The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-04

HE LINES, w
try. Careful enquiry among the SOL
diers also shows that when a march TO I
designated point Is to be made, they pre-
fer TO travel quickly. reach their destina-
ton, go into quarters, and have the bal
ance of the day for rest.
Energy and Determination.
Before our arrival at Tarlac, the river Of
that name had overfiowed and washed out
the railroad for the distance of alb nut halt
a mile at a point three and half miles
I north of that place. \ heavy typhoon rain
mad swelled this stream into a torrent. In
4 the midst of this typhoon on the morning
I OF November 16, General Macarthur or
4 dered Wheeler to make personal explo-
[ ration of the wagon road and the railroad
! at the washout and to report at the esTli-
est moment If it was possible to get the
! wagons across. General Wheeler FASTENED
/ TO the spot, waded out on the ra.Iroad and
I personally examined the roadbed under
/ the water He found it undermined and
/ that in places the track had been swept
I from its bed. He also discovered that the
! fords of the river were SO deep that they
reached above the bodies Of our highest
wagons. These facts he reported both in
writing and in person TO his division COM
mander. On the 18th General Wheeler re-
ceived a memoranda from General Mac
! Arthur which contained the following di-
rections:
General Wheeler TO remain in command at Tar
| lac. To make every effort 10 bring forward TO
Tarlac all ordnance, subsistence, and medical sup
! plies.
Your especial consideration to get supplies for
ward from Bamban. When sufficient supplies have
| accumulated &c give the moving column seven
DAYS rations, including one on person, and also
TO load the wagons for the troops at tie front
with six days rations; move forward with the
Twelfth Infantry and the remainder OF The Sew
cntcenth.
General Macarthur also directed Gener
al Wheeler to furnish Captain Steer all
the men he could use in repairing the
railroad at the washout, and asked Gene1i
Wheeler to assist as far as he could in
this work but at that time the repair of
the half mile break in the railroad at the
washout so that supplies could be gotten
across. though of paramount Importance,
was not considered possible within a rea-
sonable time. General Macarthur, there
fore, ordered the rations transported from
Tarlac north on wagons
General Wheeler's examinations of the
railroad had however led him to hope
that efforts TO make repairs might bring
good results. His letter would also indi-
cate that he had hope that IL his sue
cess exceeded the expectations of General
Macarthur he might be rewarded by be-
ing allowed to go to the front and engage
again on the firing Line. His letter TO
General Macarthur was as follows:
Headquarters First Brisade
Second Division. Eighth Army Corps,
Tarlac Luzon, T.. l., Nov. L. 1899
Major Benjamin hvord, Adjutant General, Second
Division, Eighth Army Corps.
Sir; ] am taking measures to carry out with
great promptitude the directions Of the Com
handing General
I have telecraphed to the commanding officer
Of the Twenty-hfth Infantry to put a force to
work and prepare for loading the trains with
great rapidity, so as TO have as little DELAY az
possible. | am sending two staff officers 10 Bam-
ban TO assist in fastening this work, and have
given Captain Steer ali the men he wants
! beg you will pardon me for again asking
for active service against the enemy when have
completed this work and brought forward the
troops as directed by you.
Ny reason for making this request IS not from
motives Of personal ambition.
Respectfully, JOSEPH WHEELER.
Brigadier General.
Work mt the Wnshcut.
General Wheeler took larg, details to
his engineer officers. Captain Seibert and
Captain Steer. and, aided by his staff, he
personally devoted himself TO this work.
He walked. across the 1900 feet of over
flowed railroad track at the end of which
he found that the track and roadbed
were entirely gone for n distance of about
go feet. The first thirty feet of this
break was a rapid running stream, vary
ing from three TO eight feet in depth.
BY exploring the bottom of the river, he
found part of what had been span of
hriI no fr1Y, r-af1 utfI to
the stringers. This General Wheeler as
certained by feeling for the iron rails and
stringer with his hands seven feet below
the surface. Continuing the examination,
he next found a series of brick piers
about fifteen in number, all, however. be-
meath the surface and the rails and string
ers entirely swept away.
Beyond these brick piers he observed n
rapid run of water about $50 feet wide. the
greatest depth, six feet, being near the
north side. From that point the railroad
was uninjured and in good running order
This kind of exploration of the bottom of a
river was more properly the duty Of a ma
rine diver but, as General Wheeler was |
good swimmer and had become impatient |
at the slow progress being made, and as it |
was absolutely necessary TO get ra'ions |
across the break, he willingly devoted ann
self to its accomplishment. He also ii |
rected all the wagons at Angele,s and BAN |
ban to be used IN Transporting rations, and |
he sent a staff officer TO regulate and |
hasten the work. On November is General |
was enabled to send the following |
despatch:
Tarlac, November Il. $40 4. m, 1899
Major Alyord, Assistant adjutant General, Corona: I
There are now ten thousand complete rstions
Il Tarlac. and in addition twenty thousand IA
ions Of al compliments, with the exception Of
lard bread. Cannot forward tomorrow
morning, the 18th, with these ratious, and have
he additional rations follow me with proper
-uardY If necessary. the men could rice in
tead OF hard bread for few days.
WHEELER, Brigader General.
Tsrlac, November Is, 1890
ATord, Assistant Adiutant General, AZ the end
Natives tell Us that there are cars on the road
lear Panique Could not one or two cars be
auled down TO washout by mules2
Have given Captain Seibert all the men that be
an use and viii keep him supplied with men
gorking night and day until break at washout is
epaired. WHEELER. Bhgadier General.
At 1853 a. m, November is, General
Macarthur at Moncada replied:
DO not ATTEMPT to move forward until ! sand
Ou further orders. No enemy in front between
ere and Bayambang and none in that town.
At 1l:l5 u. m, November is. General
Macarthur again telegraphed as follows:
What are conditions at TarlacY Is washout
ordahle AZ wagon rosdl Probably enemy win |
iot be met this side OF Dagupsn. When 'vill
rains be able 10 pass washout? NoG!d like your
Jews with view OF determining question OF |
uppy Of troops 10 the front. and as to the
'est method OF bringing your troops forward.
Genral Wheeler occupied the morains
IN examining the work at washou. and
The railroad north of it, and telegraphed
Seneral Macarthur as follows:
General WhceIer's Report