Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-03-29
A FORLORN HOPE.
American Troo,s Pressing Close
in the Rear Of the Retreat
ing Insurgents.

ing insurgents.
Washington, d. O., March 27.-Mai.
Simpson, chief of the military informa-
ton bureau. was again busy today as
sembling the latest information from the
scene of battle, and SO arranging it OH
the military map as to show the progress
of the engagement. 1t disclosed a COM
plcte change in the movement since Sat
urday. Then the essential feature of
Gen. Otis plan was to enclose the in
surgents between two parallel lines Of
the American forces and thus entrap
them to be crushed or captured. Now
this strategic move has given way to a
combined forward movement of the en-
tire American forces under Maj.-G
Macarthur. The change of operations
was due to the escape of the inSurgent
forces from Mala bon, where the original
purpose was to take them in reverse
Macarthur has under his command the
brtsades of Wheaton, Hale and Harrison
Gray Otis. They are going straight for
ward alons the railroad to Malolos. 1t is
not strategy or surprise in the movement,
unless something unexpected develops.
1t is simply a slow and logged retreat
from the insurgents to Malolos and the
straight advance of the wall Of the
American troops toward the retreating
insurgents.
The great changes wrought since Sat
urday are shown on the military map,
with its new arrangement of forces. In
two days the insurgents base, which
was at MalabOn, ABOUT five miles north
of Manila. has fallen back to Malolos,
about twenty miles north of Manila. At
the same time the American lines have
moved forward from CalOocan, about
four miles from Manila, until Gen. Otis
reports today that Macarthur holds Ma
rioloa. twelve miles north of Manila.
Thus the insurgent retreat covers about
fifteen miles. and the American advance
covers about eight miles. This advance,
however, has been circuitOus, first east
ward towards Novaiches. and then west
ward to Marioloa.
The entire movement is now proceed
ing along the lines of the railroad. which
is presumed TO be level stretch al the
way between the two opposing forces.
There are no less than ten small streams
crossing the railroad between the two
forces. These are streams TO which
Gen. Otis refers in reporting that the
insurgents have destroyed bridges which
impede the progress of our supply trains
and artillery. Mai Simpson who was
on the staff OF Gen Greene at Manila
and Is personally familiar with the sur
rounding country, says that besides the
difficulty of burned bridges the roads at
their best are almost impassable for light
artillery and the quick maneuvers of cav
airy. Our light field guns can be moved
forward slowly. but it is Impossible to SO
manipulate them as to take advantage
or every crest and rise of ground. The
only horses available for the cavalry and
artillery are the small native ponies.
The interest today centers in the stand
10 De made by Aguinaldo with his insur-
gent forces. There is hope that he will
risk a final stand at Malolos. In that
event the next forty-eight hours should
determine the final issue. as the Alneri-
can forces at MariolOa are not more than
ten miles from Malolos Between these
places the scattered forces are engaged in
the rear of the insurgent troops and the
extreme advance of the Americans boar
ing the brunt.
While this is going on fifteen or twenty
miles north of Manila. Gen Otis dis
patches show that the insurgents are
again active south Of Manila. where Mai
Gen. Lawton's division is in reserve
Gen. Otis report shows no concern as to
this southern movement, as he remarks
that 'Lawton will look out for Them
The Lawton forces comprise the brigades
of Brig--Gens. Oyershine and King Orig
lnally 1t Included Wheaton's brigade, but
now Wheaton is operating under MacAr-
thur at the north
IL eApreSSeu at the war
department with the situation. 1t is
said that the dispatches of Gen. Otis
and the press reports show that the col
umn Is pressing steadily forward and
that the troops are vigorously in earnest
and in good condition. The belief is ex-
pressed that the insurgents will soon get
tired Of being constantly fought defeated
and driven back with loss. Great con-
dence is expressed in the ability of Gen.
Otis to finish the war because of his de-
termination to give the forces of Aguin-
aldo no rest.
Yesterday Gen. Otis cabled the adju-
tant-general that the son of Col. Egbert
was a private in his fathers regiment:
that he had Il fine reputation. both as a
gentleman and q soldier.
Today the Acknowledgement cabletT the
Presidents order that young Egbert was
appointed, subject to usual examination,
second lieutenant in his fathers regi-
ment.