The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-01


officials are greatly gratihed at the rapid
run or the Sherman. She made the trip of
more than 1000 miles in twenty-six days.
H
OTIS TALKS ABOUT THE WAR.
The Los Angeles Editor Tells About
the Work of His Brigade.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 3O.-Released
from quarantine to-day, Brig. Gen. Harri-
son Gray Otis. L.. S. W, who arrived from
Manila last night on the transport Sherman,
is to-day a very important and happy man
at being at home again. This veteran is
civilian in time of peace. and as soon as he
foresaw the termination of war with the
Filipnos he asked to be allowed to resign.
He expects to leave for Los Angeles to-
morrow and will Immediately resume his
position as editor-in-chief of the Times. He
was interviewed to-day. Speaking of the
position held by his brigade during the cam
paign, General Otis said: "In the fight on
Feb. 10 the First Brigade was on the ex-
treme left of the division line, it's left flank
touching Manila bay its right extending to
and eastwardly of blockhouse No. 2 ard the
Church De La Iona and connecting near
there with the Second Brigade. That block
house was the pivot upon which our success
full turning movement made. The ad
vance on Malolos began at daylight March
25. My brigade constituted the center of the
general line and its orders were to Pierce
| the enemy's CENTER which was done the
| same day. After this movement was under
way the First Brigade advanced west of the
| railway track running north and at right
angles to it, while the Second Brigade ad-
vanced abreast on the east side of the same
track. The usual regimental formation
-
tie was to post two battalions on the firing
line. with one battalion in support"
"In the advance on Malolos how was the
main line constituted?"
IT have repeatedly described it's formation.
If you will examine map of the place it
will make the respective positions of the
| two divisions Of the Eighth Army Corps
clearer to you. The First Division. with the
exception of Wheatons brigade, was on the
south Of the Pasig; the Second Division and
Wheaton's brigade were north Of that river.
| The Malolos movement as whole was
made by the Second Division, Major General
Macarthur commanding. supported by
| wheaton's brigade (the Third) of Lawtons
First Division. The entire column was
strengthened by the divisional artillery.
made up of regulation 3.2-inch field pieces,
| Hotchkiss cannon and vicious little rapid
| fire gun. All the guns were manned by men
| from the Sixth United States Artillery and
| Youngs battalion of Utah Light Artillery.
under their respective officers. A squadron
| of the Fourth United States Cavalry was
| the only mounted force in the column. Part
of the regular cavalrymen were mounted
on big horses, the remainder on the little
! Filipino ponies, who have no weight and no
THE FIRST LINE.
'"The First and Second Brigades, marching
| abreast and almost touching fianks, consti-
! tuted the first line. The right flank and
! rear were taken care of by Brigadier Gen.
| eral Hall, with the Third Brigade of our
| division (the second), whose formation was
| made with view to covering the ground as
| far over to the eastward as Maraquina, the
| disputed water works, and the San Juan
| river and also with a view TO foiling any
| attempted flanking movement by the enemy
| in that direction
.'The left flank and rear were efficiently
| protected by Brig. Gen. Lloyd Wheaton,
| with his small brigade OF about 1,5O0 men,
| He had sharp fighting at and about Mala-
| bon almost from the beginning of the gen.
| eral advances and his percentage of losses
| was not small. He captured the village of
| Maiinta. near the bay and later took en-
tire charge of the supply train, thus reliev-
| ing the troops of the front line of an ardu-
| Gus and important duty and leaving them
| foot loose to fly at the foe.
"Our general infantry advance was long.
| superb sweep northward by thin line of
| troops in extended order of battle, deployed
| so as TO cover nearly ife entire stretch of
country between the bay OF Manila on the
| west and the San Joan on the east.
ITO go back a little: the movement began
at $50 a. m. of March %. with Hale's ad-
vance on the near right His movement
| was taken up at a. m. my brigade on the
| center. Wheaton with the left advanced
| later.
| "On account of the bodness and activity
| OF the enemy on his left. General Hall was
kept busy there and did not advance with
| the general line. He had been directed by
the corps commander TO secure the safety
OF our extreme right and also the rear be-
| yond the peradventure OF doubt.
THE fighting itself. well. 1 cannot go into
| that in detail now; IL would require much
space. There Is no trouble, my boy, about
the lighting on our side. Make a fairly
good plan of battle. send .he soldiers In
under their officers. hold them well in hand.
give them good rifles and keep them sup
piled with plenty of ammunition. maintain
strict fire discipline. show them the enemy's
position and the men will do the rest. The
nameless man behind the gun and the all
too obscure line officer have far more to do
with the winning OF victories than many
poorly informed civilians seem to under
stand"
| THE START
THE start; how was that nade?"
The first advance was partly through the
open. across rice fields and cleared ground
partly through timber and uaderbrush,
across marsh. lagoons. dry barras and
streams OF varying degrees of depth. The
River Tuliahan was passed by tile Third
(Comtinued on Second Paae-l -