Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-03-30
REBELSNOT ENTRAPPED
Movement to Pocket the FIFE.
pinoS Not Successful.
1T IS NOW A RETREAT AND CEASE
Twelve Miles Separate Main Opposing
Forces, but Full OF Difficulties Mon
days Fighting Completes ~ Record of
seventy-Two Hours Hattie Rebels
Misunderstanding Their own Ammunition.

WASHINGTON. March rs. - The
third day of the fighting north Of
Manila brought little of decisive
character from which war department
officials could judge what the final out
coume OF this movement would be, In
all official quarters the most intense
interest prevailed, but there was no ex-
element, and none of that anxiety and
tension shown during the memorable
days of last summer when the decisive
blows were being struck at Santiago
Early in the day General Otis cabled
the war department a brief dispatch
summing up the situation. II disclosed
that severe fighting was going on today
with out forces advanced as far north
as Mariloa.
This, and the press dispatches, sat-
isfied the officials that the strategic
movement of entrapping the insurgents
between our lines, had not been as sue
cessful as designed and that the move
had now shifted to a retreat by Aguin-
aldo's forces and pursuit by our
troops. The insurgents retreat toward
Malolos was slow and logged and ad-
vantage was taken of one after another
of lines of intrenchments, the burning
of bridges and the interrupting of COM
munication. General Otis dispatch, al
though received early today, was sent
| Monday evening, Manila time, and
summed up the work of three days.
That the lighting would proceed into
the fourth day was shown by his clos
ing sentence:
The columns will press on in the
morning."
This refers to Tuesday. The engage
ment has now shaped itself so that it
| is looked upon as more of a chase than
the execution of a strategic movement.
With the American base advanced to
Mariloa and the insurgent base forced
back to Malolos, the main bodies of the
two opposing forces are about ten or
twelve miles apart This could be
| quickly covered in forced march I'M
der fair conditions, but it Is twelve
miles of innumerable difficulties and
obstacles, which our troops must cover
before they reach the insurgent strong
hold. 1t Is expected that the engineers
with Macarthur are hastily repairing
the burned bridges. This will permit
the artillery to be taken forward as
we'll as the infantry columns.
1t is expected that every mile OF the
distance to Malolos will De conteRted
by the insurgents, for General Otis
reports that 1t Is stretch Of country
covered with the intrenchments thrown
up during the last three months. Our
men, therefore. must advance slowly.
repairing the roads as they go, and at
the same time they must fight their
way through well made rebel intrench-
A.t. GA,t.N l.n IL 10 4,
Is no lack of confidence among OFF,
| Gals here, as to the outcome of the
campaign.
Malolos is the insurgent capital,
where the assembly has been sitting
and the insurgents government has
been in operation.
1t represents more to the insurgents
than any other place in the Philin-
pines. and little doubt is entertained
that they will make desperate STAND
| there.
The tactics of Aguinaldo are taking
him gradually beyond the range OF
A~miral Dewey's guns. While the in
surgents were at Malabon on Saturday
| they were within a mile of the water
front and easily within range of the
feet. But as they have moved grad
|
from the bay. Malolos is about seven
miles back from the bay; althcr.h
there are shallow estuaries which
would permit light draught boats to
get within mile or two.
! The duration OF the battle Is begin
ming to attract the attention of army
strategists, as it Is a very important
element in determining the strength
OF the men, the supplies of ammuni-
ton and stores, and the spirit of tie
army. The first blow was struck be-
fore daybreak last Saturday and the
fighting continued all that day, again
on Sunday and now on Monday. The
reports show little night fighting, ex-
cept In repulsing an insurgent attack
Saturday night.
With today the fighting had lasted
seventy-two hours. Judged by the
standards Of great battles, such as Wat
erloo, Plevna and others mentioned by
army authorities, this is a long and
intensely arduous engagement. But
the fighting about Mania is quite aIf-
| ferent from the standards Of civilized
armies and 1t Is a running bush con-
flict, with only occasional issues be-
tween organized bodies of troops. Some
of the battles of the civil war lasted
MANY days, notably the battle of the
Wilderness and the fighting about
| Richmond.
More Nebraska Casualties.