jurisdiction does not appear to have
extended beyond the town and a day's march therefrom. On January 17
an election was held, Raymundo Melliza, [217] an excellent man, being
chosen president for the term of two years. Business was resumed;
sugar was being brought from Negros Island, and ships were laden with
produce. During the civil administration, which lasted for seven weeks,
the absorbing topic was the demand made by General Miller for the
surrender of the town. General Miller's force had been despatched to
Yloilo waters, after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, simply to make
a demonstration in view of possible anarchy resulting from the Spanish
evacuation. The ratification of that Treaty by a two-thirds Senate
majority was not an accomplished fact until February 6 following. There
was no certainty that the Senate would confirm the acquisition of
the Islands, and in the interval it was not politic to pass from a
formal demand for the surrender of Yloilo to open hostilities for
its possession. These matters of political exigency were undoubtedly
beyond the comprehension of the Ylongos. They attributed to fear the
fact that a large fighting-force remained inactive within sight of the
town, whereas General Miller was merely awaiting instructions from
the capital which the Manila authorities, in turn, were delaying,
pending the decision in Washington. Intervening circumstances,
however, precipitated military action. On the night of February 4
hostilities had broken out between Aguinaldo's troops and the American
forces. Insurgent emissaries had brought Aguinaldo's messages to
the Ylongos to hold the town against the invaders, and on February 7
General Miller received orders from Maj.-General Otis to take Yloilo
by force if necessary. General Miller thereupon renewed his demand for
the surrender of the place, coupled this time with a declaration that
he would bombard it if his demand were refused. Later on he notified
the consular body that the bombardment would commence on the 12th of
the month. During the seven weeks of native government, petty thefts
were frequent; an armed insurgent would enter a store and carry off
the article selected by him without paying for it; but there was no
riotous open violence committed against the townspeople or foreign
traders. The squabbles between the armed natives and their leaders,
however, were several times on the point of producing bloodshed.

According to ex-insurgent General