The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-13
Owing to Difficulties Of the Country, and
Trouble in Locating Enemy.
Colonel Smith, With a Detachment
Of the Seventeenth Infantry,
Surrounds and Captures a Band
Of Guerrillas in Village Near
Malasqui, Sending Them to
General MacArthur's Headquar-
tiers for Trial.

MANILA. Dec. 12.-7:5O p. m.-Col-
onel Smith, with detachment of the
Seventeenth Infantry, surrounded and
captured in a village near Malasqui,
q party of guerrillas who has made their
headquarters there. The party included
the band which aSsassinated seven Off
Gals at MaIasqui for friendliness to the
Americans. All are insurgents who be-
came bandits when the disintegration
of the Filipino army began. They kept
the country around Malasqui in a state
of terror for several weeks, and COM
mitted twenty-five murders in less than
that number Of days. When they were
caught they were promptly sent to
General MacArthur's headquarters at
Bayambang by train. 1t is expected
that they will be speedily tried, and
either shot or hanged as an example,
If convicted.
The whole country north of San Fer
nando and between San Fernando and
Manila, except within the permanent
line of troops around the cities and the
closely patrolled stretches of railroad,
swarms with similar bands. Probab bly,
they will be increased by men from
Pillars army, many Of whom are max
ing the way south to join the insurgent
force in Cavite province.
These people, for the most part, sue
coed in lodging General Grant, Colonel
Bell and Colonel Hoods troops, who are
securing the country for them. They
devote their energies to ambushng
commissary wagons and to picking up
Every day some wagon train is fired
upon or some soldier disappears. Cen
eral Wheeler's Secretary, Mr.. Garrett
was disarmed and slashed by a Bolo-
man almost within sight of headquar-
ters, his assailant pursuing him nearly
into the headquarters building.
The policy of these rufffans is to
make the country uninhabitable for
Americans, and to brighten natives in
to refraining from giving assistance to
the Americans, as well as to compel the
inhabitants to support the insurrec-
ton. Frequently they raid and loot
towns. The brother of the President of
linus went outside the town the other
day to harvest some rice. He was
captured by his compatriots, accused
of being a spy, and executed.
Only a small proportion of the in
surgent arms have been surrendered,
and the problem of suppressing this
guerrilla warfare is anything but easy
of solution. Some of the American Off
GERS think it worse than fighting In
dams, owing to the difficulties of, the
country and the trouble in locating the
enemy, who resort, when hard pressed.
to the amigo dodge, and hide their
guns
Some of the Americans favor the is
suance of proclamation declaring all
natives found with arms to be bandits
punishable as criminals, instead of be-
ing treated as prisoners of war.
Information has been received at
headquarters that 500 Spanish prison.
ers have been shipped from Vigan to
Manila, and that 1,5OO others have been
assembled in Vigan, including General
Pena- Probably these are Spaniarls
released by General Young's troops in
the Benguil district, where they were
concentrated by the insurgents.
MILITARY SITUATION IN LUzON.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE War
Department has received the following
cablegram from General Otis, descrip-
tive of the military situation in Luzon:
MANILA, Dec. 12.-In Bulucan
province the insurgents have been scat
tered and driven east to the noun
tains. Our casualties in that section in
the last few days were ten The in
surgent casualties in killed, wounded
and prisoners aggregate 100. Consid-
cradle insurgent property, with records
arms and ammunition have been cap
tured. Our troops are now in the noun
tains in pursuit. The insurgents have
been driven from Subig Bay, and the
marines now occupy a naval station
there. Our column moving west from
Tarlac is now on the west coast of
Luzon, where it has been supplied. 1t
encountered little resistance. A column
is now moving west and south from
Dagupan along the coast. There is no
concentrated insurgent force of i'm
portance in Luzon north of Manila.
Southern Luzon will not offer any seri.
Gus resistance. Troops are Cooperate
ing in that section. Organized rebellion
no longer exists, and our troops are ac-
lively pursuing robber bands. All i'm
portant and threatened centers OF pop-
ulation in the north have been oc-
cupied. OTIS"
A JUNTA DISPATCH.
LONDON, Dec. 12-Reuter,s Tale
gram Company has received the follow
ing dispatch from Hong Kong:
''The insurgent government (co-
called) of the Philippines will be
changed to dictatorship, to continue
hostilities against the Americans ex-
clusively by the methods of guerrilla
warfare. The Filipino army is being
split up into small bands the troops
taking an oath before separation that
they will fight until their country's
rights are recognized.
"a force of United States marines
who landed at Vigan, South Ilocos
province, from the battlesihip Oregon.
was defeated by the F'ilipinos under
General Finio Crino) on December 18th.
The Manila newspapers, despite the
censorship, admit that General Lawton
is missing"
The foregoing dispatch was evidently