Evening star., 1899-03-27
WATCHING M'ARTHUR
Military Authorities Scanning the
War Maps.
HOT PURSUIT OF THE FILlPINOS
Hope Expressed That They viii
Stand at MaIolos.
ARMY KEPT SUPPLIED D
7 PURSUIT OF THE FILlPINOS
KEPT SU PPLI f D

sembling the latest information from the
scene of battle, and so arranging it on the
military map as to show the progress OF
the engagement. 1t disclosed a complete
change in the movement since Saturday.
Then the essential feature of General OTIS
plan was to execute a strategic move in
closing the insurgents between two parallel
lines of the American forces, and thus en-
trapping them to be crushed or captured.
Now, however, this strategic move had
given way to a combined forward move
ment of the entire American forces under
Major General Macarthur. The change of
operations was due to the escape of the in
surgent forces from Malabon, where the
original purpose was to take them in re-
verse"
Now the latest dispatches from General
Otis showed that the insurgents forces
were falling back northward toward Ma
lolos. Under these circumstances the bat
tie formation is comparatively simple The
inSurgent lines are at the north, gradually
falling back on Malolos, but taking advan-
tage of all the intreuchments before reach
ing that city. The American forces are
practically combined with Major General
having The brigades of w WheatCn,
Hale and Harrison Gray Ous. They are
sweeping straight forward along the rail-
way toward Malolos. There is no strategy
thing unexpected develops. 1t is simply
slow and dogged retreat OF the insurgents
toward Malolos. and the straight advance
of the wall of American troops toward the
retreating insurgents.
Pursuit OF the Filipinos.
The great changes wrought since Satur-
day is shown on the military map, with its
new arrangement of forces. In two days
the insurgent base. which was at Malabon,
about five miles north of Manila, has fall
len back to Malolos. about twenty miles
north of Manila. At the same time the
American lines have moved forward from
Caloocau, about four miles from Manila,
until Gen. Otis reports today that Mac
Arthur holds Maliloa, twelve miles north
of Manila. Thus the insurgent retreat
covers about fifteen miles and the Amer
lean advance covers about eight miles. This
advance, however, has been circuitous. first
eastward toward Novaliches and then west
ward to Marilao
The entire movement Is now proceeding
along the lines of the railroad, which is
presumed to be a level stretch all the way
between the two opposing forces. There
are no less than ten small streams crossing
the railroad between the two forces. These
are the streams to which Gen. Otis refers
in reporting that the insurgents have de-
stroyed bridges which impede tine progress
of our supply trains and artillery.
Major Simpson, who was on the staff of
H. d.
familiar with the surrounding country, says
that besides the difficulty of burned bridges,
the roads at their best are almost impas-
sible for light artillery, and the quick
n aneuverS of cavalry. Our light field guns
can be moved forward slowly but it is i'm
possible to SO manipulate them as TO take
advantage of every crest and rise of
ground. The only horses available for the
cavalry and artillery are the small native
ponies.
RaIIyfng Around AEuinaldO.
The interest of today centers in the stand
made by Aguinaldo with his insurgent
forces. There is hope that he will risk a
final stand at MaloIos. In that event the
next few hours will determine the final
issue, as the American forces at Mariiao
are not more than ten miles from Maiolos
Between these places the scattered forces
are engaged, the extreme rear of the in
surgent troops and the extreme advance of
the Americans bearing the brunt.
While this is going on fifteen OF twenty
miles north of Manila, Gen. Otis dispatches
show that the insurgents are again active
south of ManiIa where Maj. Gen. Lawtons
division is in reserve. Gen. Otis report
shows no concern to this southern move
ment, as he remarks that ''LawtOn will
look out for them" The Lawton forces
the brigades of Brig. Gen. Over
shine and King Originally it included
Wheaton's brigade, but now Wheaton is
operating under macarthur AT the north.
Battle Still Unnamed.
The name of the battle now going on
north of Manila is yet TO be designated, as
the field of action is shifting constantly
that even War Department officials have
fixed upon no specific designation for the
engagement. On Saturday it was spoken of
as the battle of Pelo, as the taking of that
town was the key to the American strategic
Of tran ing "a no
Peio is left far in the rear, and, with Agui-
naldo's base at Marilao, that seems 10 be
the storm center of the conflict il the in
surSent leader makes his final stand there.
The center may again shift, however, MAX
ing il a continuous engagement through
a great sweep of jungle rather than in any
specific place
The duration of the battle is beginning to
attract the attention of army strategists,
for that is very important element in de-
termining the strength of the men, the sup
plies of ammunition and stores, and the
spirit of the army. The first blow was
struck before daybreak Saturday, and the
fighting has continued all that day, again
yesterday and today. The reports show
little night fighting, except in repulsing an
insurgent attack Saturday night.
Supplies Keep Up With the Army.
With today the fighting will have lasted
seventy-two hours. Judged by the stand,
ards of great battles, such as Waterloo
Plevna and others mentioned by army au-
thorities, this is long and intensely ardu-
Gus engagement.
But this fighting about Manila is quite
different from those standards of civilized
armies, as il is running brush conflict,
with only occasional issues between or
ganiZcd bodies of troops. Some of the bat
ties of the civil war lasted many days, no
tably the battle of the Wilderness and the
fighting about Richmond.
In speaking of the element of endurance,
General Sternberg said today that he had
gone for seven days in the continuous fight
ing around Richmond without renewing
the supplies originally issued before the
lighting began. The main question in these
long g-continued fights is to have all supplies.
stores, etc, kept abreast of the fighting
force, so that there may be no exhaustion
In this respect all the reports of the fight
ing above Manila are most gratifying to the
authorities here, in showing that the quar-
termaster. commssary. medical and signal
stores are we'll up with our fighting lines.
The use of Chinese as litter carriers is
said to be a device to save our own men
for the more serious work. The Chinese
carry light bamboo litter, and being ac-
cnStOnlAN n the climate fba,-