“December 24.—­We find ourselves still in Talubin.  About 8 o’clock this morning a report came saying the Americans had arrived at Bontoc, the provincial capital, the nearest town to Talubin, and distant from it two hours by the road.  An immediate decision was made.  The honourable president told his family and the other women that they should remain in the settlement and allow themselves to be caught by the Americans, and he named Senors Sytiar and Paez to remain also, with the obligation of conducting the women to Manila.  As soon as the arrangement was effected, the honourable president prepared himself for the march.  The parting was a very sad one for himself and for his family.

“The honourable president left Talubin at 11 o’clock in the morning, his family and the other women remaining behind with two gentlemen charged with conducting them to Manila.” [412]

In this, as in all other similar cases, the women were kindly treated and safely conducted to their destination.  Aguinaldo and his fellows knew the happy fate of the members of his own family, as is shown by a later entry:—­

“February 6.—­We have been informed that the mother and son of the honourable president are at Manila, living in the house of Don Benito Legarda, and that they reached that capital long before the wife and sister of the honourable president.  We have also learned that Senor Buencamino, and Tirona, and Concepcion are prisoners of the American authorities in Manila.  With reference to the wife and sister of the honourable president and the two Leyba sisters, it is said that they went to Vigan and from there went by steamer to Manila.” [413]

The mother and son, accompanied by Buencamino, had allowed themselves to be captured at an earlier date.  What shall we say of a leader who would turn his mother, wife, sister and son over to American soldiers for safekeeping, and then continue to denounce the latter as murderers, and violaters of women?  Aguinaldo did just this.  That the Insurgent leaders were early and fully aware of the treatment accorded their wounded is shown by the following extract from a letter to General Moxica of Leyte, dated March 2, 1900, giving instructions as to what should be done with wounded men:—­

“If by chance any of our men are wounded on the field or elsewhere, efforts must be made to take away the rifles and ammunition at once and carry them away as far as possible, so that they may not be captured by the enemy; and if the wounded cannot be immediately removed elsewhere or retreat from the place, let them be left there, because it is better to save the arms than the men, as there are many Filipinos to fill up the ranks, but rifles are scarce and difficult to secure for battle; and besides the Americans, coming upon any wounded, take good care of them, while the rifles are destroyed; therefore, I repeat, they must endeavour to save the arms rather than the men.” [414]