The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-03-26
ANXIETY AT
The ECAPITAL
Much Interest In the Advance
of the Forces of Gen.
eral Otis.
COMPARATIVE STRENGTH
Otis Has $1,000 Men, but the
Odds May Have Been Heay-
ily Against Our Men.
Tn nIVInE THE INcIIDCENTc
This. II Is Thought. Is What the Amer
lean Commander Intends Doing
Escape Cut Off.
TO DIVIDE THE INSURGENTS

WASHINGTON. March B.-Thls was a
day Of anxiety and excitement at the war
department that carried a reminder OF
the busiest days Of the war with Spain.
Every officer was inteniy looking for
every scrap Of information as to the pro-
gress oelng made by General Otis gallant
expeditionary forces. The opinion ex-
pressed al the department was that the
American troops could bivOuac on the
field. and would take up a forward move
ment Immediately after the sun rises to-
morrow.
Il is said at the department that Cen
erai Otis has under his command in
Manila and vicinity about Z7.Ooo soldiers
Aguinaldo according 10 Otis last report.
has about 1900 armed men.
General CorbIn estimates that the
American flying squadron was about 10
60 men strong. The insurgents. accord
ing 10 Otis had about 1000 men In line.
But Aguinaldo's reserve, 1900 strong. Is
now far distant from the scene Of the
firing line: indeed & is suspected that
some Of them. including the leader him
self. may have been drawn into today's
struggle. in which case the odds would
have been heavily against the Americans.
The following was received from Gen
'era, Otis this morning:
Manila. March 25-McArthur. with two
brigades, commenced the advance on No
valiches. northwest OF Calocan. in the
center Of the insurgent lines. at day
break this morning. From Novaliches
Macarthur viii swing to the left and
strike at Polo. The brigades fronting
on Calocan will press forward at the
proper time.
"Hale's brigade on the old line north
Of Paslg Is demonstrating west Of the
pumping station. The enemy is 1900
strong ON the lines. l am endeavorlng
to take fraction in the reverse. OTIS. ="
Upon the recent of the cablegram an
nouncing and defining the advance by
McArthur's division, and the plan Of
movement OF the remaining sections Of
the American column, the maps drafted
by the military information division were
consulted. It was then perceived that
the American general was endeavorlng to
drive a wedge straight through the GEN.
ter Of the insurgent army, and then, by
a rapid wheel, crush out one OF the
divided wings against another section Of
the American column.
Otis statement that Il am endeavoring
to take a fraction (of the enemy in the
reverse" was taken 10 make this plain.
As nearly as could be calculated, Nc
Arthur held the middle Of the American
line He was driving straight nOrthward
and was to proceed in that direction un-
til he had fianked the insurgent center.
The statement that he had arrived at
Novaliches shows that he was then about
eight miles northeast Of Manila, When
he swings to the left, north of Polo. he
will have between himself and the bay
OF Manila. about a third OF the insurgent
army. II he manages to get in the rear
OF this body, the insurgents will be fairly
cornered in a triangle formed by the bay
on one side, Macarthur on the northeast
and wheaton's brigade on the south. 1t
is assumed that this Is what Otis means
when he talks of taking the enemy In the
reverse, for the statement that Wheaton
will press forward at the proper time is
regarded as an indication that 1t will be
his duty to close up the triangle and
prevent the escape of the insurgents.
The only hope Of the latter would ap-
pear to be in retreating before Nc
Arthur's advance so rapidly as to pre-
vent being cornered. but even in this case
their force would be split in two and
their position would be untenable for any
length Of time.
General Corbins attention was called
to the indication from the cablegram
that the engagement seemed to be general
along the American lines from the pump
ing station west OF Manila and near the
river clear around to a point due north
OF vast crescent, 20 miles long. He
expressed the belief this was only ap-
parent: that. as Otis had used the word
demonstrating" in speaking OF the bril-
gade stationed at the waterworks, 1t
was evident that Otis purpose was TO
detract the attention of the enemy from
the main point Of attack on the north.
Inquiry was made as to why SO large
proportion of the volunteer troops