The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-05-18
LEADS ALL NORTH GARllMA DAES M NEWS AMID GDRGWlA 50M

moralzed is perfectly manifest from
the press dispatches and the cable re-
ceived from General Otis today.
General Lawton, who was pushing
the line of the rebel retreat along
the Rio Grande, has flung his advance.
which, at last advices, was resting ut
San Miguel. northward about II
miles, has taken San Isidro. the sec
ond insurgent capital, and when Otis
dispatch was sent was still pressing
the enemy northward The fact that
he is sustaining few losses in his for
ward movement, although in almost
continual contact with the enemy, is
another proof of their utter demnrall-
zation. According to General Otis
cable they continue to throw up en-
trenchments, but General LawtOn's
strategy outfanks each position in
turn. keeping them in full retreat and
giving them no opportunity to recon
struct their scattered forces. 1T Will
he the mountains or the sea for the
insurgents. AS our troops could be
transported by sea to the mouth OF
the Agno and new base of operations
established there. it would be eClly
for them to take that course. Scat
tered, demoralized and disheartened.
it is almost certain that the rebe!s
jim desperation will retreat into the
fastness of the mountains, where they
would be safe from pursuit, and where
they could keep up guerilla war
fare indefinitely, or until their lead
ers came to their senses.
Although all the past efforts of our
troops to get into the rear of the III
surgents have failed up to this time
by sheer force of the battering ram,
the enemy has been driven back step
by step into the pocket where nothing
will be left for them but surrender or
the mountains. Over 55 miles, as the
crow flies, the rebels have been forced
back.
INSURGENTS DEMORALlZED.
Washington, May 17.-The situa-
lion of the insurgents is desperate.
MacArtuhur's division drove them
back along the line of the railroad to
Dagupan on the Bay of Lingayen, as
far as Calumpit. All efforts to inn
pede his progress by the destruction
of bridges were frustrated. The in
surgents were forced out of their
strongest positions. Simultaneously
General Lawton moved to the right
i'm wide detour toward NOrZagaray,
the eastern limit of open country,
with the intention of turning the en-
emy's position and crushing him be-
tween the two columns. Although un-
successful in this, the enemy to make
good his escape was cOmpelleu "
abandon his line of retreat along the
railroad. and retire up the Rio Grande.
The insurgents by this move displayed
considerable adroitness in the art OF
war. as it made it incumbent upon
the Americans to get their supplies TO
the front along the new line.
This had been comparatively easy long
the line OF the railroad which had
been repaired as the troops advanced.
The change in the line of retreat OF tie
rebels stopped Lawton's advance for
several days. it is presumed. as no move
ment until today had been reported
since Friday.
Meantime. it is presumed supplies We're
sent forward up the Rio Grande in
cascoes native barges) under the es-
cort of the gunbOats commanded by
Major Kobb. The latter was reported
to have 1000 men with him. designed
for the reinforcement of LawtOn. These
supplies probably having arrived at a
point opposite Lawton,. whose column
had advanced along line five miles
east and parallel with the river, were
delivered to him. and today he pushed
on into San Insidro. This cleared the
Province of Bulacan. although the words
in General Otis dispatch must not be
taken literally as meaning that Lawton
has covered all of Bulacan Province,
but only the open country of tnat Pro
vince, or all west Of Norzagaray. East
of Norzagaray is wall of mountains
extending to the sea. These mountains
run directly north on the left flank
of the rebel retreat along the valley
of the Rio Grande. to about ten miles
north of San lsidro. where they trend
westward and form the source of that
| river. 1t is into the foothills OF these
mountains that Lawton is now driving
the scattered and demoraIlzed forces OF
the insurgents.
Lawton has with him the Third and
Twenty-Second infantry. one battalion
of the Seventeenth. the Second Oregon
First North Dakota Thirteenth NH
nesota and Il squadron Of the Fourth
cavalry. No information has yet been
received as to the Twelfth infantry and
light battery E, of the First artillery,
which have arrived at Manila. The
Ninth infantry which arrived with those
two commands, has ben sent to Join
Lawton
TROOPS IN THE COEUR D'ALENE.