Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-03-16
PATEROS CAPTURED.
Gen. Wheaton's Brigade Continues
Work Of Clearing Out Rebels.
Will SUPPORT CEN. OTIS ACTION
The StOppsge Of spanish Negotiations with
Rebels for Release Of Prisoners Ap.
proved ut Washinet0n-Dis.
patch from ten Otis.

Manila, March Is. Zen. Wheaton
brigade continues the work of clear
ing out the rebels around Pasig. Tn
Washington volunteers have capture
and burned Pateros. meeting with
sharp fire from the enemy while cross
ing the river. To-day's lighting wa
like that Of the past week, the insur
gents occasionally making a stand
but eventually fleeing. Their loss i
supposed TO have been small, as tn,
Americans were unable 10 see tn,
enemy in the thickets. the progress
Of the American advance is slow.
Late yesterday Gen. Wheaton's col
umn encountered the enemy in sucl
force between Pateros and Taguig a.
to necessitate change in the origina
plans. The cavalry attacked rebe
stronghold in the jungle, driving the
enemy into Pateros. The Americans
had one man killed and three wounded.
SCOTS battery shelled the city and
woods effectively.
Later, the enemy crossed the river
from Pasig. Two companies Of the
Second Oregon infantry cleared the
right bank, after a sharp engagement,
and then retired with three wounded.
In the meantime the Washington
volunteers closed in, driving small
bodies Of the rebels back upon Pa.
teros. One man was killed. During
the night the enemy burned the town
OF Pasig.
Brig. Gen. Wheaton's column ad-
vanced yesterday beyond Pasig to the
shore Of Laguna de Bay, sweeping
everything before them The enemy
made running fight and suffered
severe loss. The rebels avenue of com.
munication north and south is now
closed, the American Gordon stretch
ing over q mile from the river to the
lake. The rebels are In force at Pa.
teros and Taguig. Two of Mondays
wounded, Private Stewart, OF company
B, Twentieth regiment, and Private
Munson, of company X, Twenty-sec.
ond regiment, are dead.
WILL SUPPORT GEN. OTIS ACTION.
Washington, March 10. --Gen. Otis,
In forbidding further negotiations be.
tween the Spanish at Manila and the
insurgents touching the surrender OF
the Spanish prisoners held by the
latter, acted on his own authority.
The government has not sent him any
instructions upon this point, but it
will unquestionably support him to
the extreme in any action Of that
kind he may take. 1t is said at the
state department that there have been
some exchanges between the United
States and Spain through indirect
channels touching these particular
prisoners, dating back to the
signature OF the protocol last
August The United States gov.
eminent undertook finally to secure
the release Of the prisoners 1t never
contemplated trying to secure their
release by ransom, but simply through
the suppression of the Instruction,
and cannot Le held by any require
ment OF international law to do more
than has been done to secure the re.
lease of the prisoners There will be
no relaxation of the efforts in this d.
rection, but as the United States cam.
paign in the Philippines is being con-
Quoted with all the energy possible,
and as the release of the prisoners de.
ponds upon the issue Of that campaign,
there can be no complaint Of failure
on the present part Of the United
States to meet Its obligations, In
preventing the Spanish government
from negotiating directly with the in
1t is said here that Gen. Otis
undoubtedly was correct in his atti.
tude. lnasmuch as the ratification of
the peace treaty has not been effected,
the United States and Spain are still
technically in state Of war, qualified
only by the operation Of the protocol
hostilities. In this condi.
lion there is no authority on the part
If the Spaniards to negotiate with the
Insurgents without the explicit con.
sent of the United States
DISPATCH FROM GEN. OTIS.
Washington, March l5.-This cable.
gram from Gen. Otis was received at
The war department yesterday:
al Jhril Yesterday HE'D operations here here
ince capturing Caloocan Of minor nature, con-
listing OF driving back small bands OF irsur-
ents, with considerable loss to latter Yes
erday Gen. Wheaton, with the Twentieth,
'wenty- second infantry, the Oregon and Wash
ngton troops, section Sixth artillery and
quadron Fourth cavalry, attacked large force
I enemy, droye them back and took line Of
'asig river, which he now holds, Two i'm
revised gunboats In the lake have captured
considerable property. Insurgents loss heavy,
ur own killed and wounded slight, aggregating
B, mostly slightly wounded Insurgents made
10 determined stand Otis
10,