The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-11
OPERATIONS IN CAvITE.
General Schwan's Report on HIS
Recent Expedition.

Recent
The War Department has Just made pub
lie report Of Brig Gen. Theodore Schwan
on the operations from October 10 Ia in
Cavite province. OF an expedition sent TO
punish and break up the iusurgent forces
which had been very active in attacking
the American lines.
The expedition under General Schwan
traversed very neSr the same territory
from which an expedition under General
Lawton had successfully driven the insur-
gent forces early in June The difficulties
encountered in an effort to completely clear
the country Of the rebel forces are de-
tailed by General Schwan, who calls par
ticular attention to the character OF the
country through which the American troops
had to operate. He remarks that while
on the way to Rosario there was almost
constant firing directed by the advance
guard at insurgents hanging around It's
TANKS
He says: Our Hankers dragged many
natives from their eoncealment into the
road. the terrorized countenauees giving
color to the belief that. though nusrmed
and clad in amigo apparel, they belonged
to the hostile troops and had been firing
at us
Referring to the reception OF the Ameri-
can forces at San Francisco and Santa
Cruz, General Schawn says: The enemy,
doubtless cowed by the punishment he had
received, and convinced of uselessness OF
prolonging as body the struggle with our
| troops, now had resorted to n strategem
| which he conceived would battle our efforts
/ TO destroy him. General Trias, who, il
was understood. was in command. nracti-
cally disbanded the mass OF his soldiers,
many OF whom were residents Of the neigh
/ borhood preserving. however the organi-
\ cations Of some six or seven companies.
| with which he intended to harass us in
/ every way possible.
Before going ON the Buena Vista Road
| had teiegraphed the division commander
that to avoid destruction the enemy had
dissipated his forces, and suggested as a
means Of counteracting the effect OF the
dispersion, and OF fixing upon each indi-
vidual in a community the character 81
either friend or foe, that the question Ct
garrisoning these important towns, aggre-
eating population Of q. 900 souls. be con-
sidered. This proposal the department
commander could not entertain. owing 10
the lack of troops at his disposal.
1T has been already stated that San
| Francisco was practically deserted and the
considerable number OF the Inhabitants
/ returned to their homes, carrying with
| them their belongings which they had
| concealed in the woods. They had. doubt
/ less. been encouraged by their padre" In
whom they seemed to have implicit conf
I dence. The true feelings Of this man. who.
| while disclaiming sympathy with the in
| surrectiof and protesting loyalty to the
! American cause. sustained close relations
/ with the rebel leaders, and kept in a
I building connected with his luxuriously
/ furnished house a large amount Of rice
/ and other supplies were an enigma to US
| An Indication of the character Of the
I ground through which the troops had to
march is given by General Schwan, who
| says that much OF the ground marched over
was rice fields. with the troops marching
, in files on parallel dykes. He adds: "A
| horse often finds very soft ground Just be
I yond one of these dykes. and at time
| when his hind feet are on the dyke. with
| the result that sometimes the rider cross
/ es the dyke in advance Of his mount. IL
1 was found that horses could cross rice
| fields while the plats of rice were flooded.
| Generally speaking. all streams. most
! of which. unless bridged, are hard to
cross, all the roads, all separate proper
! ties are lined with almost impenctrable
| bamboo. Along the roads aud near the
/ habitations there are additions screens
| of banana groves and other topical
| plants. The bamboo scree,s are at vary
! ing distances from the roads and occupy
| varying positions with respect to them.
| There are nearly always such fringes
| practically parallel TO the road and with
| in the effective range Of the Mauser, with
others beyond screening the enemy's
| movements. !i.fi1kuIhtI
The marching of infantry is necessarily
slow All bamboo fringes from which the
/ enemy could fire effectively must be in
| vestigated by hankers, and in doing this
| rice and cane fields and swamps must be
! traversed Flankers cannot keep abreast
\ OF the troops on the roads, and frequent
haits and changing of thanking parties be
| come necessary The country is an ideal
| one for small ambushes and surprises by
| an enterprising enemy acquainted with the
| topography.
! General Schwan reports that notwith-
| standing these difficulties the expedition
I accomplished the objects for which it was
set on foot and the enemy, though assem-
/ bled in large bodies was easily defeated
/ in a province in which he had scored some
/ of his greatest successes in the rebellion
! against Spain.
| The report SAYS. THAT he received Sc
/ we're punishment there is abundant evil
/ dence to show. The effect of the punish
| ment is evidenced by the quiet that has
| since prevailed on the south line"
/ General Schwan remarks upon the con-
| ciliatorv conduct OF the American troops
| and says it is undoubtedly fact that
| those Of the inhabitants OF the towns VINO
| did not quit their homes had ocular dem
| onstration OF the fact that American
| troops respect the rights Of non-comoat-
| ants and wage a strictly civilized warfare
| Not a single house was burned IN the
| course of the expedition. For the troops
! themselves General Schwan has mucn
praise. He saws there was but little
| sickness and no struggling, and the COM
| mand good at the start, improved stead
| ilv and when broken up was fit and anx-
| ions to undertake any service. however
/ arduouS.
| Too much praise cannot be accorded the
| company of scouts, partly made up OF Tag
| alloys, commanded by Lieutenant Casiner.
| When at the end of a days operations
| other troops were in bivouac at rest. Lieu
| tenant Cashier with his scouts made yaiua-
bic reconnoissances, which would have
! over-taxed ordinary men.
| The work of the artillery. arduous IN me
| extreme owing to the condition o. the F0ddS'
| may. without exaggeration, be character
\ ICED as brilliant. Under the leadership %
! their dashing officers. Captain Taylor Cap
tair RailIy and Lieutenant McCloskey, one
| mr. more sections were invariably placed In
| The firing line: in one instance. on the
| Ruena vista roati when the troops were
| obliged TO move forward in column, me
| leading niece marched with the point or
! the advance guard. .,--
| Tho engineer company. acting mostly
under personal supervision OF the chle'
| engineer Captain Sibert, but under the
| immediate command OF Lieutenant Sickle
i