Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-11-20
Cavalry Pushing Rapidly. For
ward. = Lawton Escaped
Drowning with Luna.
1900 CAMPAIGN INaUGURATED
Democratic Committee Meet To-
Day. = Chicago Platform
VIII Be Affirmed.

Washington, Nov. 20-Three caDle
dispatches were received at the war
department today from General Otis.
The first says: "MacArthur's advance
is within five miles of Dagapap, to
which point railroad is intact from
Bamban excepting the Tarlac break.
The northern five miles were destroy
ed but the rails have been recovered.
A large quantity of rolling stock was
destroyed along the line. Probably
either Lawton's or Wheaton's men are
at Dagupan. Have had no report
from those officers since the 18th and
should hear today. The roads are
becoming practicable for transporta-
ton Troops are moving from San
Jose to Lawton's front. Lieut.. Hauser
with three companies of the 25th in
fantry by night march, surprised
and captured without casualties, an
insurgent force at O'Donnell seven
miles from the railroad station of
Bamban or Capas. One insurgent
was killed. The force consisted of
four officers and 200 men. Their rifles
10000 rounds of ammunition, trans
portation, four tons of subsistence, Of
fetal records and considerable cloth
ing was secured. The insurgents
south of Manila are somewhat rest
less and were again driven back from
linus, six men being slightly wound
ed"
The second dispatch relates to af-
fairs in the southern islands: "One of
the contending insurgent factions at
Zamboanga secured the city and turn
ed the same over to Captain Very of
United States vessel in the harbor;
another insurgent faction made a
demonstration against the city, Very
called on Jolo for troops. One COM
pany was sent. The commanding Of
ficer asked permission to send three
additional leaving two there; two |
companies will be dispatched from
Jolo Both Jolo and Zamboanga
must be reinforced as soon as practi-
cable. 1t will require several days. 1t ;
is not intended to take possession of ,
Zamboanga until later; no provisions !
have been made. The latter part of
September the members of the insur
gent government of Cottabao district
in southern Mindanao were beheaded.
A new government was formed which
calls for United States troops The
city of Cottaboa, Duvuao, Surigao, in
the northeastern point of Mandanao
are of Importance. Troops will be
sent to these points when available.
Hughes is moving in Panay with
two columns; the insurgents have re-
treated from the southeastern PORTION
of the island"
The following relates to movements
farther north: MacArthurs adj
vance entered Dagupan today; he as
certained that Wheaton's troops had
been there yesterday and were with
drawn last evening. 1t is believed
that many insurgents detachments are
west Of the railroad in the province of
Zambales, meditating cTlcentration
and future demonstrations. They will
be looked after. Nothing yet received
from either Lawton or Wheaton"
The navy department also received
a report of the acquisition of Zam-
boanga in the following cablegram
from Admiral Watson: Commander
Very of the Castine with friendly
natives and Moros combined captured
Zamboanga on the 10th instant. No
casualties. Landing parties from the
Castine and Manila hold the town
with Fort Nazro commanding 1t pend.
ing the arrival of troops from Jolo
There is a considerable force of in
urgents at Mercedes, four miles
away" The acquisition of zamboan-
ga is of great Importance from a
military point of view. 1t is the prin.
cipal city of Mindanao and dominates
the entire southern half of that is
land
Manila, Nov. 2O-Only fragmentary
reports reach Manila of the opera
tions to the north, which are the most
remarkable campaigning the Philip
pine war mas known. General Lawton's
division is spread thinly over the ter.
ritory beyond San Jose where the
telegraph ends. General Young's two
regiments of cavalry are continuing
their rapid sweep into new towns and
the infantry is being showed forward
to hold the towns the cavalry has TAX
en- in country whose natural diff
culties are increased indescribably by
the tropical rains. Wagon transpor
tation is supposed to have been prac
tically abandoned, the American
troops living on captured supplies.
Major Samuel M. Swigert's squadron
of the third cavalry is reported to be
engaging a greatly superior force near
Pozorrupeo, northeast of Dagupan
These troops have fought three en-
gagements and are now holding theil
position waiting for reinforcements
It is believed at headquarters that this
force is covering the retreat of the in
surgent leaders to the Binbuet noun
tafns.
1t is reported that General Lawtor
narrowly escaped drowning while
fording a swift river, when Lieut.
Luna and two privates were lost.
Captain Henry A. Leonhaeuser with