The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-12
END or AGUINALDo,s POWER.
Message from Gen. Otis Giving Results
of Recent Fighting

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE War De-
partment to-day received a cablegram from
General Otis at Manila giving additional
particulars Of the battle of Caloocan and the
casualties sustained by the United States
troops. The defeat of the insurgents was
complete, and they will not be able to make
any further show of resistance at that point.
The cablegram follows:
''MacArthur's division is north of Pasig
river. Yesterday his left wing, Brigadier
General Harrison Gray Otiss brigade,
made partial wheel to the right resting
the left of the brigade on Caloocan, where
the insurgents, who were in considerable
force were sharply driven, leaving a good
many dead Troops in excellent condi lion
and supplied with ali necessities Hospitals
Notwithstanding wounded, have fewer pa
uents than before engagements Of 4th and
9th instant. Yesterdays engagements most
successful. 1t is the belief of old residents
that Aguinaldo will be unable to gather in
future any considerable forces.''
As soon as the cablegram from General
Otis was posted, the officers of the War De-
partment were called on to explain the pc
culiar language used in the beginning rela-
tive to the movements of the American
troops. 1t appeared that this was strictly
correct and that it described what is be-
lieved to have been a simple movement
towards Strengthening the line of the Amer
lean troops. Expressed generally is the idea
NlAcAL b4lC 1NGllC VI tie ldSL engagement WAS
to the north and northeast of Manila about
four miles out of town. The American troops
had been advancing in a northeastern direc-
ton. The brigade Of Brigadier General Har-
Tison Gray Otis, a volunteer officer, was on
the left of this line, the entire line being
commanded by General Macarthur. AS the
line was advanced in the movements made
since last Sunday, Otis's brigade bent back
ward from the main line in order to face
more towards the north so that the entire
American line presented at this point an OBJ
tuse triangular formation towards the
emy. Yesterday, according to Major General
Otis's report, the left side of this triangle
was swung around so as to straighten out
the line with the result of clearing out the
| country between its former position and
Caloocan, leaving the Americans occupying
that place and strengthening the entire line
of MacArthur's division, so that it faces
direction northeast.
1t is noticed at the War Department that
| General Otis is acting in the forward move
mentS only on evidence of an insurgent pur-
pose to reorganZe and attack the American
forces. This last movement upon Caloocan
was caused by the gathering at that place of
several thousand Filipinos. most of whom
had missed the lesson administered to
a desire for vengeance, were threatening to
attack Manila itself. These men having also
learned the quality of American troops, it is
hoped that there viii be little further
ganized resistance on the part of the in
surgents to the execution of cur plans. Gen.
eral Otis's closing comment indicates that
this belief is prevalent among the cooler
heads at Manila so that what is to be ap-
pretended now, in all likelihood, is the con-
duct of an annoying, but by no means dam
gerous guerrilla warfare the part of the
insurgents.
General Otis made no reference to the
situation at Iloilo and nothing has come to
| the Navy Department from that point,
| though the presence of several naval vessels
| there would seem to be warrant for the ex-
! pectation of an early report of any impor-
tant event, such as the landing of American
| troops. 1t is noted here that the commits
sioners from Aguinaldo to the insurgents at
| Iloilo, who were arrested last Sunday just
| as they were about to sail from Manila,
| have not only been allowed to proceed on
their journey, but have been conveyed on
United States vessel along with the Ten
nessee troops. The conclusion drawn from
! this is that the commissioners, having seen
for themselves the weakness of Aguinaldo's S
! cause, are expected by General Otis to in
| huence the inhabitants of the Island of
Panay 10 desist from any further attempt at
/ iy,gt