Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-27
GABLES FROM OTIS.

Washington, March 26.-Advices from
Gen. Otis We're watched with keenest
interest by war department officials.
today. and Assistant Secretary Mike
John. who in the absence of Secretary
Alger. is acting secretary of war. re-
manned in his office throughout the
day in order to keep in close touch
with the progress of the fighting.
Many army officers and other Off
Gals were also at the department and
the President was kept advised as to
the developments as indicated in Gen
Otis dispatches. Early, this morning
the first message from Gen. Otis was
received and was soon followed by
others whose contents gave the officials
here their first general idea of the OPP
erations of the last two days.
The list of killed and injured which
Gen Otis had promised. was awaited
anxiously by the department., friends
and relatives here of the officers and
men in the Philippines. but it was late
in the afternoon before it was received
Much regret was expressed at tbs
death of Col. Egbert, the only regular
officer among the killed. He was
among those who distinguished them
selves at Santiago being wounded AT
san Juan and brevctted for his con-
spicuous gallantry in that engagement,
The war department has received the
following cablegrams:
Manila March &c.
Adjutant General, WashinGton
40 T. M-MacArthur has driven
enemy strongly entrcnched in large
force rorth or Polo: will continue to
press him: Insurgents have strong en-
trenchments from Caloocan to Malolos
which have taken months to construct.
OTIS.
Manila, March &c.
Adjutant General. Washington:
Attacks on Hall and pumping sta
ton, last night. easily repulsed. Mac
Arthur with moving column has driv-
en- emmy but cannot gain point north
of Polo. account of roughness of coun-
try: must strike railway south of that
point: this will enable most of Aguin-
aldo's troops to escape north, still he
may oppose, as best of his army con-
sisting of released prisoners of war.
former native Spanish troops from
southern Luzon provinces have con-
centrated there: Lawton will take care
OF them. Affairs satisfactory.
OTIS.
Manila, March 26.
Adjutant General. Washington:
Entire casualties, yesterday. one Off
Ger. - enlisted men killed; eight Off
GERS. AZ men wounded. Officer killed,
Capt Stewart list Colorado. List ca
bled Immediately. Today's fighting
south and around Polo determined.
Macarthur will three brigades united.
having artillery. cavalry. engaging
enemy Col. Egbert 22nd Infantry.
killed. Our lost thus far moderate:
enemy's heavy. Amy gunboats on
coast and in estuaries west and north
of Polo very efficient; troops in excel
lent conditions and spirits. OTIS.
Gen. Otis dispatch received at 20
O'Clock, tonight. recording MacArthur's
advance to New Canayan marked a
distinct and important step by the
American troops in the opinion of Act
ing Secretary Meiklejohn and Adju
tant General Corbin. Both expressed
tflb1f SdtlSIdcliDI dl NIdt betii dt-
The former dispatches re-
garding this branch of the operations
had not been so promising, inasmuch
as they had stated that Gen. MacAr-
thur although he had driven the enc
my. he could not gain a point north of
Polo on account of the roughness of the
country.
With easy railroad communication to
the advanced point the difficulty in for
warding commissary supplies will be
lessened. Every step for
ward is regarded as so much ground
gained and an approach nearer to the
insurgent headquarters at Malolos
now stated to be but is miles from the
of the American army.
The tenacity of the Filipinos in the
mast few days fighting has somewhat
surprised the war officials here. who
did not think them capable of putting
m and maintaining the contes. they
have.
The Associated Press bulletin. dated
AZ 915. the morning of the 9th, was
the first news of Mondays lighting by
the war department officials. Gen.
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