The Mena star., 1899-04-27

The Germans Wanted a Coaling Station In
 the Philippines The London Saturday
 Reviews Comments Dispatch Received
 from Gen. Otis Announcing the Initia-
 fion of New Campaign.
 Manila, April 23.-Gen. Lawton took the field at daybreak Saturday with a column of troops consisting of the North Dakota regiment, two battal- ions of the Third infantry, the Twenty second United States infantry, two guns of Scott's battery, three troops ot the Fourth cavalry and Gales cavalry squadron, all equiped in light marching order. This force started at five clock in the morning over the Novaliches road northeast of Manila. 1t leads to the east of Malolos and traverses the country previously cleared of rebels, but subsequently, reoccupied by them. It is to be presumed that Gen. Lawton by this movement will outfank the enemy and join Gen. MacArthur' $ army north of Malolos.
 The Dakota regiment first encoun- tered the enemy in front of Novaliches at S:15 o'clock in the morning. The rebels opened fire on our troops, but their fire was silenced 15 minutes later. The Filipinos retired in bad order and the Americans advanced along the rough roads around Novaliches. For two hours more our troops were consider ably annoyed by the fire of the rebel sharpshooters from the jungle. At two o'clock in the afternoon the rebels were in full flight, leaving many dead upon the field. Pursuit was stopped, as our troops were compelled to take brief rest in the field, for the heat was over powering.
 All the country Lawton's troops are now marching through was cleared of rebels by forces under MacArthur, but as the Americans marched to the north ward, eventually reaching Malolos, the Insurgents in small bands returned.
 What the Germans Wanted.
 London, April 23.-The London Daily Chronicle says this morning:
 We are informed that, during the Hispano- American war. Germany proposed to the United States the cession Of a coaling station in the Philippines in the event of annexation, to- gether with the exchange of commercial privi- aeges. The United States replied that the pro-
 
 uncertainty as to the way the public would re- gard the request. Later Germany asked the United States not to annex the Caroline islands, claiming the first right to them herself and re- newing her request for a coaling station in the Philippines in exchange for islands in the Mar shall and Brown groups, east of the Carolines. The United States repeated that the request was premature and the negotiations are still in Obeyance.
 The London Saturday Reviews Comments. London, April 23.--The Saturday Re- view, commenting upon Gen. Lawton's s retirement from the Santa Cruz district of La Guna de Bay, says:
 Unpatriotic politicians in the United States are doing their utmost to create panic, in the hope that the Philippines must be abandoned and the party in power discredited. It is an fgnoble game and we sincerely trust it will be unsuccessful If the Americans retire from their sef-apponted task the great republic must take the brand of coward as well as the brand of sCain," with which Lowell declared it to be marked.
 4 Dispatch Received from Otis.
 Washington, April 23.-The war de- partment received cablegram from Gen. Otis announcing the formation of a new flying column under command of Gen. Lawton, and the initiation of a new campaign which is expected to re- suit in clearing out the jungle in the country north of Manila up to the foot hills of the mountains on the northeast and up to the termination of the rail road at Bulacan. The text of the dis patch was not made public, but it is understood to agree closely with the account of the movements contained in the Associated dispatches from Manila.