The Florida star., 1901-04-12
AIDED BY MECABEBES.
History OF the Natives who Helped Fuus-
ton to Capture A9uiualdo.


WASHINGTON. April 9.-It is not gen
orally known that the Macabebe scouts,
with whose help Brigadier General
Frederick Funston was able to capture
Emilio Agulnaldo. leader OF the insur-
gent Philippine forces. are members OF
a regularly organized part OF the Unit
ed States army. Such. however. Is the
case. These scouts. natives OF the
Grande. north OF Manila bay, were
brought into the service by Major
Mathew A. Batson, formerly first lieu
tenant Fourth United States cavalry.
He was here about two months ago,
and from him | personally heard the
story.
Major Batson. while under the COM
mand OF the late General LawtOn.
whose tragic end grieved the whole
American nation. conceived the idea
that a properly trained force OF Filipi-
no tribesmen unIrlendly toward Agui-
naldo would be an adjunct OF inesti-
mable value TO the occupying army.
Major BatsOn made known his Opin-
ions TO his chief. General Lawton i'm
mediately saw the possibilities OF the
project. and Major Batson was author
lied to recruit company OF 100 ma
tives to illustrate the value OF his
scheme. Ii success followed, he was
TO be allowed an increase OF men that
would swell his force TO regimental
size. The measure OF the majors sue
cess will be realized when il is known
that the present muster roll OF his
scouts contains almost 1000 names.
The formation OF the troop OF Maca-
bebe scouts il described by Major Bat
son In a very interesting manner. Here
Is his narrative as he repeated il TO
me:
''SOme little time was expended by
me In the agitation OF the project.
by my proposition and did many things
to aid my cause. The general finally
me TO try out the sugges-
tlon. One prOvisO accompanied his ac-
quiescence. which was. The number OF
your men shall be limited 10 100 until
favorable results are assured 1t was
not long before was permitted large
Increase
"My next step was the procurement
Of my dusky warriors. followed
along line which previously con
GUIDED was the most feasible mode OF
procedure
"In the town OF Macabebe. eight
miles below Calumpit. there were up
ward OF 2.0"0 tribesmrn who had |
fought under General Blanco when he |
was commander In chief OF the Span |
sh forces on the island On his sur
they also laid down their
arms. The TagalOgs under BlancO. on |
he contrary. retained their arms and. |
with other members OF their tribe who |
lad refused To enlist in the Spanish |
army, formed the nucleus Of the Oppo-
iitiOn TO the Americans.
''rhe Macabebes, | imagined. would |
De- willing To unite with the captors of
heir former masters. and | went to
heir town to get my recruits. The al
,alde or the settlement listened To my |
words OF explanation and allowed me
10 take as many or his braves as | re-
luired.
THE especial work first put them
10 was the patrOlling Of the Rio
Srande. This action separated the two
main bodies of the Insurgents. We
gun rded the course OF the river 10y |
means OF large canOes-bancas. as the
term them. We p5liced
more than "A hundred miles OF ihe river
cutting of all cOmmuni-
.atiOn between the rebelling divisions.
"AguinaldO and his army led us a
lively chase. When he first started for
he mountains. orders were sent me TO
run him down
"Day after day led my scouts Oh
ais track. The scent became warmer
Is time passed Oh. General MacAr
hur's men had left the coast To the
northwest OF us and were pushing
steadily across the island to intercept
he fugitive. They must have become
confused in connecting with some of
lis trails. for he made good bis escape
"My men caught up with Aguinaldo
II Aringay. Ii was there that | was
BADLY wounded The insurgents were
n trenches. We attacked them was |
mounted on one OF the LuZOn horses. a
short. wlry animal \ Mauser shat