The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-02-09
GENERAL Otis MOVES
Our Lines Now Extend Six Miles
Beyond Former Limits.
THE WATERWOBKS TAKEN
Filipinos Murder n Captive American Sur
geon-Native Loss is Growing-2O0O
Killed 1000 Captured and Several
Thousand Wounded.

|
! Thousand Wounded.
Manila, Feb. S.-The Americans are
! taking every advantage of the splen-
did advance which they made on Sun
/ day and Monday. Our lines now ex-
tend from two to six miles beyond the
old limits all around and the American
position is secure at every point. The
! water works, five miles north of the
! city. were captured late Monday af-
ternoon by the First Nebraska regi-
ment and two companies of the First
Colorado and a battalion of the First
Tennessee infantry. The First Ne
/ braska, which was in the advance,
found the place deserted but the ma
tives had disabled the machinery OF
the works before leaving. Parts of
the machinery had been disconnected
and carried away. rendering the re-
naming parts useless. careful
search was made for the missing pieces
with the result of their being found
some distance away. The work of re-
storing them to their places will occu-
by only a short time.
The body of Surgeon Harry Young of
the Utah Artillery division, who had
been taken prisoner by the Filipinos.
was found by our men. He had been
murdered by his captors.
The F'ilpinos seem utterly demoral-
ized Wherever our troops advance
the insurgents retreat after making a
slight show of resistance. The druh-
! bing which the Americans have given
them has taken all the fight out OF
them, and they prefer to keep out or
range of our guns.
The losses of the Filipinos are now
estimated at two thousand killed ana
several thousand wounded. Besides,
we hold four thousand prisoners.
scattering fire continues intermittently,
but there is no fighting approaching
the dignity of a battle.
After two days fighting the Ameri-
can troops are taking much needed
rest. With the exception of the desul-
tory firing consequent upon the move
ments of reconnoitreing parties, there
are no hostile demonstrations on eth
er side In spite of this condition or
affairs the insurgents are steadily los
ing ground, as every one or their
movements is in the nature OF re-
treat.
The villages outside the city are in
ruins all of the houses having been
burned by our troops to dislodge the
natives who concealed themselves
therein and fired at the American
flank and rear. Many of the natives
were killed by the Americans, as they
fed from the burning houses. and still
more were wounded.
Perfect order prevails in the city
proper, and matters are fast regaining
their normal condition. The women
who took refuge on board the trans
ports in the bay when the fighting be-
gan on Saturday evening have all re-
turned to their homes.
Many instances of personal heroism
on the part of American staff officers
on the firing line are related and the
splendid organization Of the various
departments is praised by everybody.
The efficiency of these departments, 1t
is admitted on all sides, contributed
greatly to the thoroughness of the sue
cess of the American arms. By order
of the chief quartermaster. the subor-
dinate cuartermasters seized every
available vehicle in the city for pur-
poses of transportation and the COM
missary department promptly furnish
ed rations in abundance to the troops
pense.
| The ordnance officers. too, displayed
the grtatest activity in forwarding am
munition to the front and a magnit-
cent record was made by the medical
department all of the wounded being
cared for with the utmost dispatch.
The maps of the surrounding coun-
try, which had been made by the en-
gineers, proved invaluable. During the
advance of the troops the Signal Corps
constructed telegraph lines as rapidly
as the troops were sent forward, COM
plete communication being kept up
between all the brigades, divisions and
detached troops and the general head
quarters.
! Aguinaldo has issued a proclamation
suspending the Filipino constitution
terminating the session of the Malalos
congress and declaring that the hostili-
ties were begun by the Americans. He
took no part in the fighting.
Aguinaldo's proclamation of Satur-
| day says:
II order and command:
"F'irst-That peace and friendly rela-
! tons with the Americans be broken,
and that the latter be treated as enc
mics within the limits prescribed by
I the laws of war.
"Second-That the Americans capt
ured be held as prisoners of war
"Third-That this proclamation be
communicated to the consuls and that
congress order and accord a suspen-
sion of the constitutional guarantee,
resulting from the declaration of war"
Aguinaldo's second proclamation
says the outbreak of hostilities was
"unjustly and Unexpectedly provoked
by the Americans;" refers to his mani
festo of January publishing the al
legged grievances of the Filipnos at the
hands of the army of occupation and
the Constant outrages and taunts
which have been causing misery to
the Manilians," and refers to the use
less conferences" and contempt
shown for the Filipino government"
as proving a "premeditated transgres-
sion of justice and liberty"
The rebel leader also refers to the
former losses of the Filipinos, but says
"slayery is bitter" and calls upon then,