Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1899-03-28
THIRD DAYS FIGHT.
Gen OSis' Plans Changed by the re-
treat.
Rebels Expected to Make a Determined
Stand at Maiolas.

WASHINGTON, March rs. The third
day of lighting north OF Manila
brought little of decisive character
from whicn war department officials
could Judge what the hnal outcome
~ thIs movement would be. In all
Official quarters the most intense ia
terest PREVAILED, but there was no
excitement and none Ct that anxiety
and tension shown during the menu
orable days OF last summer, when the
decisive blows was being struck at
santiago. Early 10 the day General
OTIS cabled the war department a
brief but comprehensive dispatch,
summing up the situation:
MANILA, March q. - McArthur's
brigade holds MarlaO. There was
severe lighting today, and our casual
Ties number about 40. The insurgents
have destroyed the bridges, which im-
peded the progress OF our train and
artillery. Our troops met the cOncen-
trated lnsurgent forces on the north
ern line, commanded by Aguiualdo 10
person, and drove them back with
considerable slaughter. They left
nearly 100 dead On the field, aud many
prisoners and small arms we're cap
Lured. The column will press on in
the morning. "OTIS."
This aud the press dispatches sat
sned the officials that the strategy
movement Of entrapplng the insur
gents tetwcen our lines had not
proved as successful as designed, and
that the moye nad now shifted To a
retreat by Aguinaldo's forces aud
pursuit by our troops.
The lusurgent retreat toward Ma
lOlOs was slow aud dOsgCd, aud ad-
vantage was taken Of one after an
other OF the lines of entertainments,
the burning Of bridges aud the Inter
ruptlng Of communications. General !
OTIS dispatch, although received !
early yesterday, was sent Monday |
eyeoing, Manila time, aud summed |
up the work Of tie three days. That
the lighting would proceed into the |
fourth day was shown 10y his closing
sentence: "The column will press on
Ia the morning" THIS refers to Tues
day.
The engagement has now shaped IT.
self 50 that IL looked upon as more OF a
chase than the execution of "A stra-
teglc movement. Win theAmerican
5aso advance to Mariloa aud the iu-
base forced back TO MalOlOs,
Jhe main bodies OF the Two opposing
forces are about 10 or ~ miles apl,J.
TINS could be quickly covered Ia
forced march under fair conditions,
but II Is ~ miles Of innumerable dlf.
aud obstacles, which our
troops must cover before they reacu
Jhe insurgents stronghold.
IL Is expected that the engineers
with McAtthur are hastily repairing
Jhe burned bridges. This will per
mt the ARTILLERY 10 be taben forward ,
A. well a. the Infantry columns. It's
expected that every mile Of the dis
lance 10 Malolos wilt be contested by
the insurgents, for General Otis re-
lurts that 10 isa stretch OF country
'uyered with the intrenchments ,
hrown up during the last three
months. Our men, therefore, must
Idvance slowly, repairing the roads a.
hey 20, aud at the sane time they
must tight their way through well. .
made rebel entrenohmeuts. Serious
IS the work Is, there Is no lack Of con
dence among oilcials here as To the \
outcome 0f the campaign.
Malolos, the insu gent capital rep. v
esents more To tse insurgents than =
ny other place, aud they viii make a II
esperate stand thste. u
The tactics OF Aguinuldo are taking "
i'm gradually beyond the range of
admiral pewy' sgunS. But as they nave =
iuved uorthward they have gradually =
ioved away from the bay. Malolo, y
ABOUT seven miles back from the bay -
Though there are. shallow estuarie, :,
hcG would permit light dmnght ~
oats 10 get within mile or two OF ~,
he town. az
The duration ot the battle is be. "a
'nuing To attract the attention of do
any strateglSts,as Il isa very inport. Gu
l' element Ia determining the en-
rength OF the men, the supplies of
nmunltion aud stores, and the spirit be
the army, The hrst blow was struck md
tofe daybreak last Saturday, and sh,
e hghtlug continued an that dav sa,
an on sunday aud now on Monday ine
he reports show little night dshttng LAT
'ep' Ia repulsing an iusurgent AZ. An,
the
rF NN.,..1 a., stn