The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-13
SCHWAN is RETURNING
THE FILIPINO AS A LIGHTNING
CHANGE EXPERT.
THE ABANDONED TRENCHES REOccUPlEO
Gen. Funston Says he Came Back Home Be-
cause he Was Ordered Here, and that
he Would Gladly have Remain
ed in the Philippines.

Manila. Oct. l2.-6:lU.-General
Young, with two battlanions of the
Twenty fourth infantry, nine troops of
the Fourth cavalry, and the scouts of the
Thirty Seventh infantry, left Santa
Ana at Z o'clock this morning and occu-
pied Arayat Mt nine after a skirmish
lasting half an hour.
The enemy estimated ut 800 retreated
toward Magellan. The swampy charac-
ter of the country prevented the use of
cavalry. The men of the Twenty-fourth
charged the trenches The enemy set
the town on fire and succeeded in burn>
ing a small section. Five dead and
three wounded Filipinos were left ON the
field. The Americans had one man
wounded.
Manila, Oct. 12-11 90 p. m.-General
Schwan's expedition having accomplish
ed its object, the troops are all returning
TO their former positions, abandoning
the towns taken.
General Schwan is enroute from
Perez Das Marinas to linus with the
infantry, while the artillery and cayal-
ry and all mule teams are retracing their
route from Malabon to Bacoor, with
the signal corps removing the. wires
General Trias with the organized bodies
of insurgents. retreated to Slang and
Indang, at the base of the mountain.
The movement of the United States
troops was fine display of American
generalship and energy, while the Fill
pinos adopted what General Alejandrino
terms "Our peculiar method of war
fare
The whole country is an immense
swamp, and the Filipinos never expected
that the Americans could or would at
tempt to invade it during the wet season.
Moreover. the line of march furnished
a succession of surprises. the advancing
troops being generally attacked from I'M
expected points.
In Cayite Province. the scene of the
hottest fights and their greatest success
es over the Spaniards, the Fiipinos
might have been expected to make a
resoIute stand if anywhere, but after
their whippings at Cavite, Viejo and
Noyeleta. their tactics consisted chiefly
ina continuous exhibition of their agility
and their transformation from warriors
to amigos.
The marines, while accommodating
found that the trenches have already
been re-occupied, although the enemy
manifested more than their usual will
ingness to retreat before the Americans.
Armed bands have reappeared along the
shore road between Bacoor and Rosario,
and the troops returning by that route
expect another fight at Rosario. At
Malabon the Americans corralled two or
Ia hr.
fighting men. A few of them were
caught with arms in their hands, but
large numbers were found in hiding
dressed in khaki, like the American uni
form. A majority of them were in the
garb of amigos. but they are suspected
of shooting at the troops from houses, a
growing habit, which fionrished through
out the advance whenever small parties
of Americans strayed from the main
body.
The prisoners. with the exception of
those caught red handed, will be return
ed, as owing to the fact that the insur-
gents have SO many more men than guns
the keeping of prisoners is "a useless ex-
pense unless the policy Of reconcentra-
tion which General Weyler pursued IS
TO be adopted
In conversation with an Associated
Press representative, a leading mer-
chant of Rosario remarked:
''T'hey will all be engaged in their old
business as soon as released.
When asked where the army had gone,
the merchant replied:
"a majority of them are here. They
simply hid their guns when they saw a
superior force approaching"
The work of the commissary and
quartermasters departments directed by
Captains Biddle and Horton, was re-
markable throughout. The transporta-
tion Of supplies from Rosario to Malabon
seemed to be impossible. The wagons
had to be repeatedly unloaded and re-
loaded while being dragged through the
nlire.
General Schwan is marching back
without the loaded teams, all baggage
being shipped from Bacoor by canoes and
the wagons going empty.
A telegraph squad under Lieutenant
Clark kept the wire abreast OF the line
TO Malabon, but in order TO do this thu
teams had to be abandoned and the wirs
carried by Coolies.
WHY FUNSTON CAME HOME.
San Francisco. Cal. Oct 12--Genera
Frederick Funston. talking TO "A reporte
OF the Philippine situation today, said:
'sNath 10000 men, if the campaign j
pushed, the war will be over in 81,
months. but of course, it won't be endet
that soon if the troops are kept in Ma
Mia.
Il came back" continued Genera
Funston, because | was ordered to-
would have staid very gladly, and wis
that i were there"
Ibid you ask to stay!
NO" he continued. II would not d
that, | have not asked, nor wall |, but
it is thought I can be of any service i
the Philippines, | will 90 back on yer
short notice. take it that the terms o
enlistment of the State volunteers hay
ing expired, the number of voluntee
generals is being reduced"