The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-18

taken San Isidro, the second insurgent
capital, and when General Otis dis
patch was sent was still pressing the
enemy northward. The fact that he is
sustaining few losses in his forward
movement, although in almost con-
tinual contact with the enemy, is an
other proof of their utter demoraliza-
ton. According to General Otis cable
they continue to throw up intrench-
ments, but General LaWton's strategy
outfianks each position in turn, keep
ing them in full retreat and giving
them no opportunity to reorganze
their scattered forces. 1t will soon be
the mountains or the sea for the in
Surgents. As our troops could be trans
ported by sea to the mouth of the Agno
and a new base of operations estab-
lished there it would be folly for them
to take that course. scattered, demor-
allied and disheartened it is almost
certain that the rebels in desperation
will retreat into the Businesses of the
mountains, where they would be safe
from pursuit and where they could
keep up guerrilla warfare indefinitely
until their leaders came to their senses
over fifty-tive miles, as the crow flies,
the rebels have been forced back.
The situation of che insurgents is
desperate. MacArthur's S division drove
them back along the line of the railroad
gayen, as far as Calumpit All efforts
to impede his progress by the destruc-
ton of bridges was frustrated. The in
surgents were forced out of their
strongest Positions simultaneously
General Lawton moved to the right
In wide detour toward Norzaga Bay
the eastern limit of open country, with
the intention of turning the enemy's
position and crushing him between the
c1 cf,,1
IN this, the enemy, to- make good his
escape, was compelled to abandon his
line of retreat along the railroad and
retire up the Rio Grande. The insur-
gents by this move displayed consider
able adroitness in the art of war. as it
made it incumbent upon the Americans
to get their supplies to the front along
new line
This had been comparatively easy
alcng the line of the railroad, which
had been repaired as the troops ad-
Vanced. The change in the line of re-
treat of the rebels stopped Lawton's s
advance for several days, it is pre-
sumed, as no movement until to-day
had been reported since Friday. Mean
time, 1t is presumed, supplies We're sent
forward up the RioN Grande in cascos
tnative barges), under the escort of the
gunboats commanded by Major Kobbes.
Inc latter was reported to have 1900
men with him designed for the rein
forcement of Lawton. The supplies
probably having arrived at a point op-
posite Lawton, whose column had ad-
vanced along a-line several miles east
and parallel with the river, were deliv-
cred to him during the push to San
Isidro. This cleared the province of
Bulacan.
East Of Norzaga Bay is a wall of
mountains extending to the sea- These
mountains run directly north on the
left flank of the rebel retreat along the
valley of the Rio Grande to about ten
miles north of San Isidro, where they
trend westward and form the source
of that river. 1t is into the foothills
OF these mountains that Lawton is now
driving the scattered and demoralized
force of the insurgents. Lawton has
with him the Third and Twenty second
Infantry one battalion of the Seven
teenth, the Second Oregon, First North
Dakota, Thirteenth Minnesota and a
squadron of the Fourth Cavalry. No
information has yet been received as
to the Twelfth Infantry and Light Bat
terry e of the First Artillery, which
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