The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-07
INDIANAPOLIS FRIDAY MORNING.

before the eager Americans would be
ccmplished as soon as they anticipate is an
open question.
If the entire rebel force could be corralled
in any one section of the island the work
of subdulng it would be very simple and
soon accomplished without doubt. But on
the Island of Luzon alone a well-equipped
army of 1890 men has only succeeded in
clearing the country within radius of five
miles from Manila so far. and no one knows
with any degree Of certainty what there is
ahead. 1t is certain, however, that the
further they penetrate into the wilds Of the
interior the greater will be the disadvan-
tage to the white troops, since swamp and
jungle fighting are the strong points of the
natives. 1t is also certain that what is to
be done must be accomplished before the
rainy season. because. apart from the con-
sideration OF the health of the troops, most
of the country is absolutely impossible
from May to October.
Among the uncertainties to be faced Is
that of the force TO be encountered. So far
as can be ascertained the rebel army which
hemmed the Manilians within the confires
of the city for so long consisted of 5000
men. one-third of whom were armed. Most
of these were of course the Tagalos. who
4,
claimed there are 10000 OF these yet to
meet under climatic and territorial disad-
vantages the problem which confronted
Kitchener at Khartum was a simple one
compared with that which Lawton has to
face on his arrival OF course, there are
tribes, such as the Ilocanos. whose hatred
for the Tagalos might render them useful
allies, but the question arises as to whether
ha fa tO with he
arms necessary for the purpose. The lesson
taught by Aguinaldo is one that is not likely
to be forgotten in Il hurry, and there is
great danger in such experiments at this
stage of the proceedings.
THEIR INSTINCT is TO FLY.
There is an off chance that in the event
of the serious setback Aguinaldo's forces
may show the white feather in such num-
bers as to render further resistance useless
| but il must be conceded that the rebels have
| not shown any such disposition so far. They
| bolted at the first sight of advance II Is
| true but partly because they were ignorant
| of the strength of their own position and
| partly because their first instinct is to fly
| from cover to cover when attacked. In this
| connection it must be borne in mind that
| their only education in the art of warfare
| was received in the Spanish school. and the
| Spaniards, like themselves, always fought
| from cover when possible. The few brushes
which our troops have had with the enemy
| TO date have proved conclusively that the
latter will not stand flank attack. but
| they are quick to learn, and once they real
| ize that boiling across the open is suicidal
| under the circumstances they will probably
adopt the wiser course of fighting 1t out
| Another of the uncertainties is the num-
| Der of arms which the rebels possess That
| they are being supplied at frequent inter-
| walls from some unknown source scarcely
| admits of a doubt, but i'm what quantities
| cannot even be conjectured Until a few
days ago there was every indication that
| the rebels along our whole front were using
| homemade ammunition, but now smoke
| less powder is again being used, and, judg-
| ing from the enormous quantity of am
munition expended every twenty-four hours,
their supply must be unlimited. At every
vantage, so far, thousands of rounds of
-Mauser cartridge have been seized, but still
| there is no appreciabe difference in the
| amount expended from day TO day.
| 1t must also be remembered that hitherto
the army has been acting in conjunction
with the navy, and that Deweys ships have
| very materially assisted in routing the
4 .
| While there is disposition on the part of
many soldiers to belittle the work done
| by the other branch OF the service, there
| can be no question as to the effect of the
| Monadnock' and Charleston's shells upon
| the rebel trenches both at Malate and
| Caloocan. This help can no longer be
| counted on, now that the army advances
| from the coast, and the rebels are alive to
| that fact
FOOLHARDY LEADERS.
| If the foolhardy Tagolo leaders would
only see that there can be only one outcome
TO the struggle with such nation as the
United States all would be well, but, unfor-
| tunately for the Tagalos, they deliberately
shut their eyes to the truth, and those who
know them say that nothing short of ex-
| termination will insure peace in the Philip
pines. In some respects. perhaps, this would
| be good thing for the other millions who
inhabit the archipelago. inhuman though the
| very suggestion may seem. That they are
| the sole instgators of the rebellion there
| can be no doubt and their methods show
| that the instinct of the savage still predomi-
| mates. For instance despite their boasted in
| teligence and humanitariansln the Tagalos
| have frequently been seen to drive their
| scared allies into half-constructed earth
] works at the points of their bayonets know
| ing full we'll that they would be shelled out
| again by the American artillery Immediate
| ly. Again, one OF their favorite means of de-
coying their foes into the open is that OF
showing a white flag. Worse still. they have
been guilty repeatedly Of the barbarism OF
shooting voleys at hospital ambulances
both in the open and while returning from
the front. Mutilation Of the enemy's
dead is another evidence of their
boasted civilization. If our troops retire fol
| strategic purposes a glorious victory is her.
aided all over the country, and, according
to the stories related by the natives, more
Americans are being killed every day thar
f'have yet been landed on the islands In the
matter OF exaggerating the ensmy's loss
| however, they are not alone, for our owI
troops are very prone to fall into the sam.
error-in fact, to hear the men rela, ,ing tn,
execution they had done during the day q
supper time one might be led 40 believ,
! the country was strewn with dead Filip;nos
Yet, with the exception OF the :wo bi;
fights. the largest number Of killed In on,
day has been 49, most OF whom were mowI
down by the Gatlings on the river Puni Cd
Laguna de Bay, near San Pedro M.cati
AS a matter OF fact. in nine cases ou. Of ter
when brushes occur our own men have n,
opportunity to hunt for the enerny's dead
and the loss is purely matter Of cor &c
ture.
HELD BY FILIPINOs.