NEWS OF THE WEEK.
ON Saturday last it was announced that General Luna, who commands the Army of the Filipinos, had sent Commis- sioners with a white flag to the American camp to ask for an armistice, and to express their desire to make peace. General McArthur sent them, under the escort of Major Mallory— the conjunction of the names of "the son of Arthur" and Mallory, the Homer of the Arthurian legend, is a pretty literary coincidence—to Manila, where General Otis, the American Commander-in-Chief, received them. The Filipino Commissioners asked for a cessation of hostilities till their Congress, summoned for May 1st, had met and decided whether the natives were for peace or war. General Otis very properly replied that he did not recognise the Filipino Government, and would only consider the complete surrender of the Filipino Army. Meantime, there could be no cessation of hostilities. Asa result, military operations have been going on all the week, and always sudcessfully for the Americans. It is, of course, impossible to prophesy what Aguinaldo may do, but we should not be surprised if the inevitable collapse of the insurgents were to take place very soon. When it comes we hope that General Otis will be empowered to raise four or five native regiments, mainly out of the ranks of his old enemies. Good pay, and good rations, and a strong but just discipline under a proper complement of American officers will soon produce a useful and loyal native contingent.
