The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-18
Find Themselves Unable to Cope
With the Americans.
Kept Ia Full Retreat, With No Opportunity
- 10 Reconstruct Their Forces.
They Still Continue to Throw UP
Intrenchments, but General
Lawton's Strategy Outfanks
Each Position in Turn-Will
Soon be Forced to the Mount
aims OF the Sea.


WASHINGTON, May 17-That the
Insurgents are disintegrated and de-
moralized is perfectly manifest from the
press dispatches and the cable news
from General Otis to-day General
Lawton, who was pursuing the line Of
the rebel retreat along the Rio Grande,
has flung his advance, which at last
advices was resting at San Miguel,
northward about twelve miles, has
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 an almost con-
tirual contact with the enemy, is an
other proof of their utter demoraliza-
ton.
According to General Otis cable they
still continue to throw up intrench-
ments, but General Lawton's strategy
oItHank each position in turn, keeping
them n full retreat and giving them
no opportunity to reconstruct their
scattered forces. 1t will soon be the
mountains or the sea for the insurgents.
As our troops could be transported
by sea to the mouth of the Agno, and
a new base of operations established
there, it would be folly for them to
take that course. Scattered, democrat
I'D and disheartened, it is almost GER
tain that the rebels in desperation will
retreat into the Businesses of the noun
tains. where they would be safe from
pursuit and where they could keep up
a guerrilla warfare indefinitely until
their leaders come to their senses. Over
fifty-five miles, as the crow flies. the
rebels have been forced back.
The situation of the insurgents is
desperate MacArthur's division drove
them back along the line of the railroad
to Dagupin, Bay of Longayen, as far
as Calumpit All efforts to impede his
progress by the destruction of bridges
were frustrated. The insurgents were
forced out of their strongest positions.
simultaneously General Lawton moved
to the right in wider detour toward
Norzagary the eastern limit OF oper
country, with the intention of turning
the enemy's position and crushing him
between the two columns. Although
successful 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 insurgents by this move displayed
considerable adroitness in the art of
war, as it is incumbent upon the Amer
leans to get their supplies to the front
along a new line. This had been COM
paratively easy along the line of the
railroad, which had been repaired as
the troops advanced.
This changed line of retreat Of the
rebels stopped Lawton's advance for
several days, it is presumed, as no
movement until to-day had been re-
ported since Friday. Meantime, it is
presumed, supplies were sent forward
w the Rio Grande in cascos native
barges), under the escort of the gun
boats commanded by Major Hobbies.
The latter was reported to have LOO
men with him, designed for the re-
enforcement of Lawton. The supplies
proba bly, having arrived at a point OPP
posite Lawton, whose column had adj
vanced' along a line parallel with the
river, were delivered to him in the push
to San Isidro.
This cleared the province of Bulacan,
although the words in General Otis
dispatch must not be taken literally as
meaning that Lawton has covered" all
of Bulacan province, but only the open
country of that province or all west of
Norzagaray.
East of Norzagaray is a wall of
mountains extending to the sea. These
mountains run directly north on the
left flank of TIE rebel retreat along the
valley of the Rio Grande to about ten
miles rc,th 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.
Iawton has with him the Third and
Twenty second Infantry, one battalion
of the Seventeenth. the Second Oregon,
First North Dakota, Thirteenth Mime
sofa and q squadron of the Fourth
Cavalry. No information has yet been
received as TO the Twelfth Infantry and
Light Battery E, of the First Artillery
which have arrived at Manila. The
Ninth Infantry. which arrived with
those later commands, has been sent to
join Lawton.
COLONEL, SUMMERS ROUTS A
LARGE FORCE OF REBELS.
MANILA. May 11-6:10 p. m.-Al-
though the rebels still threaten San
Fernando in considerable force, large
numbers of natives, majority OF them
being families with their household
goods, are moving daily to the towns
inside the American lines at Apalit,
especially
Many of the richer Filipinos are
coming to Manila. and laborers are
resuming work in the rice fields. The
latter show their respect for American
sovereignty by removing their hats to
the passing trains.
Owing to the bad condition of the
wagon roads, the work of repairing the
railroad is being actively pushed. All
the broken bridges have been trestled,
and only a few excavations remain to
be filled up. Trains will undoubtedly
be running through to San Fernando
in few days. The only natives there
are some Filipinos from Macabebe, who
are trading with our soldiers.
At daylight to-day Lieutenant Hill,
who with twenty five men of the
Fourth Infantry was concealed in the
trenches near Pasig was attacked by
a force of rebels, who undoubtedly i'm
aeinsd they could capture one of our