The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-08-31
WILL TAKE YEARS
TO END THE WAR IN THE PHILIP
PINE ISLANDS.
Talk in Manila No Longer Deals
With Weeks, but With Months
Must he Changed and Methods Of
Striking the Enemy Fast and Re-
peatedIy and Holding the Ground
Gained Substituted-Lawto Near

Mauiii, Aug. ~. VIA odu Il TduclScO,
Aug. 2G.-In Manila talk of the ending
Of the war deals no longer with weeks,
but with months and even years.
Whether the end comes after few
months or after two or three years de-
ponds upon whether the same sort Of
tactics which dragged through five
months resulted in the conquest of
three square inches on the twO-foot
map of LuZOn be continued or methods
Of striking the enemy fast and repeat
edly and holding the ground gained be
substituted. Among the mass of peO-
pie here military men and foreign res
idents, there is but one opinion. The
whole effort of the insurgenst for three
months was to hold off the Americans
until their ally, the rain, came. In
this they have been as successful as
they could have hoped. Unless affairs
take some unforeseen turn the Fiji
pinoS will resume the war this fail
with a fresh spirit and replenished
stock of arms and ammunition. One
ship load of arms. it is learned on good
authority has reached them within
this week OF money, the leaders of
the instruction have no lack. Re-
ports brought through the lines to
Spaniards and Filipinos in this city
are that the spirits Of the insurrec
tionists are improving. Americans,
like the Spaniards must defer to ma
azure and rest on their arms most of
the time while the country is a mud
wallow. The generals are telliLg their
followers that American inaction dur
ing the past month is due to discour-
agement and generalization. Two
months ago Gen. Otis caused the coun-
try to be placarded with an offer Of
$50 for each insurgent rifle voluntarily
surrendered. The entire harvest from
this offer, however, has been less than
100 guns.
There was time when Aguinaldo's
biggest army hung in the balance
when its destruction appeared inevita-
bic. That was when Gen. Macarthur
captured San Fernando and Lawton
was marching upon San Isidro with
the Filipinos scattering before him.
Lawton had made himself a terror to
the insurgents because no obstacles
stopped him. With Lawton at San
Isidro the rebels feared he might
sweep around upon Tarlac, where
they had installed their nomadic CAPT
tai, and catch them between two
armies. All the archives, seals, gilt
triangles and treasure boxes were
packed ready for shipment on the
| railroad on the first word Of Lawton's
advance. Lawton asked to be allowed
to do it with the men and ratiOns he
had. But orders came TO withdraw his
troops from San Isidro and return to
| Malolos, leaving small garrisons ut
some of the towns he had captured.
His retirement the FilipinoS construed
into a retreat, and from that day the
sinking hopes of the instruction
seemed to rise.
The Filipinos are encouraged by the
handicap the rains impose upon the
Americans and the departure of the
volunteers. They read the American
newspapers and think the home senti-
ment against war is growing. This
| policy after the rains will be as it was
| before. a campaign for gaining time
and wearing out the correspondents.
| They profess to imagine that congress
will declare against annexation. IL
congress fails them they will try to
| prolong the struggle until the presiden-
tial campaign, with the expectation
| that one Of the political parties will de-
clare against Imperialism, and hope
| that such a party may win. To whip
| them while they are pursuing such
| tactics, an army will be needed that
can move rapidly and strike day after
| day, following up a defeat without
| having TO wait for rations and thus
giving the enemy time to reorganze