The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-03-25
ONWARD 10 MIL.Al0||S'|'.
Our Troops Are Marching on til,
Filipinos' Capital.
A GREAT BATTLE ANTICIPATED

| An unconfrmed Dispatch to . New
York Newspaper Tells OF Fighting
| In Which Hundred Americans and
Two Hundred F1lipinos We're Killed.
Manila. March 25-The long expected
movement for the capture Of Malolos,
the rebel capital, began at daybreak yes
terday morning. For two days there
has been a lull In the fighting, and the
positions of the troops have been re-
adjusted preparatory to this stroke,
which is expected to reduce Aguinaldo
to the last extremity.
The first troops to move were the men
In the brigade Of General Otis, who
struck tents shortly before sunrise. Inn
mediatsly the word was passed along the
line, and the troops became convinced
that the greatest battle since the opening
Of hostilities with the Filipinos was at
hand.
General Otis occupied the position at
Caloocan, which is nearest Malolos, on
the road from Manila. His brigade in.
cludes the Twentieth Kansas, First Mon
tana, First Idaho, First California and
the Wyoming battery.
The first movement of troops under
General Otis was met with stubborn
4, resistance by the Filipinos, and in the
opening skirmish Sergeant Morris Cohen
ard Private John Muhe, of the Twen-
tieth Kansas volunteers, were killed.
The Second Oregon and Twenty-second
infantry of the troops of General
Wheaton's brigade are concentrating
near Caloocan, in the rear Of General
Otis front.
The Third infantry Joined General
Wheaton's command yesterday after
noon.
Army tugs command Malabon.
Every preparation is being made for q
general forward movement.
The battalion of the Seventeenth in.
fantry, which arrived on board the
transport Sherman, disembarked yester-
day.
The insurgents are actively strengthen
ing their position. Large bodies Of the
enemy are visible from our lines.
The cruiser Baltimore is going to Iloilo
to strengthen our forces.
Two Spanish prisoners who have es-
capped from Polo to the lines of the Kan
sas regiment report that the Filipinos
have concentrated their forces at Mala-
bon and Polo. They add that only
Aguinaldo's body guard is at Malalos,
and that the rebel leaders apparently in.
tend to stake their fortunes on fight |
at Malabon. If defeated, it is further
asserted, the rebels intend to dispense to
the swamps and mountains. The rebels |
were putting their Bolos in front, believ
ing that the Bolomens charms will avert
the bullets. The Rolos of the F'ilipnos
greatly outnumber the rifles in their
hands. The rebels are further said to
have admitted that they could not stand
the American shells and bayonet charges.
The escaped Spaniards corrohorated
the stories told of food shortage among
the rebels, and they added that their
hospitals are short Of supplies.
The food supplies sent from the United
States, including all kinds of vegetables,
arrive in good condition. There is no COM
plant among the troops. A large number
of sample bills of fare were gathered from
among the troops. one of which is given
as a sample: observation-disclosures, oat.
meal, salmon, sugar, bread and tea.
bean gravy, potatoes,
stewed onions, sugar. bread and tea.
beef, rice soup, potato
salad, sugar, bread and tea.
Waiting the Commissions Report.
Thonasville, Ca, March 25.--The ad-
will not decide upon its
permanent policy respecting the Philip
lines until the Schurman commission.
reports. 1t is felt that the present
knowledge of the islands is too indefinite
as a basis for Fixed policy. Moreover,
\ more definite decision is felt to be need
less, since for the present the only prob
EN- is the restoration of law and order
md the establishment Of stable, peaceful
conditions. This and the appointment
If diplomatic representative at Madrid
ire two of the most important matters
remaining open. The Madrid mission
will be raised to an embassy
soon after the payment of the $2O,000.-
200 indemnity. General Woodford may
not be the new envoy, owing to the fact ,
hat New York already has such an un-
lne proportion Of the highest diplomatic
mi nj |