THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 270 The first outbreak took place in the summer of 1896.

successfully raided the capital, but at the last moment a woman, who had been admitted to their secrets, gave a warning to the Spanish authorities. There are not yet materials available for tellingits true story. It seems most likely that there were at least two independent conspiracies Marshal Blanco was at the time the Captain-General of the Philippines. One afternoon, in the middle of August, 1896, he heard that Manila was tobe attacked in the coming night.

— one of the natives, who thought only of a massacre of the white men, and ageneral looting of Manila;another among the malcontents THE PIULIPIINE ISLANDS ■of Spanish or mixed descent, who hoped to proclaim a republic of the Philippines. The latter plot wasassisted by a groupof exiles who made Hong Kong their headquarters; and, if ■current report is to be believed,some Japanese adventurers had a hand in one or both of the ■conspiracies. As usual, a premature outbreak destroyed the plans of the would-be revolutionists. The natives near Manila were impatient for action. Even so,, they might have Of Spanish troops he had only at hand in the island capital a battalionof garrison artillery and four companies of marines. He hastily summoned five hundred more marinesfromCavite, called out a battalion of Spanish volunteers. and with this small force met and routed the rebels in the very suburbs of Manila. The insurgents werebetweentwo andthreethousand strong, at least half of them being men ot the native Tagal militia, whoat the criticalmoment