The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-06

everything before them. They have verified
the oft-repeated prediction that the natives
were not n match for civilized. discip tined
troops. In their lighting with the Spaniards
most Of it was along bushwhackiuR lines. Tho
night was their favorite time for attack. That
was particularly the cnse in their investment
Of Malate. which after two months ~ fighting
remained to be taken by the Americans. Night
after night they opened on the Spanish fort
there with its lines Of trenches. and their fre
was never sustained FOR over an hour. The
daylight fighting wus nearly all OF the skirmish
order.
THE extent of the advances made on Sun.
day morning by the American troops IL hotto'd
in the dispatches. hut H. is quite probable that
they are now in control Of all OF the northern
and eastern suburbs Of the city. As l have
already stated. ARuinaldo's heaviest force
is north Of the city. and II there is to
be more lighting. or il the advantages OF the
last few DAYS are to be followed up. the lighting
will be largely In the valley OF northern luzon.
There will probably be a disposition 10 have
Gen. Otis await achievements before attempt
ing the pursuit Of the retiring rebels, but ] per.
sonally believe, that he has a sufficient force for
a successful campaign. The northern %valleyts
walled in on either side by high mountains. and
ACuinaldo and his men will be In what is at
once a friendly country, His men could be split
~ 1890 ~"'s AAAN " Ae'' N'N'.
guerrilla lines. but while our losses will be Sc
we're. possibly. the end will come speedily.
The idea OF the insurgents that they could
capture the city Is simply absurd. Although
there is not deep water between the mouth
Of the Pasig and Malabon on the north.
Admiral Dewey can steam his ships close
enough to shore to simply sweep the country
for several miles with an enflading fire that no
force could withstand. ana at Malate. south OF
thn "a. La 49, - LII -. III
into the breaker line. l am OF the opinion that
when the detailed story Of the fight comes in 1t
will be found that the Admiral had a hand in
repelling the attack. In saying that | do not
believe the city Ia in the slightest danger
aside from the damage that can be inflicted
on the suburbs. | may add that / do not be-
lieve there will ever De a serious uprising
among the natives living within the city. | do
not SEQ how Aguinaldo is going to conduct a
campaign against the American arms for any
long period. He is entirely without sea power.
and Dewey can care for him without any
trouble wherever he shows his head on the
coast. He can retire into the interior and make
a running fight thai would he troublesome,
but. as | say. | do not believe he can keep II up
for any great time.
Il an not surprised that there has been a
conflict. For months the outposts OF the oppos-
ing armies have been In sight OF one another.
The sentries have met on their patrol and
has been an unusual amount OF friction. The
rebels have been deceived by their leaders.
They have been told that Aguinaldo brought
Dewey TO the scene to aid him. They have
been told that the concessions OF the Ameri-
cans have been acts of cowardice. and that
their forbearance was fear. They have not APP
preciated kindness. The American sentries
have been forced to restrain themselves in
sight of acts of violence and injustice Fight on
the line where their authority ceased. They
have been tainted. threatened and abused.
and | wonder that they were not the agrees
sOrs.
Il personally have held the opinion that firm
ness should have been the dominating element
in our policy toward these people. The 1000
troops that ARuinaldo marched into the city
the night that it fell should have been driven
out the next day. and not permitted TO remain
in possession of the property they had seized.
Aguinaldo should not have been allowed to
leave BakOr. where he was between two
brigades of the American army and under the
guns of Dewey's fleet. and the shipping of arms
should have been stopped long before it was.
In those days Aguinaldo pleaded that he did
not know whether or not the Americans were
going to remain. and declared that all OF his
warlike preparations were aimed dt the Span
ish. However. that is all past, and II is a |
uutNliOh VI pIOleCIlilk AlutElCdl lives pW. l
" cannot say with any certainty what avail |
able force Aguinaldo has. Major Franklin
Bell Of the Information Bureau prepared an
estimate in September last. in which he said
that Aguinaldo had 10000 rifles. but since that
time additional arms have been landed. There
have been expeditions sent to other islands.
however. and the number has been reduced
somewhat az far az the force about Manila is
concerned. Aguinaldo has made ridiculous
claims about the number OF men that he could
muster. but il he turns up 10000 well-equippcd
men against Otis | shall be surprised. He has
plenty Of ammunition and several excel
lent field pieces. but it is probable
that several of the latter were taken on
Sunday morning. Lieut.-Col. Cotton Of the
First Nebraska. who X illed a native who sought
his life. is n splendid type Of Western man
hood. He stands over six feet high and weighs
about 225 pounds. He is both game and
active. and il there had been half a dozen
Filipinos in the attack he would probably have
got them all. Cotton was chosen Deputy Col
lector OF the port by Gen. Merritt after the
surrender and rendered excellent service in
that post, Lieut. Charles Hogan. the young
Californian shot, is a popular officer" |