Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-12-16


InsurrectiOn - McCalia's Bold
Stroke.
Washing ton, Dec. 14.General Otis re-
ports stirring news from Manila. his
advices going to show that the insur-
gents are at the end of their resources
from a military point of view, and are
melting away before the rapid advance
of the American troops at all points.
His cabcgrnms yesterday were as fol-
lCws:
Fifty men Of the navy and so men Of
the army, transported by the navy, took
Laoag on the 10th inst. General Young
with staff followed next day. lie re-
ports Howe with a battalion of the
Thirty-fourth, followed by portion Of
the Thirty third infantry, passed north
to Pidding, east Of Laoag. March's
battalion Of the Thirty-f fourth was at
Cayan province of Lepanto, on the tn
inst. The Third cavalry was along the
coast and in the mountains pursuing the
enemy. Young states that his extreme
northern force passed over the noun
tains, driving the insurgents undar Gen
eral Tino. who was badly wounded, kill
ing so and wounding many. He made
large captures of rifles and property,
with all insurgent trnnsportat tion. and
released all Spanish prisoners in that
section, to the number of about 20OO
Our casualties were two wounded.
"Our troops are still pursuing the rem
nant of Tinos command. March's bat
talon of the Thirty third reports from
Cayan, Lepanto province, on the 7th
inst, that he has destroyed Aguinaldo's s
body guard, killed General Gregario
Pillar, received the surrender of General
Conception and staff. killed and wound
ed So insurgents. released b15 Spanish
prisoners, including $50 frars, and cap
tured considerable property. His loss
was two killed and nine wounded. My
information Is that AguinaldO has dis
guised his individuality, abandoned his
troops, and is hiding in the province of
Renguet."
General Otis second dispatch is as fol
lows:
admiral Watson informs me that the
province Of Cagayan surrendered un-
conditionally to Captain McCalla of the
| newark OH IHt 1ltH I'LL aIIIIS OSIH 5
surrendered. Major Batchelder is 80
miles south of Aparri: command in good
condition. Navy will take supplies to
Batchelder at once. This surrender
doubtless includes the province OF
Isabella.
General Bates at Zamboanga reports
affairs more satisfactory. Nearly all
rifles surrendered. Macarthur at Bay
ambang reports that he holds as pris-
cners of war Mabini, the ablest of in
surgents. and founder of the late govern
ment."
The secretary of war regards the in
formation conveyed in General Otis dis
patches as the most important that has
come to hand in months past. Most i'm
portant of the items is the capture of
Mabini, reported by Macarthur from
Bayambang. 1t is believed that the
Filipino leader was trying to make his
way across country from Bangued
where he had been obliged to part COM
pany with Aguinaldo fortnight ago
and was endeavoring to reach the east
coast of LuZon. The members of the
Philippine commission now in Washing
ton declare without reserve that Mabini
was the head and front Of the insurrec-
ton.
Aguinaldo was only a figurehead, but
Mabini was the brain and the directing
power behind him. He is a paralytic
an old man, but with extraordinary
ability, and his counsels are always con-
elusive with the Filipinos. He was con-
cerned in the first uprising against the
Spaniards. For short time he wavered
upon AguinaldOs breach with the Amer
leans, but finally cast his fortunes with
the insurrection, and was president Of
the council. He was also the financial
strength Of the movement, for without
his backing Aguinaldo would have had
no credit in that circle of adventurous
capitalists in the east which stands
ready to venture investments in revoiu
tionary movements against great risks
for large odds.
Next in Importance to the capture OF
Mabini in the developments of the cam.
paign was the bold stroke of Captain
McCalla Of the Newark in capturing the
whole province of Cagayan. With Mac.
Arthur holding the province of Isabella
adjoining and Young's holdings on the
opposite or western shore of the uppel
peninsula the American forces are now
In technical occupation of, the, whole
northern end of Luzon from a point jus
north Of the gulf of Lingayen. McCalla
posted at the port of Aparri the only
good port on the northern end OF the
island, commands the greater. part OF
the whole length of the Rio Grande. af
fording entrance by boats to a full thirf
Of the interior of the island. 1t is up this
river that Captain McCalla Is sending
steam launches carrying supplies t
Major Bachelor. "a
The latter officer, with a few negro
soldiers of the Twenty fourth infantry
has just completed one of the most dar.
ing marches connected with the presen
campaign. Detaching his little fore,
from Macarthur week ago, he drove
straight through the center of the isl
and, northward, cutting loose from hi.
communications and bound to reacf
APART or be captured or killed in the
attempt. Captain McCalla's advice in.
dicates that he has succeeded.
Bates report from the southern archi
pelago has allaycd the apprehension ex.
cited for the security of things ther,
growing out of the agitation caused b,
the misleading publications of importan
insurgent victories. Altogether the ad
vices contained in yesterdays dispatehe
have given great satisfaction to the of
fcials of the war department.
Jim Goddirg and Wash Powell. ne