The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-28

little of decisive character from which
the war department officials could Judge
what the final outcome of this move
ment would be. In all official quarters
the most intense interest prevailed. 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
General Otis cabled the war department
a brief, but comprehensive dispatch,
summing up the situation. 1t disclosed
that severe fighting was going on to-
day with our forces advanced as far
north Of Mariloa, while the insurgents,
under the command of Aguinaldo, were
being driven back with considerable
slaughter. This and the press dispa tches
satisfied the officials that the strategy
movement of entrapping the insurgents
between our lines had not proved as
successful as designed, and that the
move had now shifted to a retreat by
Aguinaldos forces, and a pursuit by
our troops. The insurgent retreat tow
ard Malolos was slow and dogged, and
advantage was taken of one after an
other of lines of entertainments. General
Otis dispatch, although received early
to-day, was sent Monday. evening, Ma
nila time, and summed up the work of
the three days. That the fighting would
| proceed into the fourth day was shown
by his closing sentence:
Will Press On.
1.-THE column will press on in the
morning"
This refers to Tuesday The engage
ment has now shaped itself so that it
Is looked upon as more of chase than
the exploitation of a strategic move
ment. With the American base ad-
vanced to Mariloa and the insurgents
base forced back to Malolos, the main
body of the two opposing forces are
| about 10 or IL miles apart. This could
| be quickly covered in forced march
under fair conditions, but it is subject
to nnumerable difficulties and obstacles
which our troops must cover before they
reach the insurgent stronghold. 1t is
| expected that the engineers with Mac
Arthur are hastily repairing the burned
| bridges. This will permit the artillery
to be taken forward as well as the in
fantry columns.
| 1t is expected that every mile of the
distance to Malolos will be contested
| by the insurgents. for General Otis re-
| ports that it is a stretch of country COW
cred 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 fight their
way through well made rebel intrench-
ments. Serious as the work is, there
is no lack of confidence among Off
cals here as to the satisfactory out
come of the campaign. Malolos is the
| insurgent capital, where the assembly
has been sitting and the insurgent gov
ernment has been in operation. 1t
represents more to the insurgents than
any other place in the Philippines and
| little doubt is entertained that they
will make a desperate stand there.
Aguinaldo's Tactics.
The tactics of Aguinaldo are taking
him gradually beyond the range of Ad-
| gents We're at Malabon upon Saturday
they were within a mile of the water
front and easily within range of the
| fleet. But as they have moved north
ward they were gradually moved away
| from the bay. Malolos is about seven
there are shallow estuaries which
would permit light draught boats to
| get within a mile or two.
| The duration of the battle is begin
| ming to attract the attention of army
| strategists, as it is a 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 the fighting
| continued all that day, again on Sun
day and now on Monday. The reports
show little night fighting except in re-
pulsing an insurgent attack Saturday
jphf f1I, ~ hos
lasted 72 hours. Judged by the stand
ard of great battles, such as Waterloo,
| Plevna and others mentioned by army
| authorities. this is a long and intense
ly arduous engagement. But the fight
| ing about Manila is quite different
from the standards of civilized armies,
| IS 1t is running brush conflict with
only occasional issues between organ
| lied bodies of troops. Some of the bat
| ties of the civil war lasted many days,
notably the battle of the Wilderness
and the fighting about Richmond.
Element of Endurance.
In speaking of the element of endur-
| ance, General Sternberg said to-day
| that he had gone for seven days in the
| continuous fighting around Richmond
| without renewing the supplies original
| 'ly issued before the fighting began. The
main question in these long continued
fights is to have all supplies. stores.
| etc, kept abreast of the fighting force,
| so that there may be no exhaustion.
In this respect all the reports of the
| fighting abou. Manila are most crafty
| ing to the authorities here, in showing
| that the quartermaster, commissary.
medical and signal stores are we'll up
with our fighting lines. The belief is
expressed at the war department that
the Filipinos are manufacturing the
| ammunition that is being used with
such recklessness. When General
Greene was in the Philippines he went
| 10 the Filipino camps and remained
some time. His report to the president
shows that the Filipincs obtained quite