[194] Meanwhile preparations for the attack progressed.

During September, Sandico wrote Aguinaldo suggesting the urgent necessity of reorganizing the "masons" and the Katipunan, [195] and that all be furnished with knives, to be kept hidden so that they might be "ready for any event." In spite of efforts to keep the Insurgent soldiers in hand, feeling among them ran high, and they wanted to fight.

[196] On November 30, 1898, General Mascardo telegraphed from San Fernando to Aguinaldo asking if he might begin firing in order to prevent the American troops from disembarking, and Aguinaldo promptly answered in the affirmative.

[197] On December 5 Malvar telegraphed from Lipa that according to a despatch from Batangas, American divers were working unceasingly and that a subordinate had ordered that they be fired on if they attempted to land.

Aguinaldo replied that he did not mind their working at sea, but that they must not be allowed to land under any circumstances.