20 June, 1899

TODAY IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY:

The Japanese vessel Nonubiki Maru leaves Nagasaki for the Philippines loaded with 10,000 rifles, 6,000,000 rounds of ammunition, and other war supplies purchased by Mariano Ponce.

Ponce with the aid of the chinese revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen, in his mission to Japan, obtained sufficient support from the Japanese military and a few Japanese politicians to enter into agreement to purchase arms and ammunition in the Spring of 1899. At the same time, arrangements were made for “retired” Japanese officers to go to the Philippines as advisors to the Filipino army against the Americans. These officers actually served with the Filipino forces but the attempt to ship arms to the islands was a complete failure.

(Ref: The United States Army in the Philippines, 1898-1902, John Morgan Gates, 1937 Pambansang Komisyong Pangkasaysayan)