The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-23
RESUME OF THE SITUATION.
General Otis's Report on the COndi-
tion I'm the Philippines.

tiOn I'm the Philippines.
WASHINGTON. May 22-The War De-
partment has received the following cable
gram from General Otis.
Conditions as follows: In Bulucan prov
ince En troops maintained at Quinga, Baliuag,
san Miguel Iawton proceeding down Rio
Grande river from San Isidro He has
driven the enemy westward from San An
joined yesterday by Kobbe's column. He
will reach Santa Ana and Candaba to-day
Macarthur stih at San Fernando and will
occupy cities south and westward. Insur-
gent forces disintegratng daily. Luna
force. at Tarlac is much diminished. He
mas destroyed several miles of railway in
deserted Luna and few have entered
Manila for protection. In Pampanga and
Bulucan the inhn+tta = are-.g1... ing 70
troops. South of Manila the insurgent dis
integratfon is progressing, though a large
force is still maintained. Conditions I'm
proving daily. VIII send one battalion Of
troops and gunbcat to Negros tomorrow
To allay excitement In southern portion OF
the island and on the west coast of Cebu.
Have denied request of Aguinaldo's COM
missioners for armistice.'
General Otis also reports that the trans
port Warren arrived on the 18th inst The
Warren sailed from San Francisco April 20
with headquarters. batteries B, d, Z, f. G.
III. L and NJ, Sixth Artillery and detach-
ment OF recruits, making a total OF twenty
five officers and LOS enlisted men, under
command of General F. b. Williston.
While 1t Is not so affirmed at the depart
ment, the present movement is generally
believed to mark the end of the active cam
paign before the wet weather sets in. Mac
Arthur Is at San Fernando. south of
Arayat, where Kobbe and Lawton are now
Joined. This is the point that has previously
been spoken of a possible summer base
for the American northern outposts From
Bacalor, on the railroad, there is a highway
running northwest through San Fernando,
Mexcico, Santa Ana and on to Arayat on
the river. The dispatch says that the Amer
lean army will occupy the cities south and
west.
There Is no present talk of another north
ern movement. This would leave tri-
angle between the railroad and the river
that could be easily held and protected by
the United States troops during the wet sea-
son, even though the insurgents were in
much greater force than they are reported.
and though they were inclined TO be ag-
gressive. which the reports indicate they
are not. Lawton's turning in his march to
the north and proceeding down the Rio
Grande is the natural result of his failure
TO get in behind the insurgents at San Isidro
and crush them at blow according to pro-
gramme.
In the movement north Lawton Travelled
in line east of the Rio Grande and par
allel to 1t. His march was through a rough
and little-traveled country toward the foot
of the eastern mountain ranges. 1t was a
hard journey. and the insurgents slipped
away before they could be hemmed in be-
tween Lawton and Kobbe and Macarthur S
armies The reported dissolution of the
insurgent forces, which are said to be in
bad condition at Tarlac, and the statement
in General Otis's dispatch that he had again
denied Aguinaldo's request for an armistice.
are taken to Indicate that there is some
likelihood that the commissions offer TO
form a government may be speedily ac-
cepted. This is a matter. however. on
which there is no official inclination to
speculate.
No particular Importance is attached TO
the statement that the Filipinos are threat
ening trouble in the south. The American
line I'm this direction Is under command OF
General Ovenshine and stretches across a
Manila, between the seacoast and Laguna
de Bay. Ii is a position which the Filipinos
could not force under any conceivable con-
ditions. while the tin-clad fleet OH the Ia
goon and the war ships off the coast would
be able to make the narrow stretch of
country between them very unhealthy re-
sort for any large force of insurgents