The record-union., 1899-03-26

t1gntlng far beyond city limits. FIRING
cannot be heard; old battle lines sur
rounding city maintained and city can
not be safely uncovered. OTIS.
General Otis description of the battle
is contained in the following cable
gram, received at the War Department
this morning:
Manila, March 25-Adjutant Cen
eral, Washington: Macarthur with two
b1igades commenced advance on Nova
liches, northwest of Caloocan, in center
Of the insurgent lines at daybreaH this
morning, advancing rapidly and sue
cessfully, suffering little. From Nova
liches Macarthur will swing to lett ana
strike to Polo. Brigades fronting on
Caloocan will press forward at the
proper time Hale's brigade ON the
old line north of Pasig is demonstrating
west of the pumping station. Enemy
12,OOO strong on the lines. am en-
deavoring to take fraction in reverse.
"OTlS."
1t was stated at the War Department
that the expression of General GUS,
Am endeavoring to take fraction III
reverse" means that while ostensibly
making feint at the front, that ne III
tends to swing to the rear and attack
| of General Otis are forwarded to Presl-
dent Mckinley as soon as receiver a'
the War Department.
| In computing the time at Mania
when the fighting began, it is said that
the battle has been in progress more
than twenty -four hours. War Depart
ment officials do not attempt to conceal
their belief that the fighting has been
very severe and that the American
losses are no doubt quite heavy.
| The cable dispatches from General
Otis. as well as the press reports OF the
enea cement at Manila, have been ca
MOI m Secretary Alger and General
! Brooke at Havana.
| The War Department late tonight
made public this dispatch from General
Otis:
MANILA. March 25-Perfected north
ern movement not yet completed OTIS
and Hale's brigades, with mounted
troops of Fourth Cavalry, the turning
column. met with heavy resistance over
difficult country, and are camped to-
night six miles east of Polo and SIX
miles north of line from which advance
was taken up. Wheaton's brigade at
Caloocan drove enemy one and one
half miles across the river. Fighting
heavy near Caloocan. Movement con-
tinues in morning. Our casualties about
| 100: twenty-five killed. Enemy lost
in killed alone 200"
DAY OF ANXIETY AT WASHING
TON.
WASHINGTON, March 25.-This was
| a day of anxiety and excitement at the
War Department, that carried a re-
eli dau of
with Spain. Every officer was intently
looking for every scrap Of information
as to the progress being made by Cen
eral Otis gallant expeditionary forces.
| 1t was noted that the movement was
being executed like clockwork. 1t was
necessarily one of great rapidly, yet
the officials noted with delight the
perfection of the arrangements as re-
vealed in the press dispatches-the rap d
work of the signalmen, well up with
the troops in the advance running their
wires; the ambulance corps close up
Ito tbe fighting lines, and the pressing
forward of supplies.
| Although the end was not known
when the department closed, the great-
est confidence was shown by the officials
in the complete state of the American
heard for the strategy exhibited by
Otis and his Generals. Macarthur es-
pecially came in for commentator, be-
| ing the active leader of the advancing
column thrown first against the insur-
gents line.
The opinion expressed at the depart
ment was that the American troops
would bivouac on the field, or rather
L. Il +o1v
forward movement Immediately the sun
rises tomorrow. There was no ques-
ton about stopping at this point; the
movement was intended to break the
rebel power, and it would be pushed to
the utmost until the rebels surrendered
or fed beyond reach in the mountains
and jungles.
| 1t is said at the department that Otis
has under his command in Manila and
vicinity about $1,000 soldiers. Aguin-
aldo, according to Otis last report, has
about 10000 armed men. General Cor
bin estimates that the American flying
column was about 10000 men strong
The insurgents, according to Otis, had
about 1900 men in line. But Aguin-
aldo's reserve, $4,000 strong, is not far
distant from the scene Of the firing Line
indeed, it is suspected that some of
them, including the leader himself may
have been drawn into to-day's struggle,
in which case the odds would have been
heavily against the Americans. The
latter appear to be taking full advan-
tage of the great assistance to be found
in the possession of the railroad. for
their movement to-day Was generally
parallel to the road at all points
There is possibility of confusion over
the names of General Hale and Hall.
General Irving Hale was Colonel of the
Colorado Infantry, and has been pro-
NOTED to be Brigadier General of the
volunteers. General Robert H Hall was
formerly Colonel of the Fourth Infan-
try, and has been promoted to be Brig
adler General of volunteers. Both Ct
these men were in the engagements to-
day north of Manila
An inquiry was made as to why so
large a proportion of the volunteer
troops We're thrown into the advance.
| Ii was answered at the department
that these particular volunteers were
actually more veteranized than many
OF the regulars. They have been in
service now nearly a year, and in that
time have seen more fighting than any
other branch of the army They have
an advantage over the regulars who
have just arrived in their knowledge
OF jungle fighting, acquired through
their long stay at Manila. Then it is
said to be the part of prudence to
maintain strong reserve of the most
reliable men in such a movement as
that now going on and General Otis, in
| his dispatch of YESTERDAY emphasized