The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-03-26
PLAN OF CAMPAIGN
Otis Sought 10 and Has Divided Forces
Of Enemy.
WILL NOW TRY TO CRUSH EACH
In Its Turn Between Two Lines Of
Americans.
HEAVY LOSSES ARE TO BE EXPECTED
But American Lives Must Be Sacrificed by
Bullets or Disease.
now THE SITUATION STANDS AT THIS TIME
/
tAyY LOSSES ARE TO BE EXPECTED
how THE SITUATION STANDS AT THIS TIME
One Portion Of the Rebels Has Now
Becn Put In "A Position TO nc
Differentiated.

Washington, March 2J,--Intense inter-
cat was exhibited at the war department
in the news which began to come from
General Otis at Manila early In the day.
II was apparent that General Otis has be-
gun TO put In operation the plan OF cam
paign which he had been SO carefully pre-
pairing for the last month or more, aud
it was confidently expected that this blow
would destroy the last vestige OF the rebel
organization, though it was realized that
this could not be effected without severe
loss on the part OF our forces General
OTIS deemed this course " military neces-
silly, because. with the approach OF the
rainy aud unhealthy season. now within
month, tho position OF the American
troops on the outer lines would become
untenabe
immediately upon receipt OF the cable
| gram announcing the beginning OF the az
vance by McArtaur'a division aud the plan
| for the movement OF the remaining sec
| tions Of the American column, there was
! an Immediate consultation of the maps
| which have been drafted by the military
| Information division. 1t was perceived
| that the American general WAS endeavor-
| Ing TO drive wedge straight through the
center Of the insurgert army and then by
| a rapid wheel to crush ont one of the d.
| Vided wings against another section OF the
| American columns, OTIS statement that
| u am endoavnrlng TO tnlse fraction tot
| the army in reverse was taken to mean
that lie would send fraction" OF his
troops through the cnemy's lines, thus
cutting OF Their retreat. then make
reverse" attack, or attack thom on the
other eide.
Major simpson chief OF the burenu OF
military Information. was busy during the
day taking the frggmentary information
Of the movements here and there of bait
talions and brlSades and so assembling
them AS "a give on the military map Il
complete picture of today's theater OF OPP
erations. 40 explained, the field of todays
action is as follows;
Back OF Manila. n, distance of over
seven miles from the water front, sweeps
| a great semi-circle OF American troops
This arc Is about twenty miles long and
embraces about 2100Q men. II Is cut MIDI
way by the pasig river which forms
natural military division To the south
the arc is under the command OF Major
! General Lawtou, just arrived In tho PHIL
| lpplnes. Until now this has been the field
OF activity, with Wheatons flying column
| bearing back the Insurgents
| Total OF Lawton's forces arc idle aud
| the scene OF activity is shifted TO the north
ot the river. Here tho arc sweeps from
! the water works around to the bay.
Major General Macarthur Is in command
! Of all tho troops north of the river. and
these are roughly estimated at between
| lhfhVN anu iffhVu ulSu. INT OkncTA DCluH
| with bawton on the south, Before the
action begun this morning McArthurs
| forces were divided into three main bod
| les. Far TO the right. near the water
works, Was Hale's brigade. Far to the
| left, about Caloocan, was the brigade ot
| Harrison Gray Otis, and OF Wheaton,, the
| latter having been drawn from Lawtons
! forces on the south in order 10 strengthen
| McArthur's command for this operation.
Between them was the brigade of Hall,
| held as a reserve to demonstrate, but not
| TO attack Hale's brigade was made UP
| OF the Third Nebraska, First South Da-
l1ota. First Wyoming, First Colorado and
! Battery = of the Utah artillery. Harris.
! son Gray OTIS command on the left was
made up of the Twentieth Kansas. First
Montana Tenth Pennsylvania. battalion
| of the Twenty third infantry and Battery
| A OF the Utah artillery. These are the
! troops with tho additional force OF Wheat
! on's and some recent arrivals. possibly
not yet reported, which have sustained the
brunt OF the action today.
| Macarthur moved rapidly north TO NslfchcS
| passing tho iusurgent forces on the LETT
| on reaching Novaleches Macarthur turned
! sharply to the west intending to make Il
] forced march OF about seven miles 10 Pe,u.
| BY this movement Macarthur forces are
carried outside OF the insurgents base OF
| operations This base is at Malabor, be-
| tween McArthur's forces and Harrison
| Otis forces and Wheaton at Calooean. Thus
! the rebels are Ranked and between TWO
strong bodies OF American troops To tht
west of them Is Manila bay, cutting OF
| retreat In that direction. and to the east
| the forces of Hall Tor HALEY as reported
| by General Otis, are demonstrating IN
| order to forbid any insurgent movement
| toward the east. They are thus left be-
| tween the two main bodies Of American
| troops and must engage either one or tho
other. 1t IS General Otis plan. as shown
| by his dispatch. to have the brigades OK
| Wheaton advance towards those OF Gem
aral Macarthur. thus gradually enclosing
| the rebels between two parallel lines until
they are crushed or made prisoners.
The two opposing forces appear to be
rather evenly matched in point OF mum
bers, the estimated American forces north
| of the river being $4,000, while General
! Otis places the insurgents at about 12,opu.
Major General Otis is in supreme c7ill-
mand. directing the operations OF thF
/ from a central telegraph station.