Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-25
OFFICIAL PRAISE FOR TROOPS
Macarthur Makes Detailed Report of Opera
tions in Philippines
DANGEROUS DUTIES OF THE NEBRAsXANs
Their Faithful Execution OF Arduous
Tasks is Especially Commended
Food supply is Prompt and
Satisfactory.


Arthurs division in the Philippines, carry
ing the operations into April. This report
| he took over to the president. 1t throws
! considerable new light upon the campaign.
As soon as the president has had an oppor
| tunity to examine 1t 1t will be made public,
together with the report of General Otis re-
ceved today.
The secretary OF war today made public
a report from Major General Macarthur,
being one of the reports enclosed by General
Otis in his own report of the operations in
the Philippines which was in part submitted
TO the cabinet yesterday. Macarthur covers
a period OF time from the evening of Feb
ruary 4, when the insurgent outbreak began,
| to February 2S. He gives vivid picture OF
| the conditions prevailing in Manila and its
suburbs during the exciting times that fol-
lowed the initiation of the insurgent attack
| An important feature OF his report is the
demonstration of the responsibility of the
| insurgents for the outbreak. He also speaks
in terms of the highest praise of the splen-
did qualities of American officers and en-
listed men.
General MacArthurs command was the
Second division of the Eighth army corps,
which included the Twentieth Kansas (Fun-
ston's command) and the Utah battery.
General Macarthur mentions also little
| naval contingent in the shape of Colt au-
| tomato gun loaned by the Helen, manned
| by Lieutenant Cleland Davis, who volun-
teered with three marines.
! Making brief statement Of the position
of the United States troops in Manila and
suburbs just preceding the outbreak of
February 4. General Macarthur comes to
the incidents leading up to the rupture. He
says:
"The pertinacty of the insurgents in
| rnc cir ,aI A.
Limitation into American territory induced
a correspondence which, in the light of sub
sequent events, is interesting as indicat-
ing with considerable precision a premedi-
| tated purpose on the part OF somebody in
| the insurgent army to force a collision"
General Macarthur addressed a note to
Colonel San Miguel OF the insurgent army.
The note. which has now become i'm
portant, and the answer. are as follows:
Lines Must BE Observed.
Sir: The line between your command
and my command has beer long established
and Is well understood by yourself and my
self.
1t is quite necessary, under present con-
diticns, that this line should not be passed
| by armed men of either command.
An armed party from your command now
occupies the village in front of block house
No. z, at a point considerably more than
100 yaris on my side of the line, and Is very
active in exhibiting hostile Intentions. This
party must be withdrawn to your side Of the
line at once.
From this date. If the fine Is crossed by
your men with arms in their hands, they
must be regarded subject to such action
fully, ARTHUR MACARTHUR,
Major General, U. S. ". COMMANDING
SAN JUAN DEL MONTE, Feb 2-Ma-
1or General Macarthur: My Very Dear
Sir-In reply to yours dated today in which
you inform me that my soldiers have been
passing the line of demarkation fixed by
agreement, l desire to say that this is for
eign to my wishes and l shall give imme-
diate orders in the premisea that they re-
tire. Truly yours,
L. F. SAN MIGUEL.
Colonel and First Chief
Next came the disregard for the promise
which precipitated the outbreak, and this
is described by General Macarthur in the
following language:
AT about $50 p. M, February 4, an in
surgent patrol, consisting OF four armed
soldiers, entered our territory at block house
No. Z and advanced to the little village of
Santol, which was occupied along the pipe
line by the Nebraska outpost. The Ameri-
can sentry challenged twice, and then, as
the insurgent patrol continued to advance
he fired, whereupon the patrol returned to
block house No. T. whence fire was i'm
mediatery opened by the entire insurgent
outpost at that point.
NebrasISans Under Fire.
"At p. m. Colonel Stotsenburg of the
First Nebraska infantry, U. S. w. reported
considerable firing at his outposts, which
extended gradually along the entire front of
the division.
AT 1910 p m. 1t was evident that the
hostilities had been begun in earnest by the
insurgents, and accordingly an order was
issued from these headquarters to put every
thing on the firing line, according to a
program which had been prearranged for
such an emergency"
Continuing, the report shows that the
fighting progressed iercely all night and
the next day the insurgents were driven
back from their whole line. The Tennessee
regiment and the South Dakota regiments
are particularly mentioned as rendering good
service. General Macarthur says:
THE combat was characterized by fine
display of bravery of the troops, who were
essential to the final success achieved"
The affair of February is described as
an outpost affair originating between oppos
ing sentinefs and ending with a hand-to
hand conflict between three and a half COM
panies under Colonel Funston and Major
| hctSuli anu @oV insurgents he latter
stood firmly and dubbed muskets and
bayonets were freely used the result being
a complete rout of the enemy.
The plan of the attack on Caloocan is
described in the report The program is
said to have been carried out with almost
exact precision, the tactical execution being
excellent and the resistance such as to re-
quire the best efforts Of all concerned. Com
pany of the Montana regiment is espe-
cially mentioned for its performance undep
Major Bell OF some extra hazardous duty
in making feint.
Macarthur Praises Nebrsskans.
or the Nebraska regiment General Mac
Arthur says
I'm consequence of it's advanced position
at the pumping station the Nebraska regi-
ment has been engaged in a series of minor
operations, which have resulted in a large
amount of arduous and dangerous work, all
OF which has been cordially and we'll per-
formed by this excellent regiment"
The attempt of the natives within the city
assisted by the insurgents outside, to rise
within the city OF Manila on February 20,
is described as a formidable movement