Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-30

from his report / learned that his head
quarters were in Cavitc. and that the
troops We're disposed as follows:
The ID Oregon, attachments of Caiifor-
mia Heavy Artillery, 2:id Infantry and 14th
Infantry occupied the town of CaYite.
while Brig Gen. F.V. Greene United States
volunteers. was enCamped with his brigade.
consisting of the 18th Infantry, Sd United
States Artillery. Company A, Engineer
Battalion. LIST Colorado. LIST California list
Nebraska, 10Th Pennsylvania and Batteries
A and Il Of the Utah Artillery. along the
line of the hay shore near the village of
Paranaque. about five miles by water and
twenty-five miles by the roads from Cav!ta.
Immediately after my arrival ! visited
Gen. Gre mes camp. and made a reconnais-
sanCe of the position held by the Spanish.
and also the opposing lines of the insurgent
forces. hereafter 10 be described. | found
Gen. Greene's command encamped on
strip of sandy land running parallel to the
shore of the bay. aid not far distant from
the beach, but owing TO the great difficult
ties of landing supplies, the greater por
ton of the force had shelter tents only,
and were suffering many discOmforts the
camp being situated in a low, fla. place
without shelter from the heat of the trop-
ical sun or adequate protection during the
terrific dOWnpours of rain so frequent at
this season. ] was at once struck by the
exemplary spirit of patient. even cheerful.
endurance shown by the officers and men
under such circumstances, and this feeling
OF admiration for the manner in which the
American soldiers, volunteer and regular
alike. accept the necessary hardships of
the work they have undertaken to do has
grown and increased with every phase of
the difficult and trying campaign which the
troops of the Philippine expedition have
brought TO such Il brilliant and successful
conclusion.
I discovered during my visit TO Gen.
Greene that the left or north flank of his
brigade camp extended to a point on the
Gale Real about 300 yards from the
outer line of Spanish defenses Of the city Of
ITI,is.
der magazine. or old Fort San Antonio
within hundred yards of the beach. and
just south of the Malate suburb of Manila
and stretched away to the Spanish left in
more or less detached works, eastward
through swamps and rice fields, covering
all the avenues Of approach to the town
and eHcirctins the city completely.
The Insurgent Forces.
The FiIipinos, or insurgent forces at war
with Spain, had, prior to the arrival of the
American land forces, been waging a de-
sultory warfare with the Spaniards for
several months, and were at the time Of
my arrival IN considerable force, yariously
estimated and never accurately ascertain
ed, but probably not far from l., 900 men.
These troops. well supplied with small
arms, with plenty of ammunition and sew
eral field guns, had obtained positions of
investment opposite to the Spanish line of
detached works throughout their entire ex-
Gale Real passing along the front Of
Gen. Greenes brigade camp and running
through Malate TO Manila, the insurgents
had established an earthwork or trench
within $40 yards of the poWder-mag azine
fort. They also occupied as well the road
10 the right, leading from the village of
Pasay. and the approach by the beach
was also in their possession. This anoma-
lOus state of affairs, namely, having line
of quasi-hostile native troops between our
forces and the Spanish position was, of
course, very Objectionable, but it diff
cult to deal with, owing to the peculiar
condition of our relations with the insur-
gents, which may be briefly stated as fol-
lows:
Shortly after the naval battle of Manila
Ray,She principal leader of the insurgents
Gen. Emilio Aguinaido, came to CaVite
from Hong Kong. and, with the consent of
our naval authorities. began active work
in raising troops and pushing the Span
iards in the direction of the city of Manila.
| Having met with some success, and the
natives flOcking to his assistance, he pro-
| claimed an Independent government of re-
publican form. with himself as president
| and at the time of my arrival in the islands
| the entire edifce of executive and legisla-
| tive departments and subdivision of terri
| tory for administrative purposes had been
| accomplished, at least on paper. and the
| FilipInos held military possession of many
| points in the islands other than those in
the vicinity Of Manila.
| AS General Aguinaldo did not visit me on
| my arrival nor offer his services as Il sub
| ordinate military leader. and as my instruc-
| lions from the President fully contemplate
| ed the occupation of the islands by the
| American land forces, and stated that 1.-THE
| powers of the military occupant are abso-
| lutte and supreme and Immediately operate
| upon the political condition of the inha bit
| ants / did not consider it wise to hold
| any direct communication with the insur-
| gent leader until l should be in possession
/ OF the city of Manila, especially as | would
| not until then be in a position to issue a
/ proclamation and enforce my authority in
| the event that his pretensions should clash
| with my designs.
| For these reasons the preparations for
| the attack on the city Were pressed and
| military operations conducted without ref
| erence to the situation of the insurgent
| forces. The wisdom of this course was sub
| sequently fully established by the fact that
| when the troops of my command carried
| the Spanish intreuchments, extending from
the sea to the Pasay road on the extreme
| Spanish right, We were under no obligations
by prearranged plans of mutual attack, to
| turn to the right and clear the front still
| held against the insurgents, but were able
| TO move forward at once and occupy the
| city and suburbs.
| To return TO the situation of General
| Greenes brigade as l found IL on my ar
] rival, it will be seen that the difficulty In