The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-12
MANEUVER|NG TO
CATCH AGUINALDO
Attempt Being Made to
Surround Him.
EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH
WHEATON SENT TO CAPTURE
APARRI.
American Commander Seeking to
Hem in the Insurgent Leader
and Prevent His
Escape.
EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH
WHEATON SENT TO CAPTURE
APARRI.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

CALL HEADQUARTERS, YELLING
TOT. HOTEL. WASHINGTON, Nov. IL
In order 10 prevent the escape of Agui-
naldo from Bayombong, General Otis Will
send an expedition to capture Aparrl on
the north coast Of Luzon, and, after es-
tabIishing its base at this port, the eX-
petition Will be conveyed in cascos ana
light draught vessels down the River
Cagayan and its tributary to Bayomoong.
or to whatever point at which Agulnaldo
NAV have established his headquarters.
This expedition probably will be under
command Of Brigadier General Wheaton,
who has occupied San Rafael and is I'M
der orders to proceed against Dagupan.
Before dispatching him to APART General
Otis will reinforce his command, so that
it will be able to destroy any bands OF
hostile natives that it may meet and have
ample force to crush Aguinaldos army
when it is finally brought to bay. Gen
erals Lawton and Macarthur will so ar
range their forces as to keep Aguinaldo in
the north Of Luzon until General Whea-
ton gets into position, when the three
commanders will bring their forces to
bear upon the point at which Aguinaldo
may be located.
General Otis is expected to send sew
eral tinclads with the expedition, as they
will be useful in protecting troops during
the passage down Cagayan. 1t had been
eXpected that General WheatOns expedi-
ton would make a short cut across noun
tains to get to the north of Aguinaldo,
but General Otis has concluded that the
wiser plan is to send his command by
transports to the north of LuZon and to
have Generals Macarthur and LaWton
guard the south.
1t has become evident to the officials
that it will be extremely difficult to catch
AguinaIdo. 1t is pointed out that with
the long coast line of the island it would
be an easy matter for him to enter a
small sail boat and get away and naval
officers predict that if he is captured it
will be by the navy and not by the army
The departure of Aguinaldo from LuZon
officials believe, would simplify matters,
as he is recognized as the head of the
instruction and his absence would I'M
doubtedly greatly disorganize the rebels
and render the suppression of the insur
rectiOn all the easier.
Considerable dissatisfaction is felt by
the War Department at General Otis
conduct with reference to the cable with
which 1t is intended to connect Manila and
the military posts in the Philippine archi-
pelago. Although Brigadier General
Greedy chief of the signal service, began
preparations year ago for laying a cable
In the Philippines, actual work has not
yet commenced.
The cable ship Hooker, carrying cable
valued at $4,000 and cable instruments
valued at S25. 000 was wrecked off Correg-
idor Island last June, and General Otis
cabled that she could be saved. Part Of
the cable was removed Out the remainder
and the instruments were allowed to re-
main in the ship, and 1t is believed here
that the instruments are ruined. After
the vessel had lain on a reef for several
months General Otis finally made con-
tract for raising her. The work of the
wreckers is stated in this dispatch from
General Otis to-day:
Impossible to save the Hooker. Con-
tractor will save cargo. Quartermaster
will remove fittings of value Sell wreck
Whether General Otis will place the
cable and cable instruments, If the latter
are still tit for service, on a transport
and direct that the work OF laying the
line be commenced, the authorities do not
know.
The necessity of a military cable in the
Philippines is appreciated by the War De-
partnnent. To the posts this Government
has established in the Sulu Islands mail
Is sent only once a month, unless trans
ports be proceeding in their direction, and
this delay In communication is often most
embarrassing, and would be more so,
department officials say, If the insurrec-
ton in Luzon should extend to the Sulus.
Had General Otis. Immediately after the
Hooker was wrecked, taken the necessary
precautions to save the valuable cable in
struments and to fit out another vessel to
lay the line, the officials believe that the
work by now would have been COM
menced and ii would not have been long
before the cable would be in operation.
General Otis has not communicated his
plans respecting the cable to the depart
naDt