New-York tribune., 1899-03-27
ANXIOUS DAY IN WASHlN" wv
OFFICIALS PLEASED WITH RESULT or i"r
ACTION

OFFICIALS PLEASED WITH RESULT VI i"H
ACTION.
WASHINGTON. March 26.-Advces from "e"
eraI Otis were watched with the keenest inter
by War Department officials to-day anu !"
sistant Secretary Meiklejohn who In 'he "'
sence Of Secretary Ager Is Actng oeciet"''
War. remained in his office throughout 'ne u"'
T., odo. 70 Laen I'm close touch with the progress
Of the fighting. Many Army officers ana o'ne'
officials were also at the Department. anu ''e
President was kept advised as to the deNe'oP
ments as indicated in General Otiss dispatches
Early this morning the first message from 'e'-
eral Otis was received. and was soon IoHo"eu oS
others. whose contents gave to the officials mere
their first general idea OF the operations OF the
last two days.
The list VI killed and wounded. which General
O1is had promised was awaited anXiousiy ny
the Department and the friends and relatives
here Of the officers and men in the Philippines
hut # WAS late in the afternoon before IL was re-
ceived Much regret was expressed at the death
Of Colonel Egbert the only regular officer among
the killed.
General Ots's dispatch. received at 10 o'clock
tonight recording MacArthur's advance to
Newcanayan MeycauayanO marked distinct
and important step by the American troops in
the opinion Of Acting Secretary Meikejohn and
Adiutant- General Corbin. Both expressed their
satisfaction at what had been accomplished.
The former dispatches regarding this branch Of
the operations had not been so promising. mas
much as they had stated that General MacAr-
thur although he had driven the enemy, could
not gain a point north OF Polo on account OF the
roughness Of the country. With easy railroad
communication to the advanced point the diff
Guilty in forwarding commissary supplies will
be considerably lessened
The tenacty of the Fpnos in the last few
days fighting has somewhat surprised the war
officials here. who did not think them capable Of
putting up and maintaining the contest they
have.
Tho fact that the insurgents had been forced
to retire from Malabon early In the day was
regarded as encouraging. and Acting Secretary
MoikIejohn remarked THAT is good, very ia
vorabie. indeed"
Secretary Long said tonight that nothing lad
come from Admiral Dewey in the course Of the
day respecting the American operations 1T Ma
Mia.
Word is hourly expected at the War Depart
rnent Of the arrival Of the transport Sheridan
at Manila with nineteen hundred reinforcemcnts
for General Otis. This Will be a Formidable ad-
dition to his lighting strength The troops in
cIude one full regiment and the headquarters,
and one battalion Of another. and. If the cx-
perience Of those taken aboard the Grant and
Sherman is repeated. they will be in fighting
trim as soon as they land. and ready 10 be
pushed Immediately to the front.
Six regiments Of infantry and artillery. com
prising approximately. eight thousand men, one
regiment Of which sailed from San Fran ,sco
yesterday are under orders for Manila. Their
movement will be pushed as rapdly as poYsi-
bic. with ? view to the reinforcement IF General
Otis at the earliest day practicable.