The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-25
TOLD BY M'ARTHUR.
Summary of His Official Report of
Operations in the Philippines.


Washington, May 25.-The secretary
of war has made public a report from
Major General Macarthur General
Macarthur covers a period of time
from the evening of February f. when
the insurgent outbreak began, to Feb
ruary %. He gives a vivid picture of
the conditions prevailing in Manila and
its suburbs during the exciting times
that followed the initiation of the in
surgent attack. An important feature
of his report is the demonstration of
the responsibility of the insurgents for
the outbreak. He also speaks in terms
of the highest praise of the splendid
qualities of American officers and en-
listed men.
General MacArthur's command was
the Second division of the Eighth army
corps, which included the Twentieth
Kansas (Funston's command) and the
Utah battery.
General Macarthur mentions also a
| little naval contingent in the shape of
a Colt automatic gun loaned by the
Helena, manned by Lieutenant Cleland
Davis, who volunteered with three ma
rlneS. Making a brief statement of
the position of the United States troops
in Manila and suburbs just preceding
the outbreak of February 4. General
Macarthur comes to the incidents lead
ing up to the rupture. He says:
The pertinacity of the insurgents in
passing armed parties over the line of
delimitation into American territory
IlduC6Q Il correspondence WHICH, III
the light of subsequent events, is in
teresting as indicating with considera-
BILE precision a premeditated purpose
on the part of somebody in the insur-
gent army to force a collision
General Macarthur addressed a note
to Colonel San Miguel of the insurgent
army. The note, which has now be-
come so important, and the answer, are
as follows:
''sir-The line between your COM
mand and my command has been long
eSta blished and is we'll understood by
yourself and myself
1t is quite necessary under present
conditions that this line should not be
passed by armed men of either COM
mand.
AN armed party from your command
now occupies the village in front of
block house No. 7, at point consider
ably more than a hundred yards on my
side of the line and is very active in
exhibiting hostile intentions. This party
must be withdrawn to your side of the
line at once.
From this date if the line is crossed
by your men with arms in their hands,
they must be regarded as subject to
such action as I may deem necessary.
Very respectfully,
ARTHUR MACARTHUR,
Major General U. S. V, Commanding.
san Juan del Monte, Feb. 2, 1897
Major General Macarthur:
MY Very Dear Sir-In reply to yours
dated today, in which you inform
that my soldiers have been passing the
lines of demarkation, fixed by agree
ment, 1 desire to say that this is for
eign to my wishes, and shall give i'm
mediate orders in the premises that
they retire. Truly yours.
I. F. SAN MIGUEL,
Colonel and First Chief"
Next came the disregard of the prom
Use, which precipitated the outbreak,
and this is described by General Mac
Arthur in the following language:
AT about half past p. M, Febru-
o1-Nr 4 n iTG ont nal
of four armed soldiers, entered our ter
ritory at block house No. Z and adj
vanced to the little village of SantOl,
which was occupied from the pipe line
outpost of the Nebraska regiment. The
American sentinel challenged twice,
and then, as the inSurgent patrol con-
tinued to advance, he fired, whereupon
the patrol retired to block house No. Z,
whence fire was Immediately opened
by the entire insurgent outpost at that
point.
AT 9 Q. m, Colonel Stotsenburg,
First Nebraska infantry. reported con-
siderable firing at his outposts, which
extended gradually along the entire
front of the division.
AT 1910 p. M, it was evident that
the hostilities had been commenced in
earnest by the insurgents, and accord
ingly an order issued from these head
quarters to put everything on the firing
line according to a programme which
had been prearranged for such an en-
ergency.''
Continuing, the report shows that the
fighting progressed fiercely all night
and the next day the insurgents were
driven back from their whole line The
Tennessee regiment and the South Da-
kOta regiments are particularly men,
toned as rendering good service. Says
Gen. Macarthur:
The combat was characterized by
fine display of bravery of the troops,
who were essential to the final success
achieved -
The affair of February, 7eis described
as an outpost affair originating be-
tween opposing sertinels and ending
with hand to hand conflict between
three and a half companies under Col.
Funston and Major Metcalf and 200 in
surgents. The latter stood firmly and
dubbed muskets and bayonets were
freely used, the result being a com
plete route of the enemy. The plan of
the attack on Caloocan is described in
the report. The programme is said to
have been carried out with almost ex-
act precision, the tactical execution be
ing excellent and the resistance such as
to require the best efforts of all con-
cerned. Company NJ, of the Montana
regiment is especially mentioned for its
performance under Major Bell of some
extra hazardous duty in making a
feint.
OF the Nebraska regiment Gen. Mac
Arthur says:
In consequence of its advanced posi-
ton at the pumping station, the Ne
braska regiment has been engaged in a
series of minor operations which have
resulted in a large amount of arduous
and dangerous work, all of which has