Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-27


LOSS HEAVY, INCLUDING COL.
EGBERT. OF THE TWENTY SEC
oND INFANTRY, WHO WAS
KILLED-THE FILIPINOS SUF-
FERED TERRIBLY. AND WE'RE
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF FRI
DAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
Washington, March 26.-Advices
from Gen. Otis were watched with keen
est interest by War Department Off
Gals and Assistant Secretary Meikle-
john, who, in the absence of Secretary
Alger, is acting Secretary of War, re-
NAMED in his Office throughout the day
in order to keep in close touch with
the progress of the fighting. Many
army officials and other officials were
also at the department and the Presi-
dent was kept advised as to the devel-
opments as indicated in Gen. Otiss dis
patches. Early this morning the first
message from Gen. Otis was received
and was soon followed by others whose
contents gave the officials here their
first general idea of the operation of
the last two days.
The list of killed and wounded, which
Gen. Otis had promised, was waited
anxiously by the department and the
friends and relatives here of the Off
GERS and men in the Philippines, but
it was late in the afternoon before it
was received. Much regret was ex-
pressed at the death of Col. Egbert,
the only regular officer among the
killed. He was among those who dis
tinguished themselves at Santiago, be-
ing wounded at San Juan and breveted
for his conspicuous gallantry in that
engagement.
Gen. Otis's dispatch received at 10
O'Clock tonight, recording MacAr-
thurs advance to Newcanayan, marked
a distinct and important step by the
American troops in the opinion of Act
ing Secretary Meiklejohn and Adjutant
General Corbin. Both expressed their
satisfaction at what had been accom-
plished. The former dispatches re-
garding this branch of the operations
had not been so promising, inasmuch
as they had stated that Gen. MacAr-
thur. although he had driven the enc
my, could not gain a point north of
Polo on account of the roughness of
the country. With easy railroad COM
munication to the advanced point, the
difficulty in forwarding commissary
supplies will be considerably lessened
Every step forward is regarded as so
much ground gained, and an approach
nearer the insurgent headquarters at
Malolos-now stated to be but fifteen
miles from the van guard of the
American army. The tenacity OF the
Fiiipinos in the past few days fighting
has somewhat surprised the war Off
cials here, who did not think them ca
pable of putting up and maintaining
the contest they have The Associated
Press bulletin dated at 9:15 the morn
ing of the 9th was the first news of
Mondays fighting received by the War
Department officials. Gen. Otis's dis
patches up to that time having been
confined to the previous days opera
tions. The fact that the insurgents
had been forced to retire from Mala-
bon so early in the day was regarded
as very encouraging, and Acting Secre-
tary Meiklejohn remarked:
THAT is good; very favorable in
deed"
Secretary Long said tonight that
nothing had come from Admiral Dewey
during the day respecting the American
operations at Manila.
Word is hourly expected at the War
Department of the arrival of the trans
port Sheridan at Manila with 1900 re-
Inducements for Gen. Otis. This will
be q formidable addition to his fight
ing strength. They include one full reg
iment and the headquarters and one
battalion of another, and if the expert
ence of these taken aboard the Grant
and Sherman is repeated, they will be
in fighting trim as soon as they land
and ready to be pushed Immediately to
the front Six regiments of infantry
and artillery, comprising approximate