Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
YEAR 1899 NOTABLE IN MANY WAYS

in number to garrison the towns which
they captured, were forced to move by
rapid marches from one point to another to
strike the Filipinos wherever they heard of
their being massed. The insurgents took
advantage of the thin line, and by their
great mobility succeeded in evadng the
American troops in pitched battles. but
constantly retreating from their front and
gathering In their rear. succeeded in ha-
RAISING our troops almost beyond endur-
ance. 1t seemed to be the opinion of every
one. except Gen. Otis. who had been present
were absolutely necessary to bring the
war to a speedy and successful issue.
Gen. Otis, however insisted that 5000 eff
fectives We're all that were necessary.
Call for Volunteers.
In spite of Gen. Otis assertions, President
Mckinley, early in July Issued a call for
ten regiments of volunteers for service in
the Philippines, and an order for the enroll
ment Of ten additional volunteer regiments
was issued August IS. 1t was estimated that
these new troops would make the effective
force in the Philippines at the opening of
the campaign in October or November.
about GO,UC0 men.
Desultory fighting continued during the
summer months ard though our troops were
uniformly suco essful so far as driving the
Filipinos wherever they could strike them,
little real progress was made toward the
suppression oil the revolt
About the middle of July the entire staff
of correspondents of American newspapers
in Manila united in manifesto criticising
the censorship which Gen. Otis had exer-
cised over them. They charged Sen. Otis
with suppressing many important facts alb
solutelY and So distorting others as to leave
a wrong impression upon the minds of the
people who read them in print in the news
papers of the United States. This state
ment declared that previous dispatches
81 rod in tIapl a,i,,, boz ~
situation well in hand. 1t also stated that
1T was an error to assume that the insur-
rection could speedily be ended without any
increase of force. 1t also denied the state
ments tina the volunteers were willing to
re-enlist. II e War Department first decided
to ignore this manifesto. But subsequently,
after cabinet meeting, statement was
posted at tn office of the Secretary of War
declaring the allegations of the correspond
entS 10 be false in every particular.
Antf-ImperiaIist Agitation.
While the American forces were using
every endeavor to put down the insurrec-
ton in the Philippines, number of prom
inent men in this country began an agita-
ton against the war. calling themselves
antf-fmperialists. They organized a league,
Of which Edward Atkinson of Boston was
the head, and distributed anti-imperialistic
literature throughout the states and even
went so far as to send their reasonable
4itSi Il tui Z " inc troops IN the nelu, 1t
charged by Gen. Otis and other officers of
hlgh rank in the Philippines that the eff
lect OF this literature was most damaging
10 the American arms through the encour-
agement II off red to the ins-rgents
Toward the close of the rainy season and
after the arrival of fresh troops at Manila
active operations were resumed against the
lhsurSent forces with decidedly better eff
Iect on the part OF the American troops.
In the latter part of September the navy.
cooperating with the army reduced the
lnsurgent towns along the coast of Luzon
north of Manila and the forts on Subig
bay. They captured Bacolor Torac and a
number of other important towns
After the arrival home of Admiral Dewey
the President had an interview with him
ana determined to strengthen the navy in
Manila. The Bro oklyn. the Machias and
the Marietta were Immediately dispatched
TO reinforce the fleet under Admiral Wat
son. BY the middle of October there was
sharp lighting all along the line in Luzon
and the insurgents We're being steadily
pressed backward toward the mountains in
the north, while the Americans succeeded
IN occupying the towns and strategic points
which they captured Aguinaldo endeavor-
ed to bolster up the waning hopes of his
followers by again referring in a proclama-
ton to the anti-imperialistic sentiment in
this country
About this time Gen. Pho del Pillar, one of
ASuinaldo chlef commanders, made a
proposition to Gen Otis to surrender on the
receipt of $4,000. He further offered for
S2:D,oD to surrender his entire command
and for the sum of half million to cause
the overthrow of the entire insurrection
The offer was only considered as showing
the spirit of hopelessneSs which had come
to pervade the insurgent forces.
ASuinnIdo Hard Pressed.
Gems. Lawton. Wheaton, Young, Mac
Arthur and others, in command of the
forces north of Manila, We're pressing the
forces under Aguinaldo very hard. By a
series of forced marches they struck the
insurgents simultaneously along their en-
tire line and put them to rout. Aguinaldo
and his cabinet fed from Tarlac, abandon
ing their records and personal effects, bare
ly escaping capture themselves. He es-
capped into the Carabello mountains of the
north, with Gen. Lawton in hot pursuit.
Early in November the President called
together all the members of the Filipino
peace commission who were in the United
States to hear their report as to the condi-
tons they found in the islands, together
with such recommendations as they had
to make regarding the situation out there
There Were present at this meeting Admiral
Dewey, Messrs. Schurman. Worcester and
DENLY. 1t was the unanimous opinion of
the commission that the natives were re-
sponsible for the war and their report urged
retention of the islands
Backbone of the Revolt Broken.
The late news from the scene of war all
goes to indicate that the backbone of the
rebellion is broken. Aguinaldo is fugitive
Felipe Buencamino, the Filipino secretary
of state, has been captured: Bautista the
president of the Filipino congress, has sur
rendered. Aguinaldos mother and eldest
son were captured by our troops, and what
remains of the Filipino army is scattered
about over the country in small bands
without cohesion and without the ability
to carry on anything like aggressive war
fare.
The rebellion has cost the lives of a num-
Der Of gallant and distinguished soldiers,
foremost among whom was the brave Gen.
Lawton, who fell few days ago leading
his troops in an attack on small insur-
gent garrison. His unfortunate death cast
a gloom over the entire country, which has
not yet been dispelled even by the brilliant
successes of the American arms.
THE WAR IN THE TRANSVAAL.
Outcome of Old Feud Between
Foreigners and BOer Republic.
Ever since the Jameson raid into the