Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-28

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brought little of decisive character
from which war department officials
could judge what the outcome of this
movement would be. In all official
quarters the most intense interest pre-
vailed, but there was no excitement
and none of that anxiety and tension
shown during the memorable days of
last summer when the decisive blows
were being struck at Santiago. Early
in the day Gen. Otis cabled the war
department a brief but comprehensive
dispatch summing up the situation. 1t
disclosed that severe fighting was go
ing on to-day with our forces advanced
as far north as Mariloa, while the in
surgents under the command of Aguin-
aldo were being driven back with con-
siderable 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
a retreat by Aguinaldo's forces and a
pursuit by our troops. The insurgent
retreat toward Malalos was slow and
logged and advantage was taken of one
after another of lines of intrenchments,
the burning of bridges and the inter-
rupting OF communication.
Gen. Otis's dispatch, although re-
ceived early to-day, was sent Monday
evening Manila time, and summed up
the work of the three days. That the
fighting would proceed into the fourth
day was shown by his closing SEN
tence: THE column will press on in
the morning" This refers to Tuesday.
The engagement has now shaped it,
self so that it is looked upon as more
of chase than the execution of a
strategic movement. With the Amerf-
cans base advanced to Mariloa, and
the insurgent base forced back to Ma
lolos, the main bodies of the two oppos-
ing forces are about ten or twelve miles
apart. This could be quikly covered
in a forced march under fair eondi-
tons, but it is II miles of innumera BILE
difficulties and obstacles which our
troops must cover before they reach
the insurgent strongholds. 1t is ex-
pected that the engineers with Mac
Arthur are hastily repairing the burn
ed bridges. This will permit the artil-
ley to be taken forward as well as
the infantry columns. It is expected
that every mile of the distance to Melo-
los will be contested by the insurgents
for Gen. Otis reports that it is stretch
of country covered with the intrench-
ments thrown up during the last three
months. Our men, therefore, must ad
vance slowly repairing the roads as
they go and at the same time they
must fight their way through well
made rebel entertainments. Serious as
the work is, there is no lack of conf
dence among the officials here as to
the satisfactory outcome of the cam
paign. Malolos is the insurgent CAPT
toll, where the assembly has been sit
ting and the insurgent government has
been in operation. 1t represents more
TO the insurgents than any other place
in the Philippines and little doubt is
entertained that they will make a des-
perate stand there.
The tactics of Aguinaldo are taking
him gradually beyond the range of
Admiral Dewey's guns. While the in
surgents were at Malabon on Saturday,
they were within a mile of the water
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-
nit light draft boats TO get within
mile or two.