The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-18
SEA OR MOUNTAINS.
FilipinOs Have but Two Directions
in Which to Retreat,

Ah " hACh ~ netEedN
WASHINGTON, May 17-That the in
surgents are distintegrated and demoral-
lied is perfectly manifest from the press
dispatches and the cable received from
Gen. Otis today. Gen. Lawton, who was
pushing the line of the rebel retreat along
the Rio Grande, has flung his advance,
which at last advices was resting at San
Miguel, northward about twelve miles,
has taken San Ididro, the second insur-
gent capital, and when the Otis dispatch
was sent was still pressing the enemy
northward. The fact that he is sustain
ing few losses in his forward movement,
although in an almost continuous at
tack with the enemy, is another proof of
their utter decentralization. According to
Gen. Otis cable they still continue TO
throw up intrenchments, but Gen. Law
TOMS strategy outfianks each position III
turn, keeping them in full retreat, and
giving them no opportunity to recon
struct their scattered forces.
1t will be to the mountains or sea for
the insurgents. AS our troops could be
transported by sea to the mouth of the
Agno, and a new base of operations es-
tablished there it would be folly for them
to take that course. Scattered, demoral-
lied and disheartened, it is almost GER
tain that the rebels, in desperation, will
retreat into the Businesses of the noun
tains, where they would be safe from pur-
suit, and where they could keep up
guerilla waFefare indefinitely, or until
their leaders came to their senses.
Although all the past efforts of our
trooDs to. get into the rear of the in
surgents have failed, up to this time, by
sheer force of the battering ram the
enemy has been driven back step hy
step into the pocket where nothing Will
be left for them but surrender or the
mountains. Over fifty-five miles, as the
back.
The situation of the insurgents is des-
perate. MacArthur's division drove
them back along the line of the railroad
to Pagpan, on the bay of Lingayen. as
far as Calumpit.' All efforts to impcde
his progress by the destructlo1 CT
bridges were frustrated. The insurgents
were forced out of their strongest posi-
tions simultaneously Gen. Lawton
moved to the right In a wide detour to-
ward Norsagaray, the eastern limit of
open country, with the intention of turn
ing the enemys position and crush ng
them between the two columns. Although
unsuccessful in this, the enemy, to make
good his escape, was compelled to aban-
don his line of retreat along the railroad
and retire up the Rio Grande. The in
surgents by this move, displayed con-
siderable adroitness in the art of war, as
it made 1t incumbent upon the Americans
TO get Inelr supplies u lHe AiOul etAOhS
a new line This had been comparatively
easy along the line of the railroad which
had been repaired as the troops ad-
vanced
The change in the line of retreat of the
rebels stopped Lawton's advance for sew
eral days. it is presumed, no move
ment until today had been reported since
Friday. Meantime it is presumed sup
plies were sent forward up the Rio
Grande in cascoes native barges) under
the escort of the gunboats commanded
by Maj. Kobbes. The latter was re-
ported to have 1900 men with them, de-
signed for the reinforcement of Lawton.
The supplies probably having arrived at
point opposite Lawton, whose column
had advanced along line five miles east
and parallel with the river, were deliv-
cred to him. and today he pushed on into
Bulacan, although the words In Gen.
Otis dispatch must not be taken liter
Continued on Fourth Page.