The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-30

IHent early To-Day t1at at Q o CLOCK inns
morning the American troops under
Macarthur again took up their advance
there was renewed expectation of fight
ing and decisive developments. Cen
| eral Otis dispatch covered much
| ground, not only in showing the posi-
ton of our forces, but also the extent
of the advance contemplated for the
day. The halt and rest of yesterday
gave a new aspect to the advance, for
instead of a continued fight with jaded
troops and exhausted supplies Mac
Arthur began practically a new ad
vance to-day with his men refreshed
and well supplied.
To-Day's Plan.
Major Simpson, who is closely fol-
lowing the movement of the troops by
means of the military map, regarded
General Otis dispatch as showing that
the plan to-day was to reach Bigaa,
seven miles from Malolos. and there
wait until tomorrow for the final adj
vance on Malolos. The march cut out
| for to-day covers about seven miles.
| The two towns mentioned, Bocava and
| Bigaa. are the only ones along the line
! of march, and they are small puebtas.
| There is. however a constant success
sion of haciendas and plantations,
showing that the road lies through a
rather fertile country. There are two
natural obstacles lying along the route,
| first the Marilao river, and further on,
| the Bulacan river. The bridge over the
Marilao river has been burned, but all
| reports indicate that the engineers
| have succeeded in repairing it. Bigaa
is just beyond the Bulacan river so
that General Otis report that Mac
| Arthur's advance will continue to
| Bigaa" was construed at the war de-
| partment to mean that the two rivers
| would be passed before to-day'S aG-
| vance closed. Being seven miles from
| Malolos, our forces can either C3ver
| that distance to morrow or else turn
| southwark and reduce the large city of
Bulacan, on the left. The expectation
| here is that they will keep on to Malo-
| los. and tomorrow night will see them
near the insurgent camp. In the mean
| time the indications are that the fight
| ing will not be as severe as it was Sat
urday and Sunday, for General Otis
| dispatch of this morning says:
Not So Vigorous.
"Enemy's resistance not so vigorous
| to-day.
| This is attributed to the fact that our
| forces are now in more open country,
where the methods of guerrilla fighting
are not so rapidly executed.
| In the meantime the report that the
enemy has destroyed the railway and
| telegraph lines compels our engineers
practically to build railroad and tele
| graph line as our troops advance. A
+ high official of the war department
| summed up the situation as follows:
| 'The troops are in excellent condi-
ton. Full supplies are on hand and
| the supply trains are keeping abreast
of the men. The enemy is losing heart
and falling back and tonight we will
| be within seven miles of the enemy's
| capital"
General Corbin does not credit the
| report that the insurgents have aband-
oned their capital and have moved
| back to San Fernando. He bases this
conclusion on the fact that General
| Otis has reported no such move, and
he doubtless would be quick to report
| any move of such vital Importance.
His reports thus far are considered
very comprehensive and intelligent.
The Philippine Situation.
The president to-day discussed with
his advisers and callers the situation
in the Philippines. Assistant Secretary
| of War Meklejohn and Adjutant Gen
eral Corbin who have kept close track
of the progress of the American navy
and the condition of the troops, We're
with him for some time. With them he
went over the situation and expressed
his pleasure at the progress General
Otis and his generals had made, though
he regretted the loss of life.
I'M. X -
early this morning, was not supple
mented by any later news. The opinion
was given at the war department that
General Otis had ample force under his
command. and that when the regulars,
| now on their way to Manila, reached
their destination there would be little
need of retaining the volunteers in SER
vice there.
No demand for muster out will hold
good until the formal ratification of the
| peace treaty, and when this will be
| done is not known. The French am
bassador, who is acting for Spain, has
no information on the subject. and does
| not know when the treaty will be re-
ceived here.
Affairs in Cuba.
Secretary Alger has reported a fav-
orable condition of affairs in Cuba, and
he expressed the opinion that mere
troops than are now in the island will
not be needed. After the volunteers
are sent home there will be IA regi-
ments, with total of 18G00 men in
Cuba. making two regiments of regu-
lars in each province.
There was some discussion in official
circles regarding the proclamation
which the Philippine commission may
issue. This action, it is said. is en-
tirely discretionary with the commits
sion. 1t may issue it's proclamation
after General Otis reaches Malolos, or it
may delay it until the time seems more
opportune. IT, as reported in some
quarters, the Filipinos abandon Malolos
as capital and go farther north, it is
possible that the proclamation may be
withheld. Ii is intended that the pro-