The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-10-09

WASHINGTON. Sept. 29.-The cap
ture of Porac by General Macarthur is
regarded by the War Department as
the preliminary maneuver to- a general
movement OF the American troops
north TO take possession of the rail-
road from Manila to Lingayau Bay.
General Otis has enough troops to
make more movements and to- garri-
son the towns along the line of the
railroad 1t is believed the rainy sea-
son will soon be ended. and that more
extensive military operations Will then
be begun.
A large body of insurgents was in
the vicinity OF Porac, the extreme
west of the populous province OF Pam
pangau. General Macarthur extended
his lines almost to- Porac early in Au-
gust, but was compelled TO withdraw
toward Santa Rita and Angeles be-
| cause of the heavy rains. The insur-
gents have remained to- the west of
Porac and last week they captured the
gunboat Urdanetta on the coast to- the
( south. 1t was considered necessary to
| drive them out of that territory before
| general movement north was begun.
and General Macarthur took posses
sion of Porac with that end in view.
| The General is expected to- garrison
l
the valley and in the mountains. That
| will enable him to- move his army
north on Tarlac. where Aguinaldo has
his headquarters. and he will continue
to drive the insurgents to- the north
until the railroad from Manila TO Lin
gayau Bay is in the possession OF the
| Americans.
But little has been heard OF General
Lawton recently. 1t is said by War
Department officials that he is near
General Macarthur and is preparing
TO move north with column parallel
To the forces of that General. The
greater part of the troops has beer
transferred quietly to- the north Of Ma
Mia for that movement. II Is also
said that considerable body OF troops
will be transported from Manila e
Lingayau Bay and landed to- begin {
southwark march. with the expectation
of crushing the insurgents between th'
two columns.
Ii is significant that Generals Law
ton. Wheaton, Wheeler and Grant ar,
all with Macarthur to- the north. anC
it is said that they are preparing To-
an aggressive campaign that will cleal
that part of the island and place tn
one railroad in the Philippines com
pletely under American control.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29.-Genera
Otis today cabled the following repor
of the capture of Porac:
Lawton's troops are at Calumpit ant
San Fernando. where concentration 1
taking place. He is ordered to- cove
the country between Mexico. Guags
Bacalor and Santa Rita. Macarthur
has been ordered to- take his troops an
o clear the country west and in the Vi
! entity of Porac, which he did yesteT
day. advancing TO Porac at an earl
hour with the Ninth Infantry an
= Thirty-siXth Volunteers, capturing Pc
rae and driving the enemy nortl
Wheaton at Angeles kept back In
: enemy on his north and moved hi
force westward to intercept the Pora
insurgents, but they retreated
mountain roads. The movement r,
suits in clearing the country preparS
tory To further operations. Our casua
ties at Porac are five wounded. Whe;
ton does not report any casualties. Il
captured one officer and several 81
listed men. Some twenty OF the en-
4 my were killed; the number of woun,
Il ed is unknown.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 30.-Gener
Otis cables the following from NJ
Mia: The Ohio transport. with thr,
officers and forty-nine men OF the ~
vada cavalry, also 215 discharged me
sailed yesterday via Hongkong al
N Guam. Two men OF the Nevada ca
airy are in the hands OF the insu
gents.