicating to the committee of chiefs, and of our army, whatever news of importance they may have [70].

GIFTS AS COVERS FOR ATTACK.

"Art. 2. All of the chiefs and Filipino brothers should be ready and courageous for the combat, and should take advantage of the opportunity to study well the situation of the American outposts and headquarters, observing especially secret places where they can approach and surprise the enemy.

"Art. 3. The chief of those who go to attack the barracks should send in first, four men with a good present for the American commander. Immediately after will follow four others, who will make a pretense of looking for the same officer for some reason and a larger group shall be concealed in the corners or houses in order to aid the other groups at the first signal. This wherever it is possible at the moment of attack.

TO MURDER IN WOMAN'S DISGUISE.

"Art. 4. They should not, prior to the attack, look at the Americans in a threatening manner. On the contrary, the attack on the barracks by the Sandtahan should be a complete surprise and with decision and courage. One should go alone in advance in order to kill the sentinel. In order to deceive the sentinel this one should dress as a woman, and must take great care that the sentinel is not able to discharge his piece, thus calling the attention of those in the barracks. This will enable his companions who are approaching to a.s.sist in the general attack.

"Art. 5. At the moment of the attack the Sandtahan should not attempt to secure rifles from their dead enemies, but shall pursue, slashing right and left with bolos until the Americans surrender, and after there remains no enemy who can injure, they may take the rifles in one hand and the ammunition in the other.

FIREBRANDS FROM THE HOUSETOPS

"Art. 6. The officers shall take care that on the top of the houses along the streets where the American forces shall pa.s.s there shall be placed four to six men, who shall be prepared with stones, timbers, red hot iron, heavy furniture, as well as boiling water, oil and mola.s.ses, rags soaked in coal-oil ready to be lit and thrown down, and any other hard and heavy objects that they can throw on the pa.s.sing American troops. At the same time in the lower parts of the houses will be concealed the Sandtahan, who will attack immediately.

"Great care should be taken not to throw gla.s.s in the streets, as the greater part of our soldiers go barefooted. On these houses there will, if possible, be arranged in addition to the objects to be thrown down, a number of the Sandtahan, in order to cover a retreat or to follow up a rout of the enemy's column, so that we may be sure of the destruction of all the opposing forces.

WOMEN TO PREPARE "BOMBS"

"Art. 9. In addition to the instructions given in paragraph 6, there shall be in the houses vessels filled with boiling water, tallow, mola.s.ses and other liquids, which shall be thrown as bombs on the Americans who pa.s.s in front of their houses, or they can make use of syringes or tubes of bamboo. In these houses shall be the Sandtahan, who shall hurl the liquids that shall be pa.s.sed to them by women and children.

"Art. 10. In place of bolos or daggers if they do not possess the same, the Sandtahan can provide themselves with lances and arrows with long sharp heads, and these should be shot with great force in order that they may penetrate well into the bodies of the enemy. And they should be so made that in withdrawal from the body the head will remain in the flesh.

"Emilio Aguinaldo"

The following official notice posted up in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, is another interesting example of the extent to which this race hatred spread:

NOTICE.

The traitor Honorato Quisunbin, who in an evil moment denied his country, died yesterday.

To-day, one no less a traitor and renegade to his mother country, has also died. He who has been the cause of so many husband-less wives and fatherless children, has received a punishment for his crimes which will prevent him from repeating them.

We will allot to-morrow, for the punishment of the remainder if they do not change their conduct, but continue to follow the steps of the above mentioned. For this reason, beloved compatriots now that you have witnessed the punishment given to those who have left the path marked by our authority which our government conferred on us although we are unworthy of it, but as we have been appointed, we have forcibly to obey all the decrees published, for the crimes which are punishable by death and which are as follows:

1st. All those who have any public or private communication with the enemy and serve them as guides;

2nd. All those who attack and rob in a band;

3rd. Violation or abuse;

4th. Incendiarism;

5th. All those who receive any position or employment in the service of the enemy.

(Signed) THE COMPATRIOTS.

This race hatred is ill.u.s.trated very clearly in the definition of the Katipunan given by Romualdo Teodoro de J., when he said that its aim was to kill all Spaniards and take possession of the islands. No particular hatred was shown to any cla.s.s; it was all Spaniards of all cla.s.ses and conditions who were to be a.s.sa.s.sinated. It is also clearly depicted in the Act of Session of the Katipunan Sur already quoted (See page 81; also foot-note page 80).

Note 76. What Sr. Diaz intends by Tagalog Katipunan is not quite clear. The whole society was practically confined to the Tagalog provinces and was insignificant in extent even beyond the city of Manila and its suburbs. There was no other Katipunan.

In November 1895 the a.s.sembly of the Katipunan was composed of ten individuals of the Supreme Council, and the presidents of the popular sections who were ent.i.tled to a.s.sist in virtue of holding some office therein.

In January of the following year of 1896, after the annual election, the a.s.sembly was composed as follows:

President Andres Bonifacio.

Secretary Emilio Jacinto.

/ Vicente Molina.

Treasurer + Pantaleon Torres.

Hermenegildo Reyes.

/ Francisco Carreon.

Jose Trinidad.

Councillors + Balbino Florentino.

Aguedo del Rosario.

Fiscal Pio Valenzuela.

Note 77. The question of the amount and the source of the supply of arms possessed by the Katipunan has always been one of dispute. Some suppose the rebels to have been well armed, whilst others reckon the number of serviceable guns to have been very small.

Among the papers and doc.u.ments belonging to the Katipunan Sur, seized by the Spanish authorities, is the following:

"Commissioned for the purchase of arms:

D. Gabino D. Juan + Tantoko D. Antonio D. Ezequiel / D. Epifanio Ramos.

D. Victoriano Luis for the distinct armories of Manila."

In a letter of the Secretary to the President D. Agustin Tantoko (a native priest; see page 79):

"I believe we can obtain the dynamite by bribing some of the harbor employees."

This letter has a foot-note which says: "When you have read this, destroy it."