The San Francisco call., 1899-03-12
LAWTON WILL MAKE
AGUINALDO PRISONER

MANILA, March II, 3:15
p. m.-Extensive preparations
are being made for a general adj
vance OF the American forces.
The movement will probably
take place early next week.
All is quiet, however, along
the line. At daylight the
rebels were caught working
on enhlading trench at
Caloocan and were shelled by a
battery. Desultory firing also
took place at San Pedro Macate.
The United States cruiser
Charleston has relieved the arm
ed transport Buffalo, off Pa
ranaque.
The last batch of Spanish sol
diers, numbering 885 men, ex-
cepting a few who are in the hos
pitals, were embarked on board
the transport Buenos AyreS to-
day.
A battalion OF the Fourth
Regular Infantry has been sta
toned on the firing line, assigned
to General Macarthur's division.
The others have been held in re-
serve and are encamped on the
Luneta parade ground. A bat
talon of the Seventeenth Regu-
lars has been assigned to provost
guard duty, relieving the Oregon
Volunteers. During a rainstorm
which occurred before daylight
this morning the rebels on the ex-
treme left fired several volleys at
the Americans, but without ef-
feet.
TTT ASHINGTON, March 11,-When
tNI the War Department closed at
Wv o'clock this afternoon, it was
said that there was no infor-
nation at hand from Manila throwing
light on the condition of affairs there,
but it is admitted that exciting news
is expected at nearly any minute. BY
this time it is supposed that General
Lawton has been able to get a firm
grasp on the trend of events there. and
to make his plans for an aggressive
movement.
1t develops that General Otis. in his
reconnaissance in force last week, dis
covered it would be dangerous to ex-
tend his lines too far. and for that
reason decided to wait for General
Lawton's arrival. The latter had been
notified while in the Mediterranean Of
the attack of the Filipinos on the
American troops and had received a
dispatch when at Ceylon that his pres
ence was eagerly desired. Accordingly.
the transport was put at full speed and
the 5000 miles that intervened were run
over in twelve days. During this time
General Otis did all the preliminary
work looking TO a forward movement.
It is said at the War Department
that General Lawton will probably be
allowed by General Otis to make his
own plans, on the ground that he will
be held responsible for their success.
General Otis is thought to be too exper-
fenced to attempt to control the move
rnent of the troops in the field from
Manila, where it is expected he Will
remain to keep general supervision over
all the many islands in the Philippine
group. To attempt this would be to
repeat the mistakes Of the Board of
Strategy, which excited so much ridi-
cule during the war.
General Lawton's record as an Indian
fighter, dating from his long pursuit
and capture of Geronimo, has been
.comprehensive and extensive, and he
IS thought to be the best man for the
lob. His training in Indian fighting, in
fact. has peculiarly fitted him for his
present command, and General Otis is
we'll acquainted with his capabilities.
one Of Lawton's numerous Indian
sobriuuets, being literally translated, is
The man who gets up and fights in
the middle of the night" 1t was his
sunrise dash into Siboney that sent the
Spanish detachment there flying to La
Guasimas, leaving its breakfast on the
fire for the American troops to eat.
The department fully expects Law
ton 10 spring few like surprises on
the Filipinos and is awaiting news or
the field campaign with proportionate
interest He will, it is said, use every
means of warfare licensed by civilized
nations, including the devastation OF
the country if this is thought neces-
sary, to secure a speedy termination of
the rebellion. AguinaldO will be starved
out If he cannot be captured by any
other means.
Meanwhile the Government is not re-
Iaxing it's endeavors 10 strengthen the
forces in the Philippines. The Ninth
Infantry is ordered to sail from San
Francisco on March 21. on the zealan
dia and City of Puebla, and the Sixth