The times., 1899-05-25
An Interesting Report From
General Macarthur.
Unseen Points Shelled From War
ships by Means of Signals.
Admirable Co-operation Hc.wceu tn e
Army and Navy-Prnise for Field
Telegraph Service.

notes bearing on the clash between the
Americans and Filipinos on the night of
February 4, which resulted in the war now
apparently drawing TO a close. General
MacArthur's report is dated February 2S.
1t is addressed to the adjutant general
of the Eighth Army Corps and Department
of the Pacific, and has just been received
by the War Department from Major Cen
eral Otis. In his account of the first ex-
change of hostilities General Macarthur
says:
THE pertinacity of the insurgents in
passing armed parties over the line OF de-
limitation into American territory at
point nearly opposite the pipeline out
posts of the Nebraska regiment induced
a correspondence which. in the light of
subsequent events, is interesting, as indi-
eating with considerable precision a p e.
meditated purpose on the part of some
body in the insurgent army to force a col
lision at that point. The original note
from these headquarters. which was pre-
pared after conference with the depart
ment commander, was carried by Major
Strong who entered the insurgent lines
and placed the paper in the hands of
Colonel San Miguel. The answer OF
Colonel San Miguel was communicated in
an autograph note which was written in
b
sew Colonel San Miguel write an order
to his officer at the outpost in question,
directing him to withdraw from the Amer
| lean side of the line. This order Major
Strong saw delivered to the officer on the
outpost.
Two Interesting Messages.
THE correspondence referred to is as fol-
lows, the original of Colonel San Miguel's
note, which was written in the Spanish
language. being enclosed herewith:
Headquarters Second Division.
| Eighth Army Corps,
Manila, p. l., Feb ..
Commanding General, Philippine Troops in Third
Zone:
Sir: The line between your command and my
! command has been long established and is we'll
understood by yourself and myself. Il is quite
necessary under present conditions that this
| line should not be passed by armed men Of either
| command. An armed party from your command
| now occupies the village in front OF Blockhouse
| No. :, a; point considerably more than hun
| dred yards my side OF the line, and is very
active in exhibiting hostile intentions. This party
! must be withdrawn to your side OF the line at
once. From this date, if the line is crossed by
your men with arms in their hands they must
| be regarded subject to such action / may
deem necessary. Very respectfully
ARTHUR MACARTHUR,
| Major General, I. :. v, Commanding.
San Juan del Monte. Feb. ,.
| Major General Macarthur
My Very Dear Sir: In reply TO yours dated this
day, in which you inform that my soldiers
have been passing the line of demarcation Gxed
by agreement. | desire to say that this Is foreign
| TO my wishes, and l shall give immediate orders
| in the premises that they retire.
L. F. SAN MIGUEL,
| Colonel and First Chief.
"At about $50 D. m. February 4. an
insurgent patrol consisting of four armed
soldiers, entered our. territory at Block
house Z, and advanced to the little viii
lage of Santel. which was occupied from
the pipeline outpost of the Nebraska rcsi-
ment- This, it will be observed. was pre-
cisely the point referred to in the cor
respondence above quoted. The American
sentinel challenged twice. and then, as the
insurgent patrol continued to advance. he
fired whereupon the patrol retired to
Blockhouse T. from whence fire was i'm
mediately opened by the entire insurgent
outpost at that point
EGStilitics uegun.
"At p IN. Colonel Stotsenburg. First
Nebraska Infantry. [. S. V, reported con-
siderable firing at his outposts. which ex-
tended gradually along the entire front
of the division. At 1910 p. m. it was
evident that hostilities had been COM
menced in earnest by the insurgents and
accordingly an order was Issued from these
headquarters to put everything on the
firing line according to programme which
had been prearranged for such an emer-
gency.
The report is made up largely of de-
scription of the fghting of the division
under MacArthur's command. full accounts
of which have appeared in Manila dis
patches Among other things General Mac
Arthur says
The volunteer signal corps detachment,
under Capt Edgar Russell. has, since the
commencement of hostilities rendered not
only important, but indispensable, services.
BY means Of the wires OF this detachment
precision and uniformity of action have
been insured throughout "A line which. in
the first instance, was about four miles in
extent and has gradually been extended to
nearly. If not quite, ten. In addition %
direct contact with the firing lire at all
important points, these headquarters have
been kept within almost instant advice and
orders of the department commander, and
also. by flag and torch. in communication
with the Navy.
"As means of tactical control, wire
service in the hands OF trained. skil!ful,
and fearless men may be regarded as an
indispensable adjunct Of war, in which
light il is a great privilege to speak in be-
half Of the future development Of the
| 2
to the full limit of essential military use
fulness During the twenty-four days of
hostility covered by this report there have
been dispatched and received at these
headquarters l.llG messages. communicat-
ing orders and information OF vital i'm
portance. relating exclusively to the mill
tary situation.
| Aid From thc Navy.
The accompanying detailed reports of
Captain Russel are commended to the
perusal OF all concerned, from which the
following extracts is quoted at length. as
illustrating the possibilities OF developing
a system of cooperation whereby the fire
of ships can be eifectualIy controlled for
the purpose of land operations:
"'On February 10. Admiral Dewey $
courtesy made it possible o arrange com
plete scheme OF firing by aid OF signals
whereby points inshOre. whether visible
from the ship or not, could be reached BY
| the guns of the Navy when appropriate
signals from shore were given. Caloocan
| Church tower had been successfully eX-
perimented with as a point for signaling
to the Navy The system adopted requir-
ed a good map and an angle measuring in
| strument In this case use was made of
the seXtant kindly loaned by the captain
of the MonadnOck. BY observations from
ship and church tower. and the signals
from ships, the position of the ship is ac-
| surately determined on the map and a
north and south line drawn through it.
| Having selected the point where il is de-
sired to strike on shore, the scale of the