The evening times., 1899-02-07
FIGHTING At MANILA
HAD BEEN EXPECTED
American Commanders Always
OH the Alert.
Troops Frequently Turned Out in
Response to Night Alarms.
stand the Art of War-Captain
March's Statement.

Easton, Pa. Feb. Capt. Peyton C.
March, United States Army. who COM
manded the Astor Battery at Manila. de-
clared last night that the attack made by
the insurgents had been anticipated long
before he returned from the Philippines.
He added that there was nothing in the
situation to cause apprehension, as the
rebels undoubtedly could be subdued in
short order by the American troops.
Captain March, who is visiting his father,
DR.. Francis March, of Lafayette College,
after a reception given in his honor by the
students of the college, was interviewed
last night.
Il am intensely interested in the news
from Manila" Captain March said. Our
line now forms semi-circle around Ma
Mia. 1t starts at the waters edge on the
north of the city, and circles around until
it meets the water again on the south side.
This line was about sixteen miles in length.
but now that our troops are occupying an
advanced position It is probably nearer
twenty miles 1t reaches the south shore
at Malate and 1t was here that the Astor
Battery was stationed. The Fourteenth
Infantry is now encamped in that locality.
The line from the Fourteenth's position
to that of the Third Artillery on the other
side of the city, is six miles.
THE position occupied by the Ameri
cans was practically the old Spanish in
trenchments. The insurgents were outside
of this line. When the Americans first
formed, before we captured Manila, our
line was beyond that of the insurgents.
| The latter finally gave us their position
! in front of the Spanards. They were
| friendly to us then. After We captured the
Spanish line they began to change in senti-
| ment"
Was their any anticipation of trouble
when you left Manila ?"
Yes" Captain March replied, this at
tack had been anticipated. We had re-
peated warnings and there were numerous
| alarms at night, when We turned out, ex-
pecting crisis had arrived. The general
! policy of General Otis was TO be as mod
crate in dealing with the Filipinos as pos
| sible. They misunderstood this, and in
the opinion OF many: this policy was too
| lenient. They thought we were afraid of
| them" t4
What do you think of the fight?"
| Il expected it, and the outcome is set
| tied in advance. We have beaten them,
and if we go ct them vigorously we will
| drive them out of the island. They are
| brave and fearless, it is true. but they DO
HOW W uSHl- nave no uOuDt
| that the terrible slaughter which they sus-
tanned will teach them a lesson they will
not forget"
How many of them are armed with
bows and arrows?"
| Il do not take any stock in that story.
| l was out in their lines great deal but
did not see any bows and arrows. l did
see many Mauser rifles. They are well
armed, but they do not know how to use
their guns"
Did you see them under fre?'
Yes | reconnoitered their lines dur. ne
the time when they were exchanging shot:
| with the Spaniards. They would eI
their bodies well concealed behind the
trenches and would lift their rifles in the
air over their heads point them toward the
Spanish lines and fire. They never saw
where they were shooting. Still the Fl l.
pinos were hard fighters in their way, fol
they drove the Spaniards from their stand
and penned them in Manila before We ar.
| rived"
Speaking of Paco. where there was such
hard fighting on Sunday. Captain March
said:
Il fought there. 1t was across the oper
and through the bamboo about Paco thai
we charged when we had our fight. 1t wa:
only the abominable craftsmanship CT tn
Spaniards that saved our lives. for there
| were enough Spanlarus tnere ana tney nret
enough bullets to have wiped out an en-
tire regiment had the shots been well aim
ed. 1t is good country for the insurgent
to fight in. as they can conceal themselves
Our position is made secure by intrench
ments and the Filipinos could never ente
Manila.
THE situation is absolutely contro leJ
by the Americans. General Otis is firm
and excellent officer One would thinl
that if we would start right in and clear
out the insurgents now it would SETTLE
matters.
THE reason the attack was made a
night was very probably because most o
the fighting has been done between sun
set and sunrise, as it is too hot during tn:
day to fight