The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-09
Pillar IS A
BIG CATCH
He Was Second Only
to AguinaIdo.
WHAT A. P. TAYLOR SAYS
He Saw Fight Near Manila in
Which the Filipino General
Figured.

According to a. p. Taylor, of this city,
who was recently in the Philippines, the
capture of General Pho uel Pillar. the
active division commander of Aguinaldo's
army, by which the Filipino power along
the Malabon-Caloocan line was broken, is
of the greatest Importance to the Ameri-
cans.
During the operations just outside of
Manila last fall says Mr.. Taylor, II
was fortunate in being attached to the
troops on the firing line which extended
from Malolos and Malabon to Caloocan.
La Iona church and to the Pasig river,
east of the city of Manila. To La Lom;.
church the distance from the Escolta,
Manila's famous thoroughfare, was only
forty-five minues' time in a carranetta.
while at La Iona, General Pho del Piar,
with about 5000 men, faced the American
troops. Between La Iona and his en-
trenchments there was open field of
! 1900 yards behind which was a deep
tropical forest. In this mass of trees.
underbrush and vines, the rebel army
unanswered. Occasionally an attack
would be made. amounting only to a
skirmish in most cases. But the real mo-
tive of Pillar was to effect a skirmish OF
| this kind in certain localities, and there
by endeavor TO, draw the Americans at
tention to that place. If successful in
this movement IL was his purpose to ere
ate a surprise in another quarter. But
Pillar, cunning as he was, did not excel
the Americans, for at every point -of the
line the trenches were fun of wide-awake
blue shirts intently watching the woods
opposite.
| zone afternoon a battery which hao
been stationed at La Iona church for
several months, and supported by the
ITwenty-ffth Infantry (colored), limbereo
up and began an hours drill. Their ma
neuvers took them behind the church ant
into gully which connected with roac
leading towards town.
mo sooner had the battery disappear
de than the lookout on the block house
perceived a commotion in the edge of tht
woods opposite. The alarm was given
the heliograph flashed a signal to Calico
can, and the entire Ire was put in readi
ness quietly. The Filpinos, who haC
mistaken the movements of the battery
Thought the troops at La Iona were un
protected by artillery. The Filipinos sud
denly charged from all parts of the woo'
and started across the open ground
which was covered by long, waving
grass. A field piece opened fire on tn
church TO cover their advance. Pillar per
sonally directed the movement, in whicI
about 5000 men We're engaged. They ha
moved over half the field when suddenl
a whitening fire was poured in on them
But inspired by the disappearance Of tn
battery which they had evidently bee
closely observing, they came on with re
doubled speed. Then they met with
surprise. a masked battery opened fir
on the little brown men, The advanc
was checked. Before they recovered, tn
, colored sold .ers were running towar
them yelling like demons and firing a
will. Two soldiers and Chinese litter
bearer went down. and a friendly Fill
Pine water carrier at the rear shared thei
= fate. followed the colored boys acros
the field until the edge of the woods wa
reached when the recall was sounded
Dead Fiiip;nos were numerous, and man
exhausted ones were captured, but tn
Filipino retreat was well conducted, Pila
| himself mounted q horse, was in evi
dence during the fight and although fire
at often, he was not hit. He was one c
the last to disappear in the woods.
Then Pillar showed another side of hi
, character. 1t was generally known tha
he was jealous of Agu'naldos power. an
: above all things he desired to see his lead
er Inundated, if he himself could eay
his own skin. After the failure of til
above attack Pillar sent emissaries
General Otis, offering, in cons. deration
100000 gold, to surrender himself an
army if he was granted amnesty. &c
= S250,000 he would agree to deliver Agu
naldo as well. His cuDidity was so gres
that he disguised himself and entered Ms
Mia to direct the offers of tie emissar.e
These officers were diped and lodged
the Hotel Oriente at the expense of tn
United States Government, but Generi
Otis would not receive them personally
Pillar was most active in his endeavor
b bring about settlement. but the off
was finally rejected. and the little Gel
eral went back to the field. The Amer
can army harassed him from that tin
on. until his army dwindled to Il mel
guerilla band.
From all that / ever heard of Pillar.
must say that his influence among h