The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-28
PUSHING ON.
Continued from First Page.)

treating from one to another and then
in abandoning position they can flood
the fields and thus hinder the advance
of our men. / have not seen it men
toned in the dispatches, but I have no
doubt that many of these fields have
been flooded
What do you believe will be the
effect of the present campaign"
There will be several pitched battles
and then Aguinaldo's army will be dis
persed, but the American army in the
Philippines will have to contend with
guerilla warfare for several years to
come. The natives will not submit even
If the main body of the army is demOl-
ished and scattered. Still do not think
the prospect is one that should be
alarming or distressing. Our army will
have an experience in the Philippines
which will be exceedingly valuable and
make it all the more effective in the fu-
ture.''
How did you happen to make trip
through the island?"
1T was found advisable to ascertain
what the natives in the interior were
doing and what seemed to be their at
titude toward the Americans. The
American officers in uniform who had
attempted to traverse this part Of the
country had been arrested and sent
back, so I Travelled as a civilian. That
was late in october. AS I am of Eng
lish birth I allowed the natives to be-
Heve that I was an Englishman. In
addition to that spoke Spanish, and
found little difficulty in getting along,
although was continually stopped and
questioned. At every turn the soldiers
demanded of me pass from Aguinaldo.
The fact that his name was mentioned
everywhere and that he was regarded
as their leader gave me some idea of
his influence in the island. 1 went the
entire length of the railway line from
Manila to Dagupan, on the other coast,
and everywhere found the natives arm
ing themselves and drilling constantly.
The one topic of conversation was the
coming fight with the Americans. They
seemed to regard it as inevitable and
were not disposed to avoid it. Even the
little boys were marching up and down
the streets and being drilled and never
saw more military enthusiasm in any
country. OF course, the drilling was
very awkward and the discipline was
poor. but the soldiers were intensely
earnest and enthusiastic everywhere,
and the fact that the new arms were
being shipped in and distributed showed
that some we'll defined policy of prep
aration was being put into effect
How did the natives get these i'm
proved arms?'
''They were shipped in during all last
summer and autumn. AS soon as Aguin-
aldo established his government he be-
gan to levy taxes in every village and
demanded tribute from the wealthy res
idents in and around Manila, and a
great deal of this money was imme-
diately expended for arms and ammu-
milton. At Malolos I saw Maxims and
Cuttings. There are enough Spanish
art1Ilerymen among the insurgents to
handle these guns in an effective man
ner. 1t is evident, also, that the natives
have competent engineers with them,
for their trenches have been we'll con-
structed and so arranged that soldiers
can retreat from one to another with
out putting themselves in range"
You met A guinaldo often?'
For a time I met him two or three
times a day. He impressed me as a. very
shrewd leader. He was exceedingly
suspicious of the Americans and found
the greatest difficulty in getting any in
formation out of him. At every inter
view he had one of his native officers
with him.