s concerned,
they could then take his place without opposition. But the rebels,
presumably interpreting his humane suggestion as a sign of weakness,
continued to fire on the Spanish troops.

The small detachments and garrisons in Negros Island had been unable
to resist the tide of revolt; the west coast of that island was
over-run by the rebels under the leadership of Aniceto Lacson and
Juan Araneta (a much respected planter of Bago, personally known to
me), and the local Spanish Governor, Don Isidro Castro, was forced to
capitulate, in due written form, at Bacolod, on November 6, with his
troops and all the Spanish civil and military employees. By December
1 it was evident that, although Spanish empire in Visayas had been
definitely broken, there was absolute discord among the (southern)
rebels themselves. They split up into rival factions, each one wanting
to set up a government of its own. The American Peace Commissioners
had made their formal demand for the cession of all the Islands,
and it was clear to the Spanish Government that General Rios would
sooner or later have to evacuate under the treaty. It was useless,
therefore, to continue to shed European blood and waste treasure in
those regions. In the first week of December the Madrid Government
ordered General Rios to suspend hostilities and retire to Mindanao
Island with his troops, pending arrangements for their return to
the Peninsula. General Rios replied to this order, saying that he
would make the necessary preparations. Meanwhile, on December 11,
the rebels approached the fortifications around Yloilo town, and the
Spaniards kept up an almost continuous fusillade. Before daybreak on
December 14 the rebels, armed with bowie-knives, attacked the Spanish
entrenchments in great force and drove the Spaniards back from their
first to their second redoubt. The Spaniards rallied, turned their four
field-pieces on the enemy, and opened a raking artillery and rifle fire
which mowed down the rebels, who retired in great disorder, leaving
about 500 dead and wounded. The Spaniards, who were well protected
behind their stockades, had 6 dead and 17 wounded. Notwithstanding
their severe repulse, the rebels again fired on the Spaniards until
some female relations of their General Araneta and others went out to
the rebel lines and harangued and expostulated with the leaders, and
so put them to shame with their tongues that thenceforth the rebels
ceased to molest the Spania