New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-28
TICTOpJ ~ THE PHILIPPINES


News from Manila continues 10 be OF the
most cheering character our troops are drIv-
Ing the Tagal rebels before them from point 10
point. and are now within few hours march u
the Tagal capital" Indeed Malolos may actu-
ally be taken before these lines are read. And
this is done despite the fact that the best part
Of the Tagal army. led by Agunaldo in per-
SON. has for the last few days been opposed 10
our forces One critic not on the field, oh
serves that strategicaly Manila is still threat
pned by the rebels If it would not be beneath
the dignity Of so grave 4 theme we might re-
call as a parallel the historic case OF the late
John Phoenix. who strategcally threatened an
antagonist 10y lying on his back on the ground
beneath that antagonist and inserting his nose
between the latters teeth. To the ordinary
lay observer il now looks though our troops
have got the enemy ION the run They have
driven them back a. every point in strategy ana
in battle in the open and in the bush, from
strong Entertainments and from fortified cities
few days ago Agulnaldo was setting date
for the capture and footing Of Manila. The
capture Of his own headquarters ny our troops
is now matter Of few days or perhaps
hours Then he will he General beaten in
battle and a sovereign driven from his capital
In neither Of those capacities will he he likely
~ command any considerable following of his
countrymen against the lawful and benehcent
sovereignty Of the United States.
Our dispatches from Manila. and the maps
with which we illustrate them daily. give our
readers an accurate and sufficiently detailed
account Of tho progress Of the campaign. First
the American troops cleared path from Ma
Mia Ray 10 the head of Lake Bal. thus cutting
The rebel forces into two. Then, instead or
falling back upon their base Of supplies. or at
tempting Ia sweep the whole width Of the coun-
try clear OF rebels AZ they advanced. they
marched straight north. from Lake Bal to Nova
uchos and then. turning AT right angle, struck
back for the coast midway between Mania ana
Nalolos At Polo or Whereabouts they effected
n junction with another force which had gone
nm The coast. There may be a few rebels left
within the great paralleogram thus described,
hut we have no idea that they Will seriously
figure in future operations. Practically, the
country is clear around Manila as far as Pasig
m The east. Novaliches at the northeast, and
pola and indeed Marilao AT the northwest.
What is left OF the Tagal force Is at or near
Nalolos. with nothing left for it to do, in case
Of defeat there. but TO surrender or to fee 10
tho northeastern mountains. 1t does not great
~ matter which ii does.
Two points i'll Tagal warfare are TO be OBJ
served one is their savagery. Their com
mandcr has ordered all Americans caught to he
mt 10 death AT once. NOmnaly the order ap-
plies only 10 spies. messengers and marauders.
But as captlves are 10 be put TO death at once,
without trial 10 determine whether they are
spies or not the order means death 10 ALL
There is happily little fear that many. If any,
Americans will meet with such fate But
the order amply shows that no injustice was
done 10 the Tagals by the correspondent OF
"The New-York Evening Post who said that
their manners and instincts in warfare were
those of assassins The other point is that
the Tsgss are showing greater degree or
organization in their resistance than was At
first by some expected. That IL regarded at
Darlington as favorable sign, and, paradox