Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-26
ADVANCE AT MANILA,
Americans Move in Force Toward
the Filipino StTongho|ds'
OTIS STRIKES A BLOW,
He DriTeS a Wedge Through Centre
Of Elemy'S Lines.
OUR Loss COMPARATIVELY LIGHT.
That of the Natives Hcavy-Oup
Troops Bivouac on the Field, and
VIII Resume Their Forward Moves
ment To-Day.
OUR Loss COMPARATIVELY LIGHT.
nient To-Day.

| WASHINGTON, March 25-This was q
day Of anxiety and excitement at thas
War Department that carried a reminds
er of the busiest days Of tho war with
Spain. Every officer was intently looking
for every scrap Of information as TO tha
progress made by otis's gallant expedi-
| uonary forces IL was noted that the
| movement was being executed like clock
work. 1t was necessarily one Of great
rapidity. yet tho officials noted with de-
| light the perfection OF the arrangements.
as revealed in the press dispatches: thc
| rapid work OF the signal men. well up
| with the troops In the advance, running
their wires. the ambulance corps close up
| to the firing line, and the pressing for
ward of the supplies.
| Although the end was not known when
the department closed, tho greatest con-
fidence was shown by the officials In the
complete success OF the American arms.
and there was nothing but praise heard 4
for the strategy shown By Major-Gencral
! Otis and his generals. Macarthur espe'-
cially came in for commentator, being
the active leader OF the advancing col
umns thrown against tho rebels line. The
opinion expressed at the department was
that the American troops would blvouac
on the field, or rather in the Jungle and
would take up the forward movement
| Immediately the sun rises Tomorrow.
There was no question about stopping at
this point; the movement wes intended
TO break the rebel power. and It would DO
| pushed TO the utmost. until he rebels
surrendered. or fed beyond reach to tho
mountains and jungles.
OTIS HAS 27D0 MEN.
1t is said at the department that OTIS
has under his command at Manila and In
the vicinity about 27.cO0 soldiers. Agul-
naldo. according to Otis's last report, has
about 5000 armed men. General Corbin
estimates that the American flying coll
umn in action to-day was about 10000
strong. The insurgents. according 10
Otis. have about 12Oc0 I'm line. But Agul-
naldo's reserves. $500 strong. are not far
| distant from the scene OF the hardest
| nghting; indeed 1t Is suspected that somo
OF them, including the leader himself.
may have been drawn into to-day's strug-
| gle I'm which case the odds would have
| Dtfu HtdNlly against the Americans.
latter appeared 20 be taking full advan-
tage OK the great assistance to be found
in the possession Of the railroad. for
| their movement to-day was generally
| parallel to the road at all points.
There IS possibility OF con-
fusion over the names OF Generals
Hale and Hall General Irving Hale
was colonel of the Colorado In
| fantry. and has been promoted 10 be
I.ar. . la
| Robert II. Hall was formerly colonel of
the Fourth Infantry. and has been pro-
NOTED to be brigadier-general OF volun-
tcers. Both Of these men were in the
| engagement Of to-day north OF Manila.
oTISs REPORT.
General Otis's description OF the battls
Is contained In the following cablegram,
received at the War Department this
morning:
Manila. March .-Adjutant-Gencrul.
Washington: Macarthur. with two
brlgades. commenced advancing on
Novaiches, northwest OF Caloocan.
in the centre OF the insurgent lines, at
daybreak this morning. advancing rapidly
and successfully; suffering little from
Novaliches. Macarthur will swing 10 left
and strike north OF Polo Wheaton's
brigade. fronting Calo0can, will press for
ward at the proper time. Hairs brigade,
on the old line north OF Pasig is demon-
starting west OF the pumping station.
Enemy 1900 strong on the lines. / am
endeayoring 10 take fraction IN reverse.
(signed) OTIS"
1t was stated az the War Department.
that the expression Of General Otis's.
Am endeayOfing 20 take fraction IN re-
verse" means that while oste easibly max
ing a felnt at the front. he intends 10
swing to the rear and attack the enemy
on the left
SIGNAL CORPS o. X
General Greeley, chief signal officer. has
received a cable dispatch from Manila.
saying that the signal corps telegraphic
service north OF Manila IS IN such shape
that General Otis is directing the dlsp0-
sition and operation OF troops from his
headquarters, I'm Manila.
THE AMERICAN ADVANCE.
MANILA. March 25.-Noon.-The move
mont OF the American troops to-day
swept the insurgents back toward Mala-
bon. General Harrison Cray Ots's Bril-
gade is in front OF Laloma, where thero
is stretch Of a mile OF rough, open
country. The insurgcnt trenches in tho
edge OF the woods are four feet deep.
and furnish 4 good head-cover. Tho
American troops advanced al the double
quick yelling ncrcely. and occasionally
dropping in the grass and firing t.y VOL
ley. The natives stood until the Amerl-
cans were within 200 yards OF their posi-
tion. and then they broke and ran for tho
woods. About thirty OF them were killed
In the outskirts and seventy on the roads.
The Montana and Kansas troops met
| the hottest resistance IN strip from
which the rebels have greatly worried the
Americans recently during the night
time Ninety minutes after the start--at
6 o'clOck-,he whole front, for a distance
OF three miles 20 the north. had been
cleared. General Hales Brigade had
simultaneously swept in a northwssterly
direction routing tho enemy and burning
the town OF San Francisco del Monte ard
number OF scattered huts. The line Was
then opposite Novalichts. the artillery
advancing along a good road from Ia
| Iona 10 Noyalches. the wagons. carry
Ing pontoons. telegraph supplies and am
munition. following. The infantry moved
| In splendid order. Smoke frcm the iurn-
ing huts bid the line OF the American adj
vance.
OUR WOUNDED SING.
| Ambulances and horse-llttars brought
| IN the wounded. among whom Mere a few
| Filipinos. The Americans who were
Wounded endured their injuries braseiy.
xaa4H.