Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-28
MOVEMENTS OF OUR TROOPS.
Continued from page ~


Hale and Harrison Gray Otis. They
are sweeping straight forward along
the railway toward Malolos. There IS
no stately or surprise in the move
7nent, unless something unexpected de-
veiops. 1t is simply slow ana doggeu
retreat of the insurgents toward Ma
lolos, and the straight advance OF the
wall of American troops towards the
retreating insurgents.
-g,rhe changes wrought since SATURDAY
ARE shown on the military map, with
the new ARRANGEMENT of forces. In two
davs the insurgent base, which was at
MaIabon. about five miles north of Ma
nifa. has fallen back to Malolos, about
20 miles north of Malolos. Al the same
rime the American lines have moved
forward from Caloocan, about miles,
from Manila, until General Otis re-
ports, today, that Macarthur holds
Narilao, Is miles north of Manila.
Thus the insurgents retreat covers
about Is miles and the American ad-
vance about miles,
The duration of the battle is begin
ming to attract the attention OF army
strategists,. as it is a very important
element in determining the strength OF
the men, the supplies of ammunition
and stores and the spirit of the army
The first blow was struck. before day
Lreak last Saturday, and the hghting
continued all that day, again on sun
day and now on Monday. The reports
show little night fighting. except in re-
pulsing an insurgent attack, Saturday
night.
With today, the fighting has lasted
IL hours. Judged by the standards OF
great battles, such as Waterloo. Plevna
and others. this is long and intense
" arduous engagement. But the light
ing about Mamma is quite dlfIerent
from the standard of civilized armies
as it is a running brush conflict. with
only occasional issues between organ
lied bodies of troops.
Some of the battles of the Civil War
lasted many days, notably the battle
of the Wilderness and the fighting
about Richmond. In speaking of the
element of endurance Gen. Sternbers
said, today. that he had gone for seven
days in the continuous fighting around
Richmond without renewing the sup
plies originally issued before the fight
ing began. The main question in these
long continued fights is to have all
supplies. stores. etc, kept abreast OF
the fighting force. SO that there may be
no exhaustion. In this respect all the
reports of the fighting about Manila
are most gratifying to the authorities
here in showing that the quartermas-
ter, commissary. medical and signal
stores are well up with the fighting
lines.
The belief is expressed at the war
department that the Filipinos are
manufacturing the ammunition that is
being used with such recklessness.
When Gen Greene was in the Flip
pines he went to the F'ilipinos camps
and remained some time among them
His report to the President shows that
the Filipinos obtained a large supply
of arms and ammunition when Dewey
captured Cavite and that they mad
heretofore obtained d supply of Rem
ingtons and Mausers.
Gen. Greene also found that the
Fiiipinos had established factory for
the manufacture of ammunition for
these rifles and this factory probably
is furnishing sufficient supply to the
insurgents.
The use of Chinese as litter bearers
is said to be a device to save our own
men for the more serious work. The
Chinese carry light bamboo litter and
being accustomed to the climate they
can travel twice as far as an unac-
climated carrier. The main point,
however, is that the fighting force is
kept intact.
While the casualty list is source
OF profound regret in army quarters, 1t
is said to be comparatively low consid-
erng the number of men engaged and
the duration of action. This is ac-
counted for by the long range shooting
of the insurgents, who do not shoot at
a mark but in the general direction OF
our forces. While these stray bullets
do considerable havoc i'll our lines, 1T
is far less than the results of close
range volieys from solid ranks of in
surEents in the open or from a con-
siderable number of sharp shooters.
War department officials say that
the position of the Spaniards who were
captured by the United States forces
when lighting with the Filipinos will
have To be considered by the President
before any determination can be
reached. At present Gen. OiS has full
plenary powers in the Philippines and
the war department does not seek tC
interfere with his management of the
campaign in any way. 1t is believed
however. that until the President con
sidcrs the matter such prisoners vii
he held as prisoners of war.
The war department officials have ne
knowledge of Prince Loewenstein wht
was killed at Manila, yesterday. There
is no record showing that he had au
thority to be with the army as a rep
rcscntative of a foreign government
or in any other capacity. 1t was sale
that he had enlisted in the regular
army. but there is nothing in the wa
department to show it.
Secretary Hay knew Lewenstein il
England, where he was married in 1897
He was of Il rowing disposition ant
went to the Philippines in spirit o
adventure.
The vacancy in the colonelcy in tn
I'D Infantry caused by Col. Egbert'
death. will be filled by the promotion o
Lieut.. Col. John w. French of the 80
lrfantry who is now in that regimen