The Van Buren press., 1899-04-01
ARMY SWEEPING ONWARD.
Our Troops Meeting with Less Re.
sistenCe Now the Advance Is
in the Open Country.
VIVID PICTURE OF WARS DESOLATION.
The Country Looks as Though swept
by Cyclone, the Roads Being
strewn With the Abandoned Be-
Iongines of the Fleeing tnhabi-
tants-Dispatch From Otis.

tants-Dispatch From Otis.
Manila, March 30, noon.-The Ameri.
can army advanced at 6 a. m, sweep.
ing onward three miles before ten
o'clock, and driving the rebels beyond
Bocave, to the east of Bulacan and on
the railroad leading to Malolos. Our
troops met with but slight resistance.
Our Boys Remained Quiet.
The Filipinos fred volleys Tuesday
evening for the purpose of drawing
the American fire and disclosing the
locality of our positions. Two men Of
the Pennsylvania regiment and one
man belonging to the Dakota regiment
were wounded. The Americans re-
mained silent.
A Picture of DesOIatiOn.
The country between Marilao and
Manila presents a picture of desola-
ton. Smoke is curling from hundreds
of ash heaps, and the remains of trees
and fences torn by shrapnel are TO be
seen everywhere. The general appear
ance OF the country is as If 1t had been
swept by a cyclone. The roads are
strewn with furniture and clothing
dropped in fight by the Filipinos.
Only the Aged and Infirm Left.
The only persons remaining behind
are few aged persons, too infrm to
escape. They camp beside the ruins of
the former homes and beg passers by
for any kind of assistance. The ma
jority of them are living on the gem
erosity of our soldiers, who give them
portions of their rations. The dogs
of the Filipinos cover in the bushes,
still terrified and barking, while hun
dreds of pigs are to be seen busily
searching for food.
| A SickeninK Sight.
Bodies of dead Filipinos are stranded
in the shadows of the river or are
resting in the jungle where they
crawled to die or were left In the wake
of the hurrying retreatfng army.
These bodies give forth a horrible
odor, but there is no time at present
to bury them.
Left Their Treasures Behind.
The inhabitants who fled from Mari
lao and Meycauayan left in such a
panic that on tables our soldiers found
spread money and valuables, and in
the rooms were trunks containing 9TH
er property of value. This was the case
| in most of the houses deserted. They
were not molested by our soldiers, but
the Chinese, who slip in between the
armies, are looting when they can and
| have taken possession of several
houses, over which they have raised
Chinese flags, some of which were tern
| down.
An old woman was found hidden in
a house at Meycauayan just dead, ap-
parently from fright and hunger.
The Advance Begun mt Daylight.
Manila, March 20, 1888 p. NAT
daylight Gen. MacArthur's division ad-
vanced from Marialao, along the rail-
road, to Bigaa, five miles distant, with
the Nebraska, South Dakota and
Pennsylvania regiments on the right,
and the Kansas and Montanaregiments
and the Third artillery on the left.
Gen. Wheaton's brigade is in reserve.
Strong Opposition in the Jungle.
The American forces met with strong
opposition in the jungle. First one
Nebraskan, then one Pennsylvania,
and afterwards two men of the Mon
tana regiment were killed. Thirty
five were wounded, including one Of
ficer of the Kansas regiment.
The rebels burned the villages as
they retreated in bad order towards
Malolos.
Americans Too Quick for Them.
The enemy also tore up sections Of
the railroad in many places and at
tempted to burn the bridge at Bigaa;
but the fire was extinguished, owing
to the timely arrival of the Americans.
The rebels had not finished their
trenches along the line of to-day's
march, showing they were not pre-
! pared for our advance. 1t is believed,
however, that there will be hard
| fight before Malolos Is taken.
Minnesota Regiment Comes Up.
The Minnesota regiments reinforced
the division to-day, marching from the
waterworks during the night to Ma
nila, and going to the front by train.
Dispatch From Gen. Otis.
Washington, March 29.-The follow
ing cablegram from Gen. Otis has
reached the war departments:
Manila, March 29.-Adiutant Gener-
al, Washington: Macarthur advanced
yesterday only to outskirts of Mari
lao; took until late afternoon TO repair
road and railway bridges and send
cars through with supplies. Com
menced his. march at six this morning;