The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-28


The third day of the fighting north of
Manila brought little of decisive char
actor from which War Department Of
ficials could judge what the final ont
come of this movement would be. In all
official quarters the most intense inter
est prevailed, but there was no excite
ment and none of that anXiery and
tension shown during the memorable
days OF last summer when the decisive
blows were being struck at Santiago.
EARLY in the day General Otis cahied
the War Department Il brief but com
prehensive dispatch Stunning up the situa
ton. 1t disclosed that severe fighting
was going on to-day, with our forces Id
vanced rs far north as iMariloa, where
the insurgents. under the command Of
Aguinaldo. We're being driven back with
considerable slaughter. This and The
press dispatches satisfied the officials
that dhe strategic movement of entrap-
ping the insurgents between& our lines.
had not proved as successful as deslgna-
ted, and that the scene had now shifted
TO retreat by Aguinaldo's forces and a
pursuit by our troops.
The insurgent retreat toward Malolos
was slow and dogged, and advantage
was taken of one after another of lines
OF ihtrenchments: the burning of bridges
and the interruption of communication.
General Otis dispatch. although received
early to-day, was sent Monday evening.
Manila time, and summed I'D the work
of three days. That the fighting wcrld
proceed into The fourth day was shown
by his closing sentence: The column
will press ON in the morning. This re-
fers to Tuesday.
The engagement has now shaped IL
self so that it is looked upon as more
Of chase than the execution of
strategic movs ment. With the American
base advanced to Mariloa AMI the in
surgent base forced back to Malolos. fhe
main bodies of the two opposing forces
are about ten or twelve miles apart
This could be quickly covered in forced
march under fair conditions. but 1t is
twelve miles of innumerables difficulties
and obstacles, which our troops must
cover before they reach the insurgents
stronghold. 1t is expected that the en-
gineers. with Macarthur, are hastily
repairing the burned bridges. This will
permit the artillery to be taken forward.
as well as the infantry columns. 1t is
expected that every mile of the dis
tance to Malolos will be contested ny
the insurgents, for General Otis reports
that it is stretch of country covered
with the intrenchments thrown up dur
ing the last three months Our men,
therefore, must advance slowly. fighting
their way through the rebel intrcnch-
ments. Serious as the work is. there is
no lack of confidence among officials here
m hn iufo q az.
campaign. Malolos is the insurgant
capital. where the assembly has been
sitting and this insurgent government
have been in operation. IT rcprescn.s
more to the insurgents than any other
place in the Philippines, and little doubt
is entertained that they win make
desperate stand there.
The tactics of Aguinaldo are taking
him gradually beyond the range of. Adj
miral Dewey's guns. While the ,isur-
gents We're at Malabon on Saturday
they Were within a mile of the water
front and easily within range If thu
fleet But as they have moved aorth-
ward, they have gradually moved away
from the bay. Malolos is about seven
miles back from the bay, although there
are shallow estuaries which would per-
nit light draught boats 70 get within
a mile or two.
BURNING AND ABANDONED.
Manila, March 27.-11:35 a. m.-The
Americans this morning found the inn
portant town of Polo and a number of
small villages west of the railroad de-
serted and burning. They are advancing
along the railroad.
To-day the Washington volunteers who
held Pasig yesterday had an engagement
with band OF insurgents, who drove in
their outposts. In the fight the Filipinos
lost several men.
FIGHT WITH THE REAR GUARD.
Manila, March 27.-3:25 p. m.-Gen-
eral McArthur's division spent the night
and morning at Meycauyan. the next
station beyond Polo. After reconnoft-
ering his front, he pushed along the rail
road this afternoon toward Malolos If
the statement of the 81 prisoners captur
ed to-day is true, the main body of the
enemy has retreated TO Malolos. But
there are no more trenches to encounter.
although over thirty villages. including
the larger settlements of Bulacan and
Gndguinto intervene
Al every railroad station circpIars
nave been posted, signed by the Filipino
commander-in-chief. Antonio Luna. or
derins all spies and bearers of news TO
the enemy to be shot without trial. and
instructing that all looters and rayishers
he treated in the same manner. Further.
all towns abandoned by the Filpino
troops are first to be burned While de-
ploring the existence of war. the circular
maintains the undeniable right of the
Filipinos TO defend their homes. lives
and lands against ''would-be dominators
who would kill them, their wives and
children" adding that this motive ought