The times., 1899-06-30
How HOSRILITIES began
Id,e Americans Watched the Rebels
Prepare for War.
The Military Report of Maj. Gen.
Thomas Vi. Anderson Made Public
FiIipinos Strongly Entrenehed
ThemseIyes-Great Skill Displayed.

The War Department made public yes
terday the report Of Major Gen. Thomas NJ.
Anderson. on the operations OF the First
division, in the beginning Of the Philip
nine insurrection. Since then General An
derson has returned to the United States
and is now in command Of the Department
OF the Lakes. 1t has been charged that
the War Department was suppressing Gen
eral AndersoH's report because it contain
ed reflections on General Otis. General
Anderson refers several times to the prep
arations being made by the insurgents
for q conflict and calls attention to the
fact that no effort was made 10 prevent the
insurgents from strongly entrenching
themselves. He says:
''On the left of my line the American
and Filipino pickets confronted each other
on either side OF the Concordia Greek. At
the Concordia bridge near bloelhouse No.
IL, they were only a few PAGES apart.
Finding that we did not hold cur line at
fixed limits, the Filipino military forces
began TO throw up formidable entrench-
ments. They also constructed 4 number
of detached earthworks along the left of
our line and prepared a number of strong
stone houses and churches in Santa Ana
and San Pedro Macati for defence. The
suburb of Pandaean is on an island made
by a number OF tidal estuaries and the
river BY occupying this position the in
surgents could bring a flank fire on OUT
forces in the suburb of Paco. On the other
hand il our forces held il, they could en-
filade the insurgent line in front OF Paco.
To prevent our crossing the Concordia
Creek to their side, and to secure cross
ing TO our side. they erected an earthwork
an he side Qf fha creek hit
high ground As the Pasig River makes
a sharp re-entering bend just above Pan
dacan and below Santa Ana, a sudden and
successful advance OF our line from Paco
would force their troops stationed on their
extreme right into this bend as a cul-de-
sac To prevent this the insurgents con-
structed an enclosed Fashioned earthwork
On the neck OF this peninsula. the fire
from which would also sweep the plain
between Paco and Santa Ana. All these
preparations we witnessed without author
ity TO prevent-as Sumter was surrounded
By batteries thirty-eight years ago.
las the insurgents saw their formidable
works approaching completion they be-
came mere insolent day by day. and finally
did everything they could in insolence and
insults to provoke us TO begin the conflict.
As they were permitted TO go and come
through our lines at will. they knew just
what troops we h.d, where they were To-
Gated and that we were making no Wis
ible preparations for defence. 1t seems
proper to make these statements in order
TO Justify the assertion that no troops ever
behaved better under intense provocation,
showing excellent discipline and self
troll
"on February 4 hostilihes began on the
north side, but no firing took place on our
front that day or the succeeding night
/ first telegraphed corps headquarters for
| permission to take the offensive when II
became light enough TO do so. Permission
was not given TO assume the offensive until
s o'clock. At last, a telegram came from
Major General Otis authorizing an advance
| If not made too far. General King was
| present and was ordered TO advance as