The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-03-28
ENYRAPPING OF INSURGENTS
AMERICAN MANOEUVRE NOT 4S
 SUCCESSFUL AS DESIGNED,
Deductions of the War Department Officials at Washington on the Opera- tons in the Phiiippines-Engage Now More of a Chase Than the Execu- ton of Strategic Movement.

ton of a Strategic Movement.
 Washington March 27.-The third day
 of fighting north of Manila broughtlittle of a decisive character from which war
 department officials could judge what
 the final outcome of this movement
 would be. In all official quarters the
 most intense interest prevailed to-day, but there was no excitement and none of that anxiety and tension shown dur ing the memorable days of last sum-
 mer, when the decisive blows were be- ing struck at Santiago. Early in the partment a brief but comprehensive dispatch summing up the situation. It disclosed that severe fighting was going on to-day, with our forces advanced as far north as Mariloa, while the insur- gents under the command of Aguinaldo were being driven back with considerable slaughter. This and the press dispatches satisfied the officials that the strategic movement of entrapping the insurgents between our lines had not proved as successful as designed, and that the move had now shifted to retreat by Aguinaldo's forces and a pursuit by our troops. The insurgents retreat toward Malolos was slow and dogged, and an advantage was taken of one after an- other of their lines of intrenchments; the burning of bridges and the inter rupting of communications. General Otis dispatch although received early to-day, was sent Monday evening" Man fla 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: "The column will press on in the morning." This re- fers to Tuesday.
 The engagement has now shaped it. self so that it is looked upon as more of a chase than the execution of strat- egic movement. With the American base advancing to Mariloa and the in- surgent base forced back to Malolos, the main bodies of the two opposing forces are about ten or twelve miles apart. This could be quickly covered in a fore ed march under fair conditions, but it is twelve miles of innumerable difficult ties and obstacles which our troops must cover before they reach the insur- gent stronghold. It is expected that the engineers with Macarthur are hastily repairing the burned bridges. This will permit the artillery to be taken for ward as well as the infantry columns. It is expected that every mile of the distance to Malolos will be contested by the insurgents, for General Otis reports that 1t is a stretch of country covered with the intrenchments thrown up dur ing the last three months. Our men l therefore must advance slowly, repair l ing the roads as they go and at the ! same time they must fight their way through well made rebel intrenchments. | Serious as the work Is, there is no lack of confidence among officials here as to | the satisfactory outcome of the cam paign. Malolos is the insurgent capi- tai, where the assembly has been sit ting It represents more to the insur- gents than any other place in the Phil ippines and little doubt is entertained that they will make a desperate stand there. The tactics of Aguinaldo are taking him gradually beyond the range of Admiral Dewey's guns. While the insurgents were at Malabon on Satur- day they were within mile of the wa ter front, and easily within range of the feet But as they have moved north ward they have gradually moved away from the bay. Malolos is about seven miles back from the bay, although there are shallow estuaries which would per init light draft boats to get within mile or two.