The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19
SKIRMISH ON FRIDAY.
General Otis May Be Forced to Become
the Aggressor.

Washington, February 1S.-General Otis
today cabled as folows
Manila, February Is.
"Adjutant General, Washington:
Casualties in skrmsh on Tariquina road,
north of pumping station, yesterday: First
Nebraska, wounded: Company A, Priyates
George Andrews, chest, forearm and knee,
died last night; Edward Day, head,
severe. Company F, Charles e. Park,
T. ght thigh, slight; Company G, John VIII
liams, left elbow, severe; Sergeant Wilbur
e. Campo, left thigh, slight; First Ser
geant william H. Cook, neck, severe. COM
pany, c., Captain Albert II. Hollinsworth,
thigh, severe; Lieutenant Bert Wheedon,
right thigh, severe; Private Frank Huling,
Company X, Twentieth Kansas, shot
through knee yesterday, serious.
I'm the cable of 18th lost of First Mon
tana, wounded, James w. Kennedy, Com
pany G, are identical, the latter name be-
ing an error, shot in right thigh, severe.
Lieutenant Gardsenshire. FIRST Montana,
wounded, is William Gardenshire, formerly
private Company c."
The reports OF such skirmishes as the
above AID the stories of firing on Ameri-
veyed the impression among officials that
General Otis is rapidly being brought to a
pass wnere he must soon assume an ag-
gresslye campaign.
Although no instructions have yet been
sent TO MIN. it is expected that he will feel
justified soon in doing this to prevent the
demoraiizati ton of his troops and to make
his position tenable in the approaching wet
season. The nature of the country around
Manila favors the tactics the insurgents
seem to have adopted after learning that
they coula not lace the American SOL
diers in the open field, and it will be Gen.
eral Otis duty, as soon as reinforcements
reach him, to clear them out.
Half a dozen natives concealed in the
fields and firing at long range at long in
tervals could make life unbearable for a
whole regiment of troops until they were
dislodged. Military officials who have had
experience in this kind of fighting say that
men become panicky and lose their nerve
under this treatment This is, however,
what they must expect guarding the posts
and trenches miles outside of Manila dur
ing the rainy season, protecting the water
works and the strategic points, unless
determined effort is made before the coun-
try becomes impossible on account of the
rains to carry the war straight into the
interior and chase Aguinaldos men beyond
the range of activity.
II is estimated that at the rate of prog
ress now making by the transport Grant,
the 800 troops on that ship Will iand at
Manila about March A. couple oil weeks
later the Sherman will arrive at the same
place with similar number Of troops, and
two weeks after that the Sheridan is due
with the troops now embarking at New
York. Before the last of these troops
reach Manila the dry season will have got
ten well toward an end, and only a rev
weeks will be left for active operations,
80 that there is need for steady work in
the preparations at all the points, in order
TO assure a fairly comfortable summer tor
our troops. A consideration that faVofs a
termination of the struggle at an early
date is the fact that the latest reports
rather indicate that the insurgents are be-
coming short of ammunition, and with re-
doubled vigilance on the part of the naval
forces around Luzon, they may be brought
70 Terms on this account as much as from
any other