The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-24

The capture OF Perez Dasmarfias proved
to be the end Of Gen VIBRATIONS southwark
advance In Cavito province. The wagon
road that leads to that place from linus
continues on to Slang, which Is not
very far from Laguna de Taal. Had the
enemy retrcated on this road Gen. WHEATON
might perhaps have been tempted to follow
him as far us Slang, not for any strategic
value that place would have had but be-
cause he would have found u practicable
highway for pursuing the enemy 80 as to
strike another blow at him. But recon-
noissanre beyond Perez Dasmarhas gave
the impression that the enemy had not
trusted to retreat southwark on the wagon
road, but had turned off due westward two
or three miles to Buenavsta. To follow
him thither would have required the cross
ing OF several rivers and perhaps plung-
ing through rice swamps; and since Buena-
vista was not Of the slightest intrinsic con-
sequence to us, Gen. WHEATON drew back
to linus.
It turned out that this was the best pos
sible course to adopt; for it was soon re-
ported that the enemy instead OF return
ing to Perez Dasmarihas and following us
taken q parallel course northward from
Buenavista to San Francisco de Maabon.
This last is about four miles due west OF
linus, so that the enemy might have had
chance to get upon our line Of communica-
tion had Gen. WHEATON remained at Perez
DasmarifIas. Practically, however there
was little danger Of this and in any event
our troops would have been only too glad
to find the enemy trying to block their
march on practicable highway.
Thus far then, the campaign in Cavite
province may be summed up az success
full effort to break up concentration of in
surgent forces which during our campaign
far north of Manila, had vpntured close to
the southern outposts Of the capital and oc-
cupied threatening position. After clear
ing the country around Morong Peninsula,
which projects into the northern part OF
Laguna de Bay, cas-: Of Manila, LAwToT
turned southwark along the isthr'us be-
tween the latter and Manila Bay. The enc
my was driven back froa ParaIaque and
Las Pihas. the Zapot2 River was crossed
and its strong line OF defences captured,
BacOor on the shore occupied, then linus,
and finally Perez Dasmarii1as.
In these operations the army OF Pho DEL
Pillar has been driven back many miles,
with many killed, wounded and prisoners
besides the loss OF some military material
A strong defensive line has been turned
and a severe blow has thereby been in
filcted on the morale OF the enemy, who
| had regarded Cavite province, AGUINALDo's
own home, as one OF their best lighting
| grounds
All this has been done during the rainy
season. usually regarded as putting an en-
barge on military operations; it has been
! done, too, while we were on the point OF
| sending back the volunteers. or course, the
enemy may be expected to keep as near our
| lines as he darcs. That suits AGUINALDo's
purpose, because by such bravado he can
better keep the spirits of his followers, al
though his holiness is followed invariably
| by his being driven into retreat when We
| advance on him. But it also suits our pur-
| pose, because it gives us a chance, from
time to time, to strike the enemy hard
blow With the jungles, the overlooked rice
fields and the quagmires to protect him
now. We might have trouble to get at him,
unless he ventured near the towns we
occupy.
1t remains true now, on small scale, in
the Philippines, us it was in the civil war on a
great scale, that "the true objective is the
enemy's armies" With nothing OF stra.
tegic value for us in Cavitc province beyond
Imus We need not be sorry to find the
enemy venturing back somewhat, so as to
give us a chance to beat him again but the
losses already inflicted upon him make him
no longer possible menace to Manila ON
| the south.