Advise me if we must prepare our troops for action to-morrow.

I await a reply." [192] But war was not to begin at this time.

On September 23 Bray wrote to Aguinaldo advising him to maintain a defensive attitude until the result of the negotiations at Paris should become known, giving way to the Americans and not showing his teeth.

He could take the offensive later if advisable and should have little difficulty in settling accounts with the American soldiers.

[193] Bray suggested the possibility of an alliance between the American and the Spanish soldiers if a conflict should arise before the departure of the latter.