Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04
OTIS SENDS SCOUTS OUT
Is Making Preparations for Con.
tinued Active Campaign Against
Aguinaldo's Forces.
REPORTS ARMY IN EXCELLENT SPIRITS


Grntified at Conditions Existing
In Philippines-Believe the In
surgent Army Is Badly Broken Up
coincidence Felt in Otis Ability.
Washington, April 3.-The following
was received at 6: 43 Saturday morning:
Manila, April 1-Adjutant General,
Washington: Quiet prevails Have directed
troops at Malolos and on railroad on
accommodating duty. Find insurgents only
in small portions of surrounding country.
who retire on the approach OF our troops
Few of our troops moving to new posi-
ton. Preparing for a continued active cam
paign. Army in excellent spirits
Are Much Grntiied.
Washington, April 3.-War depart
ment officials are very much grained at
the conditions existing in the Philip
pines. 1t is deducted from the dis
patch received from Gen. Otis that there
is little left of the army of Aguinaldo
and that his troops do not want to face
the American soldiers. 1t is supposed
that scouting parties of Gen. Otis army
have been moving about from dl1fereht
points on the railroad line, and more
especially from Malolos, and have en-
countered the few bands of natives
which Otis says retire upon the APP
proach of the American troops. While
the officials here would be glad to have
information of the new campaign OF
Gen. Otis, they are at present without
such knowledge, and he has not been
asked to communicate his plans to the
department. The utmost confidence is
expressed in his ability to handle the
situation, and no attempt will be made
to influence him from Washington.
Will Take Precautions.
1t is believed that Gen. Otis desires
to ascertain now just where the forces
of the insurgents are located, and in
what number. tits thought very prob
able that in the advance that has been
made from Manila to Malolos the in
surgents have not all retreated along
the railroad track, but some have gone
off into the rough country to the right
of the railroad, and may now be lying
in wait to set upon small bodies OF
American troops, or perhaps again de-
stroy some of the bridges on the rail
road, and for a time cut off commu-
nication between the advance of the
American army from Manila. Gen. Otis
will take measures to prevent anything
of the kind, and no doubt will ascertain
the location and number of the in
surgents before making further adj
vance in pursuit of Aguinaldo and his
fleeing army. 1t is evident that while
Gen. Otis reports everything "all quiet, !"
he has had part of his army active
in accommodating the country along the
line of railroad, by which he has been
advancing.
Cablegram from Dewey.
Washington, April "A cable mes
sage was received from Admiral Dewey
announcing the arrival at Manila of the
Celtic, naval store ship.
Sharpshooters Pick on Rebels.
Manila, April 3.-The American forces
commanded by Gen. Macarthur are
resting at Malolos. The men are in
good condition, considering the ia
tigue of the campaign.
The plans of the rebels, if they have
any, are conjectural. Considerable rebel
forces have been collected along the
fronts of Gen. Lawton and Gen. Hall,
who are holding the line from the wa
terworks to Lalonia. There is shoot
ing nightly along this line, apparent
ly for the purpose of breaking the
Americans sleep. Consequently, Gen.
Lawton has detailed five sharpshoot-
ers from each company to attend to the
rebels, and the Americans are picking
off numbers of them.
1t is reported that 5000 rebels under
Pillar are concentrated at Cainta and
Taytay.
Gen. King sent out a accommodating
party of two companies of the North
Dakota regiment, and brisk engage
ment followed, during which seven Fill
ipinos were killed. On the American
side lieutenant and two privates were
wounded.
The death of Lieut.. Gregg, of the
Fourth infantry, who was killed near
the Manila waterworks Friday, has
deeply affected the army, as he was one
OF the most popular young officers. His
funeral took place Saturday.
Won't Bring Back Dead Now.
Washington, April 3.-Adjt. Gen.
Corbin cabled Gen. Otis saying that the
secretary of war desired if possible that
the dead of the present campaign be
returned to the United States on the
early transports, and asked the opin-
Ion of the general on the subject.
Gen. Otis cabled Saturday that it
would be impossible to send the bod.
les home now. The climatic condi
tons are such as to make it dangerous
to the health of the people who would
handle the bodies. He was of the opin
ion that six months later the remains
OF the dead could be returned to the
United States.
Strike for Raise.
Wheeling, w. Va, April 8. - The con