The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-03-29
ALL CHANGED
Look at the Military Map Dis
closes a Complete Alteration
Of Plans.
Essential Features Of the Scheme
of General Otis Frustrated
by Filipinos,
Who Refused to Be Caught III
His Trap~-Forces Moving
Rapidly,
Considering the ObstacleS--.Tlle
Roads Bad and Bridges
Destroyed.

WASHINGTON, March ~. = MAJOR
Simpson, chief Of the military informa-
ton bureau, was again busy assembling
the latest information from the scene of
battle and so arranging it on the mill
tary map as to show the progress of the
engagement. 1t disclosed a complete
change in the movements since Satur-
day. Then the essential feature of Gen
eral Otis plan was to enclose the insur-
gents between two parallel lines Of the
American forces and thus entrap them
to be crushed or captured. Now a
strategic move has given way to a COM
bined forward movement Of the entire
American force under General Mac
Arthur. The change Of operations was
due to the escape of insurgents from
Malabon. where the original purpose
was to take them 'in reverse" Mac
Arthur has under his command the
brigades of Wheaton, Hale and Harrison
Gray Otis. They are sweeping straight
forward along the railroad toward Nal.
clos. There is no strategy or surprise
in the movement. unless something I'M
expected develops. 1t is simply a slow
and logged retreat of the insurgents to-
wards Malolos and the straight advance
Of the wall Of American troops toward
the retreating insurgents.
Changes Since Saturday.
The great changes wrought since Sat
urday are shown on the military map,
with its new arrangement Of forces.
In two days the insurgents base, which
was at Malabon, about FIVE miles north
of Manila. has fallen back to Malolos,
about 20 miles north of Manila. At the
same time. the American lines have
moved forward from Caloocan, about
four miles from Manila. until General
Otis reports that Macarthur holds Mar
ioloa, II miles north Of Manila. Thus
the insurgent retreat cover about Ii
miles and the American advance covers
about eight miles. This advance, how
ever. has been by circuitous route, first
eastward toward Novaliches, and then
westward to Mar;oloa.
The entire movement is now proceed
ing 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. They are the streams
to which General Otis refers in report
ing that theinsurgents destroyed bridges
which impede the progress Of our sup
ply trains and artillery.
Roads Almost impossible.
Major Simpson, who was on the staff
of General Greene at Manila. and is
personally familiar with the surround.
ing country. says that besides the diff
Guilty Of burned bridges. the roads at
their best are almost impossible for
light artillery, and the quick maneuvers
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 avail.
able for the cavalry and artillery
are the small native ponies. The inter.
est of the day centers in the stand to be
made by Aguinaldo with his insurgent
forces. There is hope that he will risk
a final stand at Malolos. In that event
the next "a hours should determine the
final issue. as the American forces at
Marioloa are not more than 1Omiles from
Malolos. Between these places scattered
forces are engaged, the extreme rear of
the insurgents troops and the extreme
advance OF the Americans bearing the
brunt Of the fighting.
While this is going on, fifteen or
twenty miles north of Manila, General
Otis dispatches show that the insur-
gents are again active south of Manila,
where Major General Lawton's division
is in reserve. General Otis report shows
no concern as to this southern move
ment, as he remarks that "Lawton will
look out for them" The Lawton forces
comprise the brigades of Brigadier Gen
eral Ovenshine and Brigadier General
King. Originally it included Whea-
toms brigade, but now Wheaton is oper-
ating under Macarthur, at the north.