The National tribune., 1899-12-14
In The PHILIPPINES.
Americans Pushing the insurgents in All
Directions.

On Dec. 5 n force of insurgents, esti,
mated at 500. attacked the American
garrison of 200 at Vigan, province of
South llocos. The American loss was
eight Killed and many wounded. After
hard fighting the Fiiipinos were driven
off and through the mountains, leaving
30 dead.
A special cabIegram from Hongkong
Dec. . said that FIiipinos there announce
that AgIinaldo is ready To surrender IL
Consul Wildman will receive him at Manila.
The dispatch adds that the Filipino Junta
at Hongkong was in communication with
Aguinaldo last week, and advised him to
throw himself on the mercy of the United
States.
Dispatches from Manila Dec. : stated that
expectation of catching Aguinaido in the
north had been practically abandoned,
and the probability now is that ne will
| turn southwark if he is not already there,
with his destination Cavite Province. his
home. where the insurrection began. and
where it still has its greatest strength.
There are 5000 insurgents before linus
and Bacoor, keeping the Americans Sleep
ing on their arms, and nightly awaiting
attack. The FIlipinoS have several can
non.
The dispatches also stated that the
American forces in the north have separated
into many small commands, and are pur-
suing bands of Filipinos. Gen. Mac
| Arthur is engaged in clearing the mountain
Railroad. Gen. Grant is moving from
| Angeles toward Subig with 400 men Col
| Bell IS sweeping south from Mangatarem.
Col. Hood with the 10th regiment and
cavalry, and Gen. Lawton. with force
| from San Isidor, are operating against
Gen. Pilar's army in the San Mateo Valley.
Maj. Bachelor, with battalion of the
24th Inf. is making daring expedition.
He left Bayombong. province Of Neuva
Vizcaya, to march through Cagayan Val
l Law To t<xf III -
to reach Aparri at the mouth of Cagayan
| River, the most important northern seaport
of the island. When he arrives at Aparri
he will find gunboat awaiting him.
| On the same date Otis cabied after a
| weeks campaign in the interior, that
| Young reported his arrival at Vigan on the
evening Of the 5th, having encountered a
| force of the enemy at Narbacan, IL miles
south OF the city. whom he drove to the
| eastward OF the same into San Quentin
Ganyan His troops are now pressing
them back. The country is extremely
rough and strongly intrenched. Our cas-
| ualtieS were one killed and IL wounded,
wounds mostly slight. Enemy left in
| trenches 25 dead few rifles. several thou.
sand rounds small ammunition, and 40
| shrapnel.
Gen. Otis's dispatch on Dec 8 did not co.
incide with the previous view Of CORE
| spOndentS that there was little expectation
of capturing Aguinaldo. He stated that
Col. Hare, of the 33d Inf, took Bangued
on Dec. 5, and was in pursuit of the in
surgents on the road southwest to Lepanto.
thence to Bontoc by which route guinaldo
and 300 insurgents are supposed to be re-
| treating with the American prisoners.
| The town of Bontoc lies in the mountain
fastness about so or so miles southeast Of
Vigan.
This indicated that Aguinaldo had been
headed off to the northward for the first
time, and compelled to retrace his steps
| toward the south. 1t was stated that in his
line of march was a considerable Ameri-
can force at Bayombong; to the westward
of that point Wheatons force, and to the
east of Bayombong an almost impossible
mountain range; Young behind him;
| Col. Hare close in his rear.
On Dec. dispatches from Manila stated
that Gen. Gregoria de Pillar, commanding
Aguinaldo's body-guard was killed by
MAJ pey'3n 6t Il Ies ea,at0n nrt6 oi te IN a
| yanteS, Dec. 3.