Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-07
TASK is A FORMIDABLE ONE
Some of the Great Disadvantages
Under which American Troops
Are Fighting the FiIipinOs.

Correspondence of the Associated Press)
MANILA, March 4, (per steamer Arizona
to San Francisco) April 6-Although the
rupture between the American and native
forces at Manila occurred exactly one
month ago today, the conquest of the latter
by the former which has long been con-
ceded a necessity, can scarcely be said to
have commenced as yet
Had the Americans been in a position
to follow up their advantage and keep
right after the flying rebels, disorganized
as they were, by that first unexpected ad-
vance, there is no doubt that the question
of supremacy would have been settled by
this time, once and for all time I'm
fortunately. however large armies such as
that of the Eighth corps, are not self
supporting and as no provisions had been
made for such an emergency as arose on
the night of February 4, it became necessary
to call a halt at every outset of what prom
ised to be a clean sweep to victory.
While this was unavoidable it was dis
astrous in many ways. Firstly, because
the moment the halt was made the moral
effect OF their first defeat was eradicated
from the minds of the rebels, since il
gave them time both to recover from their
fright and to frame excuses for their failure
to avoid it, secondly it afforded an oppor-
tunity, which their leaders were quick to
take advantage of, to play upon the feel
ings of the majority and enlist the sym
pathies of thousands who had carefully re-
Trained from joining the rabble in their
Ill advised demands; thirdly 1t allowed the
rebels to rally their scattered forces and
after concentrating them in various places
TO infuse new blood into their ranks.
A soon as it dawned upon them that
the Americans were still on the defensive
and no further advance was to be feared
the rebels again assumed the aggressive
adopting the same bushwhacking tactics
which had proved so successful against theiI
old enemy, the Spaniards. At first these
were almost harmless, since they almost
invariably brought on fresh advance or
the part of those from whom they were
intending to intimdate.
Better Range of Their Rifles.
After the. battle of Caloocan however
when the American line was so long ant
thin that any further general advance be-
came inexpedient the rebels made a dis
covery which revolutionized their plans ant
inspired them with renewed courage. Thi
was that their rifles had a superior rang,
TO those OF the majority OF the American
weapons. Thereafter their sharpshooter,
carefully remained out OF range OF th
Springfelds carried by the volunteer reg
ments IN front Of them, but maintained
a constant and more or less effective FIR
from trees, cumps of bamboo, rocks, o
other natural points of vantage, both b.
day and night.
more CALLING situation than that Il
which the American troops have bee
placed for the past few weeks 1t would b
difeult to imagine II was constant
pltted at by an unseen foe, unable to silenc
his fire. except upon such rare occasions
until the country was ordered cleared an
then compelled to retire to their origina
lines.
The wonder is that the men were KEEP
in ehecksat all. Yet they were; not be
cause they were so thoroughly discipline
as to accept unwecome orders uncomplain
ingly. but because they were buayed wit
the hope that when their reinforcement
already enroute arrived general adyanc
would he made and then their turn woul
come. That time is near at hand, bu
whether or not the task before the cage