New-York tribune., 1901-03-29
FUNSTON TELLS THE STORY
HOW AGCINALDO FELL INTO THE TRAP:
SET FOR HIM.


Mania. March 2S-GeneraI Frederick Funston
to-day told the story of the capture of Agui-
naldo
The confidential agent Of Aguinaldo arrived
February n at Pantahangan. in the province OF
| Nueva Ecia. Northern Luzon. with letters dated
! January n. Il and II These letters were from
Emilio Aguinaldo. and directed Baldermero
| Aguinado TO take command of the provinces OF
! Central Luzon. suppanting General Alejandrino-'
| Emilio Aguinado also ordered that four hun
dred men he sent him as soon as possible. saying
that the bearer of the letters would guide these,
men to where AgunaIdo was.
General Funston secured the correspondence OF
Aguinaldo's agent and laid his plans accord
| ingly. Some months before he had captured the
camp of the insurgent General Lacuna. Incl
dentally obtaining Lacuna's seal, official papers
| and a quantity of signed correspondence. From.
| this material two letters were constructed. os-
| tensiby from Lacuna to Aguinaldo One OF
| these contained information to the progress
/ of the The other asserted that. pursuant.
| TO orders received from Baldermero AgUinaldo.
Lacuna sending his best company TO Presi-'
| dente Emilio AsuinaIdo.
| GENERAL. FUNsTONs EXPEDITION
| His plans completed and approved General
Funston came to Manila and organized his ex-
pedition. selecting seventy-eight Nacabebes. all
| of whom spoke Tagalog fuentIy. Twenty
I nsurgent uniforms and the others the dress OF
| Filipino Iaborers. This Macabebe company.
| armed with fifty Mausers. eighteen Remingtons
| and Krag-J0rgensens. was commanded by
\ Captain Russell t. Hazard With him his
| brother. Lieutenant Oliver P. NJ Hazard. both
| of the 11th United States Cavalry. Captain
| Harry w. Newton, 34th Infantry. was taken
| because OF his familiarity with Casiguran Bay.
| and Lieutenant Burton ]. Mitchell. 10th In
/ fantry went General Funston's aid These
/ were the only Americans accompanying the
| leader of the expedition.
With the Macabebes were four ex-insurgent Of
fcers. one being Spaniard and the other three
| Tagaloss. whom General Funston trusted inn
| pIicitly.
| General Funston and the American officers
wore plain blue shirts and khaki trousers. They
carried each half blanket, but wore insignia
| of rank. The Macabebes We're carefully in-
| structed to obey the orders of the four ex-in-
surgent officers
IN THE INSURGENT COUNTRY.
On the night of March the party embarked
On the United States gunboat Vicksburg. It.
was originally intended TO take cascos from the
island of Polillo. and drift to the mainland.i
but storm arose. and three of the cascos were
lost. This plan was abandoned AT a on
March IA the Vicksburg put her lights out and
: ran inshore twenty-five miles south OF Cast
guran. province of Principe The party landed
| and marched to Casiguran. The Americans had
| never garrsoned this place. and the habitants
are strong insurgent sympa thizers. Having ar
rived there, the ex-insurgent officers. ostensibIy-
| commanding the party. announced that they
were the way to toin Aguinaldo between.
Pautobagan and Baler that they had surprised
American surveying party and that they had.
killed a number. capturing five. They exhibited
General Funston and the other Americans as
their prisoners.
ne fOS n "a
the story. Two of the Lacuna letters previously.
concocted. were forwarded to Aguinaldo at Pa,
lanan. province of Isabella General Funston
and the others kept imprisoned for three
days. sure ptttously giving orders at night. on
the morning of March Il. taking small guam,
tty Of cooked corn the party started a ninety1
mile march to Palanan. The country Is rough
and uninhabited. and provisions could not be Sc
cured The party ate small shenfsh. but WERE
almost starved. Wading swift rivers. climbing
precipitous mountains and penetrating dense
iungles. they marched seven days and nights.
and on March 22 had reached point eight miles
from PaIanan They were weak that iE
necessary TO send 10 Aguinaldo's camp for
food Aguinaldo dispatched supplies and d.
rected that the American prisoners be kindly
treated. but not allowed 10 enter the town.
FT-NsTONs CLEVER STRATEGY.
on the morning of March o; the advance was
resumed. The column met by the staff Of
fcers of Aguinaldo and detachment of Agui-
naldo's body guard. which was ordered take
charge of the Americans.
While of The eX-inSurgent officers con-
versed with AguinaIdo's aid another. Spaniard
sent courier TO warn General Funston and the
rest. who. with eleven Macabebes. were about
hour behind. Having received this warning,
General Funston avoided AguinaIdos detach-
ment and Joined the column. avoiding observa-
ton. The Tagalogs went ahead to greet Agui-
aldo and the column slowly followed. finally ar
irving Palanan
Aguinaldo's household troops. fifty men. in
neat uniforms OF blue and white and wearing
| straw hats. lined up TO receive the newcomers.
General Funston's men crossed the river in
small boats formed on the bank. and marched
70 the right and then in front of the insurgent
/ grenadiers. The Tagalogs entered the house
| where Aguinado was.
| Suddenly the Spanish officer, noticing that
| Aguinaldos aid watching the Americans
T suspiciously. exclaimed. Nov. Macabebes. 60
| for them The Macabebes opened fire, but
! their aim rather ineffective. and only three