The Delta independent., 1899-11-17
TRYING TO BAG Acu,mALDo.

1hsss 0s.ssaAs WITH . Mig Ysrss Wm
C.ssA OF Chsss Hia-
Chicago, Nov. 1O.-A dispatch from
Manila to the Record says:
Everything now seems in readiness
for carrying out the plan Of driving
the insurgents out Of the valley from
the gulf Of 1ngayen south TO the pres
ent line Of the American forces The
situation here is now more hopeful
than 1t has been since the capture Of
the Rio Grande bridge last April All
persons here join In the hope that
peace Is not far away.
In Manila predictions are freely
made that the organized army a the
insurgents will be entirely disinte9rat-
ed by the general movement now be-
ginning. and that Generals Macarthur,
Lawton and Wheaton. by their opera
lions on three sides Of the richest val
ley now held by Aguinaldo. will scat
ter the insurgents to the hills as fugi-
t1ves, without supplies and without
hope for further organized resistance
to the Americans.
The prime object OF the present
movement Is to surround the insurgent
forces and by decisive fighting to de-
Stroy or capture them. Generals law
ton and Wheaton with their two lines
across the north end Of the valley.
barring the mountain passes. will hold
a bag while General Macarthur will
drive the insurgents into IL from the
south.
II the insurgents refuse TO risk a
decisive battle and pursue Fabian tao
tics. no doubt they will escape to the
mountain footpaths. and by dividing
into small bands can easily evade the
forces Of Generals Lawton and Wheat
on.
There are two main avenues OF es-
cape. one being along the great coast
road Of the province Of IlocOs Norte
and the other through two mountain
passes Generals Wheaton and Law
ton will bar these avenues. 30 that es-
cape must be by less passable roads,
over which the heavy supplies OF the
insurgents cannot be taken. The policy
Of the insurgents Of becoming ami
gos- whenever got in a tight place will
also make II Improbable that q big
capture Of armed rebels will result
from the expedition. However. the
movement at least should effect the
capture Of the insurgents supplies and
the entire line Of railway. n well ~
Of the fertile valley through which II
runs. This loss will be q heavy blow
to the insurgents and will greatly
weaken their cause.
The theory exists in Manila that the
present activity Of the insurgents. as
shown by their attacks on the Ameri-
cans at Cabanafaun and elsewhere- is
due to the approaching session Of Con-
ere~e. where they hope for favorable
legislation in opposition TO the admin
istratiou policy. Desperate fighting u
considered probable until II shall be
shown that such leGislation II out Of
the question in Washington. Pedro Pa
terno. brother Of the president Of the
Filipino Congress and friendly with
the Americans. tells me that. In his
opinion. the passage OF q resolution by
the American Congress to the effect
that no Legislation regarding the Phil
ippines shall be considered until the
insurrection here shall have been over
come. viii do more than anything else
to dishearten the insurgents. The lat
ter receive newspaper, Detters and 9th
er documents constantly from the
United States. which give them hope
Of independence. They look forward
eagerly to the convening Of the new
Congress in Washington. from which
they expect action favorable to the in
surgent cause.