Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-17

formation. If they are, this would account
for the ease with which he seems to be able
to turn the enemy's position at each con-
tempIated stand.
The enemy is now completely out of that
portion of Bulacan province in which mill
tary operations can be conducted and has
retreated into Nueva ECije provisce. The
enemys forces are still in the valley or the
Rio Grande, with the mountains hemmlnS
them in on the east, while ahead of them,
on the present line of retreat, are other
mountains. When these are reached, but
two ways lie open. They can move OF to
the northeast, into the open country, in the
valley of the Rio Agno. which empties into
the Bay of Lingayen, or take to the NILS.
1t will be the mountains or the sea. AS
our troops could be transported by sea to
the mouth of the Agno and a new base OF
operations established there, 1t would be
fatuous folly for tllem to take that course.
Scattered, demoralized and dlshearteneu, II
is almost certain that the rebels in despera-
tiOn will retreat into the Businesses of the
mountains, where they would be safe from
pursuit. and where they could keep up a
guerrilla warfare indefinitely. until their
leaders came to their senses
Driven Back Over Fifty Miles.
Although al the eIloTtS Oh our Lloops "
get into the rear of the insurgents have
failed up to this time, the enemy has been
driven back step by step by sheer force of
the battering ram into the pocket where
nothing will be left but surrender or the
mountains Over tifty-five miles, as the
crow flies, the rebels have been forced
back MacArthur's division drove them
back along the line OF their railroad as far
as Calumpit. All efforts to impede his
progress by the destruction of bridges We're
frustrated. The Filipinos were forced out
of their strongest positions. Simultaneous
ly General LaWton moved to the right in d
wide detour toward NorZagaray, the east
ern limit of open country, with the inten-
tion Of turning the enemy s position and
crushing him between the two columns.
Although unsuccessful in this, the enemy,
to male good his escape, was compelled to
abandon his line of retreat along the rail-
road. ana retire up the Rio GTande. The
insurgents. by this move displayed consid-
cradle adrOitress in the art of war, as it
made IL incumbent upon the Americans to
get their supplies to the front along d new
line.
This had been comparatively easy along
the line of the railroad, which had been re-
paired as the troops advanced. The change
in the line OF retreat OF the rebels stopped
LawtoIs advance for several days, ii is
presumed, as no movement until today had
been reported since Friday. Meantime, 1t
il presumed, supplies were sent forward up
the Rio Grande in cascoes (native barges)
under the escort of the gunbOtS. commando
ed by Major KObbeS. The latter was re-
ported to have 800 men with him. design
ed presumably for the reinforcement of
LaWton. 1t is supposed that these supplies
arrived at a point opposite LawtOn, whose
column had advanced along a line five miles
east and parallel with the river We're de-
livered to him, and that today he pushed
on into San Isidro. This cleared the prov
ince of Bulacan. although the words in
General Otis dispatch must not be literally
taken meaning that BaWton has Cow
cred all OF BuiaCaa province. but only the
open country of that province or all west
of Norzagaray.
Movemeuts Extending to the Sea.
East of Norzagaray is a wall of noun
tains extending to the sea. These noun
tatns 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
foot hills Of these mountains that Lawton
is now driving the scattered and demoral-
lied forces of the insurgents. Lawton has
with him the Sd and 22d Infantry, one bat
TALON of the 17th, the I'd Oregon, 1st North
Dakota, 18th Minnesota and squadron of
the 4th Cavalry.
The bureau of Information of the War
Department was somewhat mystified the
other day by a report to the effect that
Lawton was at Bacolor. As this point is
somewhat to the westward of MacArthur's
forces around CaIumpit and at least ff-
teen miles from San fidefonso, where he
was last reported, 1t is presumed that there
was a mistake in that report.
No information has yet been received as
to the 18th Infantry and Light Battery Il
of the list Artillery, which have arrived at
Manila The 9th Infantry. which arrived
with those two commands, has been sent TO
join LawtOn.