Incidentally he endeavoured to convince the latter that the barbarities really committed by Insurgent officers and troops in Manila were perpetrated by enemies of the Insurgent cause who wished to discredit it.
In a letter dated September 21, 1898, Apacible says that the conflict will come sooner or later and asks Aguinaldo if it would not be better for them to provoke it before the Americans concentrate their troops.

[186] On September 10 General Garcia reported to Aguinaldo that on the previous night the Americans had attempted to push back his line at San Lazaro, and that morning had concentrated and penetrated the Insurgent territory, making a reconnaissance through the fields about Sampaloc.

Aguinaldo put an endorsement on this communication saying that he had long since ordered that the Insurgent line should not be passed.

He instructed Garcia to throw troops in front of the Americans at Sampaloc, and order them to leave, and to warn the bolo men.

Obviously, little more was needed to provoke an Insurgent attack.