The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-27
THE CAMPAIGN IN LUZoN.
What the Two Brigades in Southern
Luzon Have Done Since January lst.

Washington April e4-The military
situation in the Philippines. as shown
by the latest mail advices received at
the war department is summarized in
the following statement which was
made public today:
On the LIST of January 1900, h insur-
rection in the part or LuZon eInbraZ-
ing the province of Manila and the
provinces to the north OF II, had col
lapsed TO the extent hat organized
resistance 10 Ameican control had
virtually ceased. A different state OF
affairs existed in Cavite. Batangas.
Laguna and Tayabas, the provinces
lying Immediately south Of Manila.
In this territory, the richest and
most populous of the island. the birth
place of Aguinaldo and the rebellion,
the insurgent troops We're still intact,
had IN fact been strengthened by ac-
cessions from the north and as regards
equipment, discipline, n cohesion,
were equal, if not superior, TO any that
a been raised in support OF the in
surgent cause.
General Otis committed the task
Of the destruction Oh dispersion OF the
forces within this district to two ex-
p~editionary brigades, commanded re-
spectively by Brigadier Generals
Wheaton and Schwan. In and about
the two towns of Bacoor and linus, in
northern Cavite there were and long
had been ~insugent bodies of consider
able size, of some which had actually
beseiged our garrisons in those towns.
These insurgent bodies, General
Wheaton'S command attacked n
completely unite on January Eth,
Sth and 9th.
The further d~isintgration of the
remnants of this ~force-giving it. so
- no tho ON do ~ a. n cl.n-
pressing the insurgent troops in the
remainder of the four provinces and of
restoring, if practicable, peace n
order therein, fell to the lot of General
Schwan's brigade.
In the course of it's campaign his
troops covered $50 miles, fought SO
combats and established permanent
garrisons in q within this dis
trict. 1t set out on January 4th and its
work was practically finished on Feb
ruary Sth. MOI that all hoStilities had
then ceased. On the contrary, our
troops have had and still have fire.
quent conflicts with the robber bands
that were formed from the disinte-
grated insurgent military organiZa-
tons and who emerge periodically
from their hiding places in noun
tainS n thickets to pOunce upon in
adequately guarded wagon trains and
small parties. But concert of action
] ana CO-OpGTdllOH, save Oh d very llIH-
tied scale, was ended by the latter
date; the control exercised by the in
gurgent leaders, except over their small
immediate following, was minimiZed
and their power for mischief material
ly reduced if not wholly broken. In
the principal towns or centers of trade
n municipal government, military
forces, generally battalions, have been
placed. These forces operate within
their several spheres under their ma
jors, for the most part energetic young
officers holding lesser rank in the reg
ulars and, whenever necessary, coop
crate under the colonels, for the bat
talions of a regiment are grouped il
neighboring places. .
On the whole, the outlook for the
pacification of this district and other
parts of Louzon is favorable. In their
conflicts with our troops, the ladrones
are universally worsted.
Their defeats will become more anG
more serious as our troops gain The
confidence of the intelligent and prop
erty owning class; and when the latel
becomes unwilling to submit to thu
robbers eXactions and become willing
to guide our troops to their retreats
their doom will be sealed. To accom
plish this object may take time. and
it is possible some of the robber IA
may be able to maintain themselve
during the coming wet season; Blu
their eventual destruction is regardet
as certain.