The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-26

tween himself and the bay of Manila about
third OF the insurgent army. IL he man
ages TO get IN the rear OF this body the IN
surgents Will be fairly cornered In a triangle
formed by the bay on the one side, Near
thurs force on the northeast and Wheaton'S
brigade on the south. 1t is assumed that
this Is what Otis means when he talks or
taking the enemy In reverse, for the state
meDt that Wheaton will press forward at
the proper time is regarded as an indication
that IL Will be his duty TO close up the tr1-
angle and prevent the escape of the insur-
gents. The only hope OF the latter would
appear 10 be in retreatlng before Near
thurs advance so rapidly as to prevent be-
ing cornered and driven back on Wheaton,
but even in this case their force would be
split in two and their position would be un-
tenable for any length of time.
Gen Corbins attention was called to the
indication from the cabiegram that the en-
gagement seemed TO be general along the
American lines from the pumping station,
west OF Manila, and near the river, clear
around TO a point due north of a vast cres-
cent twenty miles long. He expressed the
belief that this only apparent; that
Otis had used the word demonstrating" in
speaking OF the brigade station at the water
works, It was evident that Otis's purpose
was TO distract the attention from the main
point Of attack on the north. AT any rate,
II would serve to prevent the insurgents
from concentra ting TO oppose McArthur's
advance from the fear that through an at
tack by the Americans from the direction
or the pumping station they would be
OFFICERS EXCITED.
The excitement at the War Department
to-day was a reminder of the busiest days
of the war with Spain. Every officer looked
for every scrap OF information as to the
progress being made by General Otis's gal
liant expeditionary forces. 1t was noted that
the movement was being executed like clock
work 1t was one of great rapidity, yet the
officials noted with delight the perfection Of
the arrangement as revealed in the press
dispatches; the rapid work Of the signal
men, well up with the troops in the ad-
vance, running their wires; the ambulance
cars close up 10 the fighting lines and the
pressing forward of supplies. Although the
end was not known when the department
closed, the greatest confidence was shown
by the officials in the complete success OF
tine American arms, and there was nothing
but praise heard for the strategy exhibited
by Otis and his generals. Macarthur es-
pecially came in for commendation, being
the active leader of the advancing column,
The opinion expressed at the department.
was that the American troops would take
up the forward movement Immediately,
probably at sunrise tomorrow. There was
no question about stopping at this point;
the movement was intended to break the
rebel power and ii would be pushed to the
utmost until the rebels surrendered or fled
beyond reach in the mountains and jungles
1t is said at the department that Otis has
under his command at Manila and vicinity
about 1900 soldiers Aguinaldo, according
to OtiS's last report, has about 81 900 armed
men. General Corbin estimates that the
American flying column in action to-day
was about $1,000 men strong. The insur-
gents, according to Otis, had about 10 600
men in line. But Aguinaldo's reserve, 1900
strong, is not far distant from the scene of
the hardest fighting; indeed, it is suspected
that some of them, including the leader him
self, may have been drawn into to-days
struggle, in which case the odds would have
been heavily against the Americans. The
latter appear 10 be taking full advantage of
the great assistance to be found in the pos
M 9 lprlf
to-day was generally parallel TO the road at
all points.
the names of General Hale and Hall. Gen.
eral Irving Hale was colonel Of the Colorado
infantry. and has been promoted to be
Robert +. Hall was formerly colonel of the
Fourth Infantry, and has been promoted to
be briSadier general of volunteers. Both of
these men We're in the engagements of to-
day north of Manila.
An inquiry was made as 10 why SO large
a proportion OF the volunteer troops was
thrown into the advance. 1t was answered
at the department that these particular vol
unteers were actually more veteraniZed
than many of the regulars. They have been
In service now nearly a year and in that
time have seen more fighting than any other
branch OF the army. They have an advan-
tage over the regulars, who have just ar
rived, in their knowledge of jungle fighting,
acquired through their long stay at Manila
Then 1t is said to be the part of prudence
to maintain a strong reserve of the most
liable character in such a movement as this
now going on, and Otis, in his dispatch OF
yesterday, emphasized the necessity OF
maintaining the old battle lines surround
ing the city
Great satisfaction was expressed at the
press report that the American troops had
captured the railroad leading to Malalos, the
snsurgent headquarters. The great danger to
which the American advance has been ex-
posed has been the cutting of the line of
communication with Manila. preventing the
supplies from reaching the outpOStS. Great
difficulty has already been experienced in
maintaining the transport service over the
read, owing TO the great length of the
American line. But with this railroad in its
possession the task will be reduced to fully
one-half the difficulty IT, indeed, it is neces-
sary TO longer maintain these extreme out
posts.
Secretary Alger and party, aboard the
transport ingalls,, unexpectedly put in at
Key West tonight, though they Were sched-
uled at Havana tomorrow morning. The
official advices OF the battle had been cabed
Secretary Alger at Havana, but on receipt
of word of the arrival at Key West the mes
sages were repeated to that point The
secretary and party will proceed to Ha-
vana tomorrow. Not word about the
battle has come into the Navy Deartment
during the day or night