The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-28

forces. These are the streams to which
General Otis refers in reporting that
the insurgents have destroyed bridges.
which impede the progress of our sup
ply trains and artillery.
Mayor Simpson, who was on the staff
of General Greene at Manila and is
personally familiar with the surround
ing country, says that besides the diff
Guilty of burned bridges. the roads at
their best are almost impossible for
light artillery and the quick maneuvers
OF cavalry.
Our light field guns can be moved
forward slowly, but 1t is impossible to
so manipulate them as to take advan-
tage of every crest and rise of ground.
The only horses available for the cav
airy and artillery are the small native
ponies.
The interest of today centers in the
stand to be made by Aguinaldo with
his insurgent forces. There is hope
that he viii risk a final stand at Malo-
los. In that event, the next forty-eight
hours should determine the final issue.
as the American forces at Marilao are
not more than ten miles from Malolos.
Between these places the scattered
forces are engaged, the extreme rear of
the insurgent troops and the extreme
advance of the Americans bearing the
brunt
While this is going on, fifteen or
Otis dispatches show that the insur-
gents are again active south of Manila,
where Major General Lawtons division
is in reserve. General OTIS reports
show no concern as to this 81. thern
move, as he remarks, ''LaWton Nlll look
after them"
THREE DAYS BATTLE
The duration of the battle is begin
ming TO attract the attention Of army
strategists, as IL is very imoortant
element in determining the strength of
the men the supplies of ammunition
and stores. and the spirit of the army
The first blow was struck before day
break last Saturday, and the fighting
continued ali that day, again on Sun
day, and now on Monday. The reports
show little night fighting EXCEPT in re-
pulsing an insurgent attack Saturday
night. With today fighting has lasted
seventy-two hours. Judged by the
standards of great battles, such as
Waterloo, Plevna and others mentioned
by army authorities, this is a long and
intensely arduous engagement But the
fighting about Manila is quite different
from the standards OF civilized armies,
as it is running brush conflict, with
only occasional issues between organ
lied bodies OF troops. Some of the
battles Of the civil war lasted many
days, notably the battle Of the Wilder
ness ard the fighting about Richmond.
In speaking Of the element of endur-
ance, General Sternberg said today
that he had gene for seven days in the
continuous fighting around Richmond
without renewing the supplies origi-
nally issued before the fighting began
The main Question in these long con-
tinued fights is to have all supplies,
stores, etc, kept abreast of the fighting
force, SO that there may be no eXhaus-
lion. In this respect all the reports of
the fighting about Manila are most
gratifying 10 the authorities here, in
showing that the ouartermaster, COM
fnissary, medical and signal corps
stores are well up with out fighting
lines.
INSURGENT AMMUNITION.
The belief is expressed at the war de-
partment that the Filioinos are man
ufacturing the ammunition that is be-
ing used with such recklessness. When
General Green was in the Philippines
he went to the Filipino camps and re-
manned some time His report to the
president shows that the Filipinos OBJ
tanned quite large supply of arms and
ammunition when Dewey captured Ca
wife, and that they had heretofore OBJ
tanned a supply of Remingtons and
M2users.
General Green also found that the
the manufacture of ammunition for
these rifles, and this factory probably
is still in operation and furnishing q
sufficient supply to the insurgents.
A short time ago the zealandia and
Pueblo left San Francisco with the
Ninth infantry, bound to Manila By
the first Of. April four transports are
expected to arrive at San Francisco
from Manila. and they will return with
requirements for Otis about the 18th
OF that month. The Hancock will take
the Twenty-first infantry: the Warren
eight batteries of the Sixth artillery
End recruits: the Newport $50 marines
and recruits. and the Morgan City six
companies Of the Thirteenth infantry.
a little later the Ohio will arrive, and
return with the remainder of the Thir-
teenth infantry. The Senator is also
expected later in the month, and can
take 1000 men.
The use OF the Chinese as litter
bearers is said to be a. device to save
our own men for the more serious work.
The Chinese carry light bamboo litter
and being accustomed to the climate,
they can travel twice as far as an un-
acclimated carrier The main point,
however. is that the fighting force is
Kent intact.
While the casualty list is a source of
profound regret in army quarters, it is
said to be comparatively low, consider
ing the number Of men engaged and the
duration OF the action. This is ac-
counted for by the long-range shoot
ing Of the insurgents. who do not shoot
al a mark but in the general direction
Of cur lines. While these stray bullets
do considerable havoc in our lines it is
far less than the results of close-range
YolieyS from solid ranks of insurgents
IN the open or from considerable num-
her Of sharpshOOters.
DISPOSITION OF TROOPS.
The adjutant genraTs Office today
prepared the following statement re-
Earding the disposition of the trocss
under the command Of General Otis:
North OF Pasig river. MacArthur's
Observation-Disclosures br1gade-TWenty-
second infantry, two batteries, Twenty
third infantry. Second oregon.
i. C. Otis brigade-Twentieth Kan
sas. First Montana, four batteries Third
artillery, dismounted as infantry, Tenth
Pennsylvania.
Hales brigade-First Nebraska, First
Colorado, First South Dakota, First
Wyoming.
H2lls brigade-Third and Fourth in
fantry, two battalions Seventeenth in
fGntry, mounted squadron Fourth cav
airy, Two light batteries Utah artillery.
South of Pasig river, Lawtons divis-
ion: Kings brigade-One battalion
First California, First South Dakota,
Sirst Washington.
OVenshine's brigade-Fourteenth in
fantly, First Idaho, squadron FourIn
cavalry, one battalion artillery (U. s..
At Iloilo-Eighteenth infantry, First
Tennessee, one battalion Sixth artil-
lery.