The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-26
AT THE BAYONET'S POINT
Continued from Page One.)

t'bIllIHItu ltoiii ! as 'ilt.)
daybreak this morning. advancing rap
idly and successfully and suffering lit
tile. From Novaliches Macarthur will
swing to the left and strike on Polo.
The brigades fronting on Cal1ocan will
press forward at the proper time. Halls
brigade, on the old line north of Pasig,
is demonstrating west OF the pumping
station. The enemy is 12,GVo strong on
lines | am endeavcring to take a frac-
ton in reverse. OTIS
1t was started at the war department
that the expression of General Otis
IAN endeavoring to take a fraction in
reverse" means that while nStenSibly
making a fetnt at the front. that he in
tends to swing to the rear and attack
the enemy on the left.
In computing the time at Manila
when the battle began, 1t is said that
the battle has been in progress more
than a hours.
War department officials do not at
tempt to conceal their belief that the
fighting has been very severe. and that
the American losses are DO doubt quite
heavy.
Immediately upon receipt of the ca
blegram announcing the defining of the
advance by MasArthur's division. the
plan of the movement of tic remaining
sections of the American column, maps
drafted by the military information di-
vision We're consulted 1t was then per-
ceived that Otis was attempting to
drive a wedge straight through the CEN
ter of the insurgent army and then by
rapid wheel crush out me of the di-
Vided wings against another section of
the American column. Otis statement
that Il am endeavoring to take frac-
tion (of the enemy in reverse"
was taken to make this plain. As near
~ as could be calculated, Macarthur
held the middle Of the American line.
He was driving straight northward and
was to proceed in that direction until
he had thanked the insurEent center
The statement that he had arrived
at NoValiches shows that he was then
about eight miles northeast Of Manila
When he swings to the left, north of
Polo, he will have between himself and
the bay of Manila about third of the
insurgent army. If he manages to get
in the rear of this body the insurgents
will be fairly cornered in a triangle
formed by the bay on the one SIDE, Nc
Arthur on the northeast and Wheaton's
brigade on the south. l. is assumed
this is what Otis means when he talks
of taking the enemy in reverse. for the
statement that Wheaton will press for
ward at the proper time is regarded as
an indication that it will be his duty
10 close up the triangle ana prevent the
escape of the insurgents. The only
hope of the latter would appear to be in
retreating before MacArthur's advance
so rapidly as to prevent being cornered,
but even in this case their force would
be split in two and their position would
be untenable for any length of time.
General Corbin's attention was called
to the indication from the cahlegram
that the engagement seemed to be gen.
eIal along the American lines to the
pumping station west Of Manila and
near the river clear around to a point
due north, of a vast crescent 90 miles
long. He expressed the belief this was
only apparent, that as Otis had used
the word demonstrating in speaking
of the brigade stationed at the water
works, it was evident OTIS purpose was
to detract the attention of the enemy
from the main point of attack on the
north. At any rate, it would serve to
prevent the insurgents from concern
trating to oppose MacArthur's advance
from the fear that through an attack
by the Americans from the direction Of
the pumping station they would be
thanked.
An inquiry was made as to why SO
large a proportion of the volunteer
troops We're thrown into the advance.
1t was answered at the department that
these particular volunteers were actual
ly more VeteranZed than many of the
regulars. They have an advantage over
the regulars, who have just arrived. in
their knowledge Of jungle fighting, ac-
quired through their long stay at Ma
Mia Then, it is said to be the part of
prudence to maintain a strong reserve
of the most reliable men in such a
movement as that now going on. and
General Otis in his dispatch of ypster-
day emphasized the necessity of main
tanning the old battle lines surrounding
the city. Great satisfaction was eX-
pressed at the press report that the
American troops had captured the rail
road leading to MaUlos, the insurgent
headquarters. The great danger to
which the American advance has been
exposed has been the cutting off of the
line of communication with Manila, pre-
venting the supplies from reaching the
outposts
Great difficulty has already been eX-
perienced in maintaining the transport
service over the road, owing to the great
length of the American line. But with
this railroad in its possession the task
will be reduced ITO fully one-half the
difficulty if, indeed. it is necessary to
longer maintain these extreme outposta