Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-04-03
CLEVERLY Fooled.
Fi|ippinos Surprised by Their
Supposed Yankee Victims.
Concealed in Ambush They Are Attack
ed from Rear and FIanks.
Interesting Point Develops over the Court
Martial Of Major Kirkman.

Washington, April THE war de-
partment has made public a number
Of reports Of the movements Of small
expedition which started from Ban
gued, January Il last on a scout
through the mountains of LuZOn in
search of Aguinaldo. Col. Hare Of the
33rd Infantry had heard that an in
surgent general was in the neighDor-
hood and believed that it might be
Aguinaldo. So he started on the trail
with capt. Ashburn of the LIST Bat
talon of his regiment and 40 men. and
was out five days. going as far as Bl-
coco. This expedition was character
lied by many acts of daring and gal
lantry. At one point near Donin!ay,
the insurgents had prepared an am
bush. The soldiers knew Of it ana de-
ployed. attacking the insurgents from
the front and both tanks, killing one
lieutenant and nine men ana captur
ing five prisoners ana a lot OF ammu-
milton. one man wounded was the
American casualty list.
Adiutant General Corb.n received a
cablegram from G,n. Otis. today. say
ing that the home battalion IF The l4th
Infantry, consisting of four officers
and I'll men. left Manila, yesterday.
for San Francisco. This is the first
movement under the new order where
by each regiment in the Philippines
will hereafter constantly maintain a
battalion in the United States to serve
as base for recruiting.
Secretary Root. today, stated that
Major George q. Kirkman. 49th NOlun
tecr Infantry. is no longer in the ser
vice of the United States. 1t appears.
that under Article 107 of the articles
of war. the approval Of Gen. Otis ~
the action Of the courtmartial which
recommended kirkman for dismissal
on the charge of drunkenness was suf-
ficient to execute that sentence. In
other words. the approval Of the Presi-
dent is unnecessary. Kirkman was ac-
cused of being drunk on the transport
Liverpool on the voyage from san
Francisco to Manila. Private advices
also charged him with affronting
Archbishop Chapelle who was one OF
the passengers.
The construction given by the war
department to Gen. Otis action in this
case commits the department, ii is be-
lieVed, To a formal recognition of the
existence of war in the Philippines.
Article loo OF the articles OF war eX-
presSly provides that the sentence Of
dismissal in the case of an officer shall
not be carried out in time of peace
except on the approval of the PreSi-
dent Of the UNITED States.
The casualty report received at the
war department, today. from Gen.
Otis includes: Died from wounds re
ceived in action, March Is. James F.
Burns. Co. c, 43rd Infantry.
Rear Admiral IIichborn. chief of the
bureau Of construction and repairs
will leave here in a few days for San
Francisco to inspect the ships building
there and also to investigate the needs
of the Mare Island navy yard. This
will be Admiral Hichborn's first visit
to the Pacific coast since he went
around the Horn before the mast on
clipper ship from Boston just before
the Civil War.
Arrangements have been made by
the war department for the transfer Of
100000 Of the $1,000. 900 appropria-
ted for the relief of Puerto Rico to
capt. VIM. V. JudsOn Of the corps Of
engineers at san Juan. who has been
selected as the dsbursin@ officer Of
that funl. Gen. Davis originally esti
mated that he would have immediate
need for $150. 900. but h" has modified
his requsition to $3.50, 600. ana explains
that it is his purpose to cXpcnd the
money in payment for labor on public
at the rate OF about
100000 n month.
The war department has been oblig-
nd to sound n note of warning to re-
strain oVcr-confient Americans from
docking into Puerto Rico without re-
sources. Gen. Wood has made this a
matter of special representations to
Secretary Root. He reports that there
are quite n number Of such Americans
stranded in Cuba whom NJ
is unable to relieve. His suggestion
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