Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-20
Campo gninG in North LuzOu.

From the New York Sun.
All our military operations in Luzon. M
til the past few days, have been confined
TO the Iow-iying plains that converge upon
Manila from north and south where the
irrigated rice fields spread away between
areas of high and dense jungle These
plains have been almost impossible In the
rainy season now ending and the campaign
against AguinaldO was therefore practi-
caiiy suspended for six months. Under the
best conditions the march and camD in
these steamtng lowlands are trying to men
unaccustomed TO a tropical climate.
Last month the monsoon changed The
southern winds that for six months had
brought a continuous dOWnpOur veered to
the north and the season of the polar mon
seen set in. This period of change is the
dreaded time of typhoOn and some weeks
el&pse before the season of cooler and
&C mparatively clear weather begins In
these last days of the rainy season our
troops, under Generals Lawton Macarthur
Young and Wheaton, have been pushing on
over the plains of Luzon, making steady
progress in spite of mud and rain begin
ming the campaign thus early in order to
catch Aguinaldo if possible in his northern
| haunts or at least to prevent him from re-
turning south.
This northern movement has brought our
forces to the north edge Of the rice plains
bounded by high hills and part of the
cavalry has already crossed the hill ranges
yam, the largest river of Luzon. Thus our
advance guard has left the region of rice
and entered the best tobacCO-grOW area
Of the Philippines They have fought hith-
erto, in one of the most pOpuious parts Of
! the archipelago, where the density Of popu-
| lation is as high as POO to the square mile.
| They have now entered a valley which, for
Il hundred miles north of their present
position, has not more than fifty inhab-
| tants TO the square mile. They have
reached a river that is naVigated in light
draught boats for 200 miles to its mouth
| at the north end of the island. In other
| words, they have attained a part of the
island, extending about 200 miles north and
I south where an ali-water route is the
means of communication with Manila. All
the settlements along the Cagayau are
| shipping points for the tobacco that is
| collected at the port of Apart and trans
| ferred to coastwise vessels that take it to
| Manila. II were entering upon long
| campaign in north LuZon. which seems i'm
| probable, the Cagayan would be of great
! Importance for the transportation of mill
| t2ry supplies, difficult matter thus far at
| all points away from the railroad.
| 1t remains to be seen whether AguinaldO
| can eIude our troops by skulking in the
| mountains that border the Cagayan valley
| on the east and west. It does not seem
| likely that he could maintain any conSid-
cradle force among these mountains, for
| they are almost destitute of population
! and food resources. Very few of the valley
people have taken any part in his war and
| coming among them fugitive he can
! scarcely expect to rally them to his sup
| port Entering this valley, he has left be-
| hind the region and people that have sup
| piled him with fighters and food. No othel
| proof is needed to show that his republic
| is today a myth.