The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-27
OTIS PLAN CHANGED.
Strategy Gives Place to an Onward
Rush.

Washington, March 27.-Major Simp-
son, chief of the military information
bureau, was again busy today assem-
bling the latest information from the
scene of battle, and so arranging it on
the military map as to show the pro-
gress of the engagement. 1t disclosed a
complete change in the movement since
Saturday.
Then the essential feature of Gen.
OTIS plan was to enclose the Insurgents
between two parallel lines of the Amer
lean forces and thus entrap them, to be
crushed or captured. Now this strategic
move has given way to a combined for
ward movement of the entire American
forces under Major General Macarthur
The change of operations was due to
the escape of the insurgent forces from
Malabon where the original purpose was
to take them 'in reverse" Macarthur
has under his command the brigades of
Wheaton, Hale and Harrison Gray Otis.
They are sweeping straight forward
along the railway towards Malolos.
There is no strategy or surprise in the
movement unless something unexpected
develops. 1t is simply a slow and dog
ged retreat of the insurgents toward
Malolos and the straight advance of the
wall of American troops toward the re-
treating insurgents.
The great changes wrought since Sat
urday are shown on the military map
with its new arrangement of forces. In
two days the insurgents base, which
was at Malabon, about five miles north
of Manila, has fallen back to Malolos,
same time the American lines have
moved forward from Caloocan about
four miles from Manila until General
Otis reports today that Macarthur holds
MarilOa IL miles north of Manila. Thus,
the 1nSurgent- retreat covers about fiji
teen miles and the American advance
| covers about eight miles. This ad-
vance, however, has been circuitOus
first eastward towards Nova1icheS and
then westward to Mariloa.
The entire movement is now proceed
ing alone the lines of the railroad, which
is presumed to be a, level stretch all the
way between the two opposing forces
There are no less than ten small streams
crossing the railroad between the two
forces. These are the streams to which
! Gen. Otis refers in reporting that the
J insurgents have destroyed bridges which
impedes the progress of our supply
trains and artillery. Maj. Simpson, who
was on the staff of Gen. Greene at
Manila and is personally familiar with
the surrounding country, says that be-
sides the difficulty of burned bridges,
the roads at their best are almost i'm
passable for light artillery and the fire.
quent maneuvers of the cavalry, and
the lighter guns can be moved slowly,
but it is impossible to so manipulate
them as to take every crest and rise of
ground. The only horses available for
! the cavalry and artillery are the small
native ponies.
The interest of today centers in the
stand to be made by A guinaldo with his
insurgent forces. There is hope that he
will risk final stand at Malolos. In
| that event the next forty-eight hours
should determine the final issue, as the
| American forces at Marilao are not
more than ten miles from Malolos. Be
! tween these places the scattered forces
are engaging the extreme rear of the
| insurgents troops with the advance of
| the Americans bearing the brunt.
While this is going on, fifteen or twen-
| ty miles north of Manila, Gen. Otis dis
| patches show that the insurgents are
| Maj. Gen. Lawton's division is in re-
| serve. Gen. Otis report shows no con-
Germ as to this southern movement, as
| he remarks that tLawton will look out
4 for -