MILLER TO OTIS, DECEMBER 30, 1898

General Miller's second report, dated December 30, and forwarded by a merchant vessel, is as follows:

HEADQUARTERS FIRST SEPARATE BRIGADE,
ON BOARD TRANSPORT NEWPORT,
Iloilo Harbor, P. I., December 30, 1898.

ADJUTANT-GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC AND EIGHTH ARMY CORPS.

SIR: I want to report that a committee of people having civil control of the city of Iloilo, and claiming also control of the island, met me here yesterday at 6 p. m., and again claimed that they could not turn over the control of Iloilo to my command without consulting Aguinaldo. Should they agree to do it their lives and property would be in danger. After a long talk, setting forth the intention of our government, explaining the kind of government, and reading to them extracts of your letter of instructions in reference to the same matter, I told them there was no time to consult Aguinaldo and my demand was that the President of the United States, as successor to the rights of Spain in these islands, required them to turn over the control of the city of Iloilo. I then asked them directly: "Should we land would you meet us with armed resistance?" They could not answer that question. I asked them if they would not have their troops march out of the city and permit us, their friends, to move in without resistance to-morrow, the 31st instant. They requested time to consult with the committee that they represented, promising to return with a definite reply at noon, December 30 (to-day).

Lieutenant-Colonel Potter, corps engineer, arrived here yesterday evening with a letter of instructions from you to me. It is my intention to land troops in twenty-four hours, after having served notice on the foreign consuls of the city and the people to that effect.

The estimate of armed native troops to-day is 3,500, who are said to be massed in the city and at Jaro and Molo, and six or seven thousand from the mountains armed with bolos, who are massed at the same places.

I think i should have the Twentieth Kansas Regiment sent to me as soon as possible; 20,000 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition for Gatling guns should be supplied. Two field mortars (3.6 inches), with equipments and supply of ammunition, should be sent to me at once.

I forward this communication by the steamer Union.

M. P. MILLER,
Brigadier-General, U. S. V., Commanding Brigade.