The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-28
NO STRATEGIC MOVE.
The Main Body of the Two Opposing Forces
Are Not Twelve Miles Apart---Road to
Malolos Presents nnumerable DIFF.
fculties---Duration of Battle
Attracting Attention.

Washington, March 27-The third
day of the fighting north Of Manila
brought little of decisive character
from which war department officials
could Judge what the final outcome OF
this movement would be.
In all official quarters the most IN
tense interest prevailed today, but
there was no excitement and none OF
that anxiety and tension shown during
the memorable days of Last summer
when the decisive blows were being
struck at Santiago.
Early in the day, Gen. Otis cdbled the
war department d brief out compre-
hensive dispatch, summing up the sit
uation. 1t disclosed that severe fight
ing was going on today, with our forces
advanced as far north as Mariloa
while the insurgents, under command
of Aguinaldo, were being driven bach
with considerable slaughter.
This and the press dispatches referred
officials that strategic movements
of entrapping the insurgents between
our lines had not proveu as successful
as designed, and that the move haC
now shifted to a retreat by Aguinaldo'i
| forces, and a pursuit by our troops
| The insurgents retreat ts-~rard Malolol
was slow and logged, and advantag,
was taken of one after another of line
of Entertainments; the burning o
bridges and the interrupting of com
munications.
Gen. Otis dispatch, although received
early today, was sent Monday evening
(Manila time) and summed up the worI
of the three days. That the fighting
would proceed into the fourth day wa;
shown by his closing sentence: ''Tht
column will press on in the morning.
This refers to Tuesday.
The engagement has now shaped it.
self so that it is looked upon as more
of chase than the execution Of 9
stragetic movement With the Ameri-
can base advanced to Maloloa and the
insurgent base forced back to Malolos
forces are about 10 or LIZ miles apart.
This could be quickly covered in a
forced march under fair conditions, but
it is u miles Of innumerable difficulties
and obstacles which our troops must
cover before they reach the insurgent
stronghold. It is said that the engi-
neers with Macarthur ara hastily re-
pairing the burned bridges.
This will permit the artillery to be
taken forward as well as the infantry
columns. IT is expected that every mile
of the distance to Malolos Will be con-
tested by the insurgents, for Gen. Otis
reports that it is a stretch Of country
covered with the intrenchments thrown
up during the last three months. Our
men therefore must advance slowly,
repairing the roads as they go, and
at the same time they must light their
way through well made rebel intrench-
ments. Serious as the work is, there
is no lack of confidence among officials
here "a to the satisfactory outcome Of
the campaign.
Malolos is the insurgent capital.
where the assembly has been sitting
and the insurgent government has been
in operation. 1t represents more to the
insurgents than any other place in the
Philippines, and little doubt is enter
tanned that they will make a desperate
stand there. The tactics of Aguinaldo
are taking him gradually beyond the
range Of Admiral Deweys guns, while
the insurgents were at Malabon on Sat
urday they We're within a mile of the
water front and easily within range of
the fleet. But as they have moved
northWard they have gradually moved
away from the bay. Malolos is about
seven miles back from the bay, al
though there are shallow estuaries
which would permit light-draft boats
to get within mile or two.
The duration of the battle is begin
ming to attract the attention of army
strategsts, as 1t is very important
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 fighting con-
tinued all that day, again on Sunday
and now on Monday. The reports show
little night fighting except in repulslng
an insurgent attack Saturday night.
With today the lighting has lasted
70 hours. Judged by the stand