The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-29
WAR In THE PHILIPPINES
RECORDS SHOW THAT RESPONSIBLE
ITY RESTS WITH THE NATIVES.
They Made Elaborate Preparations
for an Outbreak-The Part Taken
by the Late Col. Stotsenburg.

pecially in the beginning of the month or
February, 1892 the situation of the Amer
lean army in Manila and its environs was
very unpleasant and embarrassing. Of
ficers and men had been instructed to avoid
a conflict with the insurgent forces. II pos
sible. The general commanding the Amer
lean army saw What there were strong in
dications of the fixed determination of the
insurgent government to drive the United
States from Luzon as soon it could
gather it's armed men in sufficient num-
bers. 1t had, as General Otis says, appro-
priated the railway every engine and most
of the rolling stock. it was perfecting its
entertainments. planting its guns. concen-
trating it's troops and bringing up its army
supplies. An official report TO General Otis
made on Feb. 3, 1899, exactly states the
situation: -
There has been a great deal of fric-
ton along the lines for the past two days
and we will be unable to tamely submit to
the insulting conduct and threatening dem
onstrations of these insurgents much
longer"
"At this time a visit by an officer at the
insurgent capital was not considered an
agreeable pastime," says General Otis in
his report, "as he was liable to receive
gross insults" The correspondent of the
Harlan Qowa) Republican says that ''the
insults were most annoying and irritating.
The Filipino officers and soldiers insulted
our men on all occasions, jostled them,
called them towards. pointed their guns at
them, while our men dared not shoot at
them under pain of death. 1t was hard to
bear, and almost more than soldier could
bear. At one time Colonel John M. Stots-
enburg was so incensed at some Filipinos
who tried to cross his lines the officer at
| the same time using the most vile and in
sulting epithets, that he said to the in
surgent officer: "Well, am forbidden to
shoot you. but I'll show you some fight
ing" So he took off his coat and knocked
down the officer and kicked him out of
camp.
About Feb. 1 General Macarthur ad-
dressed the following note to Colonel San
Miguel, of the insurgent army:
"Sir-The line between your command
and my command has been long established
and is we'll understood by yourself and N.Y.
self. 1t is quite necessary under present
conditions that this line should not be
passed by armed men Of either command
An armed party from your command now
occupies the village in front OF block
house No. at point considerably more
| than a hundred yards on my side of the
line, and is very active in exhibiting hos
| tile intentions. This party must be with
drawn to your side of the line at once.
From this date If the line is crossed by
your men with arms in their hands, they
must be regarded as subject to such action
as may deem necessary
THE FIRST SHOT.
AT that time, and on the 4th of February.
| Colonel John VI. Stotsenberg was stationed
| In front of the insurgent army at outpost
| No. 2, near the, little WALLACE of Santol.
| This location on the high and unoccupied
| ground of Santa Mesa was within the view
| and range of the Mauser rifles of the in
surgents along the San Juan river. He
bad, under his immediate command, be-
sides the First Nebraska, his own regiment,
| the Tennessee Regiment, the Utah Battery,
| one battalion of the Colorado Regiment.
one company OF the Oregon Regiment, two
| companies of the regular infantry, and a
| detc chment from the signal corps. What
| happened in disregard of the promise of the
insurgents is clearly ted by General Mac
| Arthur himself:
| About half past p. m, Feb. A, 1899,
an insurgent patrol, consisting or four
| armed soldiers, entered our territory at
| block house No. and advanced to the
| by the outpost of the Nebraska Regiment.
| The Nebraska sentinel challenged twice.
| and then, as the insurgent patrol con-
tinued TO advance, he fired, whereupon the
| patrol retired 10 block house No. Z. whence
| fire was Immediately opened by the entire
| insurgent outpost at that point. AT p.
| M Colonel Stotsenberg reported consider
able firing at his outpost, which extended
| gradually along the outer front of the d.
| vision. At 1910 p. M, Ii was evident that
| hostilitics had commenced In earnest anc
| accordingly, an order was Issued from
| these headquarters TO put everything on
| the firing line according to a programme
| which had been arranged for such an emer-
gency."
| The story of the beginning CT the is
| told also In an unofficial way by Robert
G.. Douglass a private Of Company A of
the First Nebraska:
"Our relations toward the Filipino SOL
| diers were becoming more strained every
| day, not because our boys were trying TO
| provoke a quarrel, but because of the AFRO
| CANT and insulting actions OF Filipino sol
diers who were b!indly following the leader
| ship of selfish and ambitious men. The
| fiery invectiveS against our army and the
| vigorous denunciation of our government
| INDUCED in by Aguinaldo and his officers
| caused the natives to become naughty and
| daring, when approaching our lines and IN
sulting when they were challenged. Such
| were the conditions on the night of Feb
4. Filipino lieutenant and three armed
privates were halted by the guard They
turned back and afterwards approached
the same post from the flank, when the
sentry again called upon them to halt. The
officer in loud and angry tones replied. FIJI
ipino no halt ard continued to advance
The guard fred instantly killing the Off
GER and wounding one of his men. This
same outpost which we then occupied, had
been Withdrawn by us fully 200 yards be-
| fore that, to satisfy this pompous
and imperious Filipino lieutenant"
THE BATTLE OF MANILA.
| What followed can best be told in the
words of General Otis:
1.-THE battle of Manila which commenced
| at half past o'clock on the evening OF
| Feb. T. continued until o'clock the mex
| evening. The engagement was one strictly
| defensive on the part of the insurgents anC
of vigorous attack by our forces, although
during the night Ii was confined to an ex
| change OF fire between the opposing line:
| on the north from the PaSfg river TO TIL,
| Lico road, a distance of about two miles
| with an occasional shot on the south IL
| the vicinity of Pace, and few struggling
| shots on the extreme left in the direction
| of Caloocan. At midnight General An
| derson, who commanded all troops soutl
| of the Pasig, consisting of Kings anC
Ovenshines brigades, was directed to holC
them I'm readiness TO receive a morning at
tack, but not to attack until further in
structed. Our immediate interests lay t
| the northeast and comprised the pumping
station and depository of the water works
| which 1t was necessary to secure, although
| we had provided for their loss. in IA
| as the army was concerned, by erecting
| a number of distilling plants along tn
| river banks, by which good water coul'
L 49, hr.g -.