Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-12-08

ince of Neuva Viscaya, a week ago to
march through Cagayan valley to the north
coast of Luzon, intending to reach Aparri.
at the mouth of Cagayan river. the most
important northern seaport of the island.
While no large forces are known to be in
his path it may be that he has had some
fighting, although the friendliness of the
inhabitants is counted upon to help him.
When he arrives at Aparri. he will find
a gunboat awaiting him.
The Spanish prisoners in the Benguel
region are escaping from the Filipinos and
are fiocking into Vigan. Several hundred
are there already, and steamer will go
to bring them to Manila.
There has been a mutiny of native police
In one of the towns Of the island of Negros.
An American officer was killed. No partic
ulars have yet been received.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Ito the relief of
the war department General Young has
been heard from after a weeks absence in
the interior of Luzon. General Otis cabled
this morning as follows:
MANILA Dec. 7.-Secretary OF War, Washington:
General Young reports his arrival at Vigan the
evening Of the 9Th, having encountered force OF
the enemy at Nsbacan. twelve miles south OF the
city. whom he drove TO the eastward Of the same.
into San Quntn canyon. His troops are now press
ing them back
General Otis has cabled the war depart
ment as follows respecting the military sit
uation in Luzon:
MANILA, Dec. I'm Central Luzon there is no
insurgent force of Importance except in Buacan prov
ince near the mountains. where General Pillar holds
soon. General Grant has moved a small column down
the east coast OF Bataan province. encounerng lit
| tie opposition; column moving westward from the
mountains is expected to reach the western coast
of Luzon the 10th instant. Many small insurgent
armed bands In the country robbing and in
instances numbering the Inhabitants which are be-
successfully,
To the south Of Manila the insurgents still main
tain their positions. but the necessary force to
| scatter them will be sent there soon.
NEW YORK. Dec. IA dispatch to the
Herald from Manila says:
Hope of seeing the insurrection and halt
| ing military operations In the Philippines,
which seemed so bright a few days ago,
has again faded into the uncertain future.
Much has been accomplished. During the
| last few weeks the campaigning has been
| almost phenomenal.
| In dreadful weather. over a devastated
| country, across swollen rivers, along roads
| that were impossible for wagons. artillery
| and in some cases cavalry, the advance of
| the troops have been SO rapid and in so
many directions that they have often been
beyond the military telegraph lines and
operations haye necessarily been independ-
emily conducted by the field commanders.
The army is rightfully proud
The insurgents have had series of routs
and disasters. The slaughter has been
great; They have lost a large quantity OF
supplies and munitions of war. and more
than 1.OO0 of their armed men have sur
rendered or been captured during their
retreat in the last few weeks.
captured. What of 1t is at liberty is in
flight. A portion of Aguinaldo's family
are in our lines. Aguinaldo himself is a
| fugitive.
Notwithstanding all these things. there
is no reason for an extreme optimistic view
| of the situation. Nothing more is heard
the course of a few days. That sort OF
talk only lasted while the insurgent leader
was slipping away last week. Field COM
manders now think that the end is still
afar of.
1t is admitted that little is definitely
known of the present strength or where
| abouts Of the insurgents
i Aguinaldo's entire army is estimated al
from 5000 to 3oOeJ armed men. scattered
throughout the islands. There are 45O
American soldiers now in the Philippines
greatly scattered by the recent operations
with the exception of those in Manila
where 1900 are concentrated that they
seem like a mere handful.
Still we hold less than one-third of the
area of LuZon, but what we have is the
most desirable territory,
II Cayite province will be the seat of ar
active campaign when enough troops ar.
rive to shut off all avenues of escape un'
less an expected surrender occurs.
( All the S. 900 American troops will be
easily absorbed in active campaigning anG
garrisoning.
The army cannot continue its present ex.
ertions another month with the poor foot
found in the country without much illness
II is the general opinion that the five
known insurgent organizations of more
than 200 men each will at the present rat,
8 be disintegrated into guerrilla bands with
5 in thirty days.
81 II is the impression of the military au
s thorities that 2000 men will be sufficient
) to garrison Luzon a few months hence.
81 Field officers and others insist however
} that unless the natives surrender theil
} arms Luzon must be garrisoned town b,
81 town, while protection must be guaran