The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-02-23
troops FALL BACK.
American Volunteers Abandon = Poe
@ sition-Insurgents Keep UP =
Guerrilla Warfare.

Manila, Feb. 2O.-The California vol
unteers abandoned Guadalupe church
at five o'clock Sunday morning, which
has since been set on fire, and retired
to San Pedro Macati. The rebels still
hold the country in the vicinity of
Guadalupe, Pasig and Patero, despite
the efforts of the gunboats to dislodge
them from the jungle on both sides of
the river.
In view of the fact that the enemy
were concentrating on the American
right flank, preparations were made to
give them warm reception in the event
of attack. Gen. OvensAine's line, con-
sisting originally of the North Dakota
volunteers, Fourteenth infantry and
two troops of the Fourth cavalry,
stretching from the beach at Camp
Dewey to Gen. Kings right, was re-
enforced by two battalions of Oregon
volunteers and three troops of the
Fourth cavalry as infantry. The, Buff
falo's searchlight discovering the reb-
els unusually active about ten o'clock
Sunday evening, signaled the flag
ship for permission to fire upon them,
and, this being granted, bombarded the
enemy's trenches for 20 minutes. The
only effect of the fire was apparently
to drive the rebels further inland. Be-
yond few Intellectual volleys from the
trenches, which were returned with in
terest, the enemy made no demonstra-
ton, and all is quiet along the rest of
the line.
Scouts claim to have seen Gen. Pho
Del Pillar, who commanded the rebels
at Pace, with his arm in sling, di-
recting the troops. Gen. Montenegro,
the insurgent commander in chief, is
reported to be personally conducting
the movements in front of Gen. Kings
line at San Pedro Macati. The signal
corps is arranging signals with the
navy for future operations on the left.
With the exception of the port of Iloilo
trade with Philippine ports is still
blockaded
The retirement Of Gen. Kings ad-
vance posts upon San Pedro Macati has
evidently been construed by the rebels
as sign of weakness, as they pressed
forward along both sides of the river,
persistently harassing the occupants
of the town.
The enemy have apparently realized
the hopelessness of attacking the
American position and are occupied
chiefly by occasional sharp shooting
from the jungle whenever feasible.
Fortunately their. ignorance of the use
of sight minimizes the effect of their
guerrilla tactics.
Saturday night the rebels poured vol
ley after volley into San Pedro Ma>ati
from the brush on the adjacent ridge;
but fortunately without effect. Gen.
Kings headquarters, in the center of
the town, was the target for scores of
Remington and Mauser bullets. The
rebels are using smokeless powder and
it is extremely difficult to locate in
dividcal marksmen.
The rebel troops continue to menace
Iloilo with strong force and an ener-
getic policy is necessary to prevent an
attack.
It is reported,here that Aguinaldo has
outlawed Agoncillo for advising the at
tack on Manila in order to influence the
vote on the ratification of the peace
treaty! Agoncillo's telegraphic advice
to the insurgent leader was known in
Washington before the battle.
Washington, Feb. 2o-The accounts
of such skirmishes as those recently
reported by Gen. Otis and the stories
of frequent firing by concealed natives
upon the American outposts at Manila
have conveyed the impression to the
officials here that Gen. Otis is being
rapidly brought to pass where he
must assume most vigorous offensive
campaign Although no instructions
have yet been sent to him, it is assumed
that he will soon feel justified in doing
this to prevent the decentralization of
his troops and also to make his position
tenable in the approaching wet season.
The nature of the country around Ma
Mia favors the tactics the natives seem
to have adopted after learning that
they could not face the American SOL
diers in the open field, and it doubtless
will be Gen. Otis task just as soon as
his reenforcements reach him to clear
them away.