Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-12-18
YOUNG'S HARD ROAL
DIFFICULTIES OF AMERICANS IN
PURSUING FILIPINOs.
ONE RICH TRIBE is FOUND
Troops Barefooted and Strength Re-
duced a Third BY Sickness
aldo Holds Out Hope That Ameri-
can Congress Will Recognize indie
pendence Of Filipino Republic.

Manila, Dec. 12.-Gen. Young was at
the third cavalry, Cunningham's
scouts, and Major March's battalion of
the 33d infantry. The nominal
strength of his command has been re-
duced one-third by sickness. The
horses are worn out and and handi-
capped by lack of shoes. The infantry
after march of a hundred miles from
Jacinto were shoeless and all were
living on the country. The troops
had no ammunition except that car
ried in belts. Gen. Young, having
then been without communication
with Gen. Lawton for ten days, and
not knowing the disposition of other
troops or whether support was being
sent forward, resolved to keep moving.
Having received information that the
insurgent Gen. Tino with 1000 men
was somewhere to the north and that
Aguinaldo, with Gen. Pillar and 400
soldiers of his faithful Bulacan bat
talon, was in the mountains
to the east, Young decided
Meg 80 to divide his force
He proceeded himself toward Vigan,
hoping to attack Gen. Tino with a
handful of men and prevent him from
joining Aguinaldo. Maj. March, with
his battalion and Cunningham 5
scouts, started over the mountains to
ward Cervantes after Aguinaldo, who
was reported to have been there Nov.
%. The column marched IL hours
without food. The Americans found
the insurgents had impressed the Igor
rotes, compelling them to dig trenches
and construct pitfalls along the trails
which were fearful travelling at besl
One stream had to be forded twelve
times in the course of mile. These
inoffensive stupid creatures, usually
pictured as blood-thirsty savages,
cheerfully turned to undo their own
work and actually went foraging for
Americans. The IlocOs region is the
richest the Americans have entered in
this campaign. The IlocOs are pros
porous, intelligent and more than half
civilized They have excellent
houses and carry on fourishing indus
tries. Many of them are evidently
rich. Several towns received the
troops with bands and ringing of
church bells. Cattle were killed and
houses opened to the troops
How much of this display was sim
cere and how much due to a desire to
propitiate the conquerOrs, it would be
hard to say. There are evidences that
similar hospitality has been extended
to Aguinaldo. The people describe
him as cheerful and hugging the hope
of salvation through American poll
tics, and everywhere trying to retain
support by proclaiming with seeming
sincerity that the United States con-
gress would certainly recognize the in
dependence of the Filipino republic in
December. Many exhibited notes
from Lieut.. Gilmore and other Amer
lean prisoners in which the recinients
were commended to Americans on the
score of kindness shown the writer's.
There. are 27 Americans with Lieut..
Gilmore. Another party of IA was
taken through Ilocos a week ahead of
Gen. Young. They were ragged and
dirty some natives say and some were
urged forward at the point of the
bayonet.