Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1901-04-06
dNALDO WAS CAUGHT
PIECE OF STRATEGY.
.eraI Funston Tells the story of
the Expedition-Mnny Hardships
Encountcred-Agu Says IL
Was n smooth Trick.

OSllCl al II uhoNOhs VIM va
March % captured General Emilio
AguinaIdo, when interviewed by the
representative of the Associated Press
made the following statement concern
ing the capture of the Filipino leader:
THE confidential agent of Aguinaldo
arrived February 20 at Pantabangan,
in the province of Nueva Bcija. north
'ern Luzon, with letters dated January
IL, IL and IA. These letters were from
Emilio Aguinaldo, and directed Baldo-
nero Aguinaldo to take command of
the provinces of central Luzon, supple
menting General Alejandrlno. Emilio
Aguinaldo also ordered that 400 men
be sent him at once, saying that the
bearer of the letters would guide these
men to where Aguinaldo was"
General Funston secured the CORE
spondence of Aguinaldo's agent and
laid his plans accordingly. Some
months previously he had captured
the camp of the insurgent general, La
cuna incidentally obtaining Lacuna' S
seal, his papers and quantity of sign
ed correspondence. From this material
two letters were constructed, ostensibly
from Lacuna to Aguinaldo. One of
these contained information as to the
progress of the war. The other assert
ed that pursuant to orders received
from Baldomero Aguinaldo, Lacuna
was sending his best company to Presi-
dente Emilio Aguinaldo
His plans completed and approved,
General Funston came to Manila and
organized his expedition, selecting rs
Maccabebes, all of whom spoke Taga-
log fiuently. Twenty wore insurgent
uniforms and the others the dress of
Filipino laborers. This Maccabebe
company, armed with so Mausers, eight
Remingtons and 10 Krag-Jorgensons
was commanded by Captain Russell T.
Hazard of the Eleventh United States
volunteer cavalary. With him was his
brother, both boys from Tacoma, Wash
ington, of the same regiment. Captain
Harry w. Newton, Thirty-fourth in
fantry, because of his familiarity with
Sasiguan bay, and Lieutenant Burton
j. Mitchell, Fortieth infantry, went as
General Funston's aides. These were
the only Americans accompanying the
leader of the expedition With the
Maccabebes were four ex-insurgent of
ficers, one being Spaniard and the
other three Tagalos, whom General
Funston trusted implicitly.
General Funston and the officers
wore plain blue shirts and khawi trous-
ers. Each carried a half blanket. but
wore no insignia of rank. The Macca-
bebes were carefully instructed to obey
the orders of the four insurgent officers
On the night of March s the party
embarked on the United States gun
boat Vicksburg. 1t was originally in
tended to take cascoes from the island
of Polillo and drift to the mainland.
but a storm arose and three of the cas-
Goes were lost. This plan was aban-
doned. At a. m. March IA the Vicks-
burg put her lights out and ran in
shore 20 miles south of Casiguran.
province of Principle. The party land
ed and marched to Casiguran. The
Americans had never garrisoned this
place. and the inhabitants are strong
insurgent sympathizers. Having ar.
rived there, the ex-insurgent officers,
ostensibly commanding the party, an
nounced that they were on the way to
join Aguinaldo; that they had sur
prised an American surveying party
and that they had killed a number, cap
turing five. They exhibited General
Funston and the other Americans as
their prisoners.
Tne 1nsurgent presidente of Casigu-
ran believed the story. Two of the La
cuna letters, previously concocted, were
forwarded to Aguinaldo at Palanan.
province of Isabella. General Funston
and the others were kept imprisoned
Tor three days, surreptitiously giving
orders at night.
On the morning of March II. taking
a small quantity of cracked corn. the
party started on a 90-mile march TO
Palanan. The country is rough and
uninhabited and provisions could not
De secured. The party ate small shell.
nsh, but were almost starved. Wading
swift rivers, climbing precipitous
mountains and dense jungles. thew
marched seven days and nights. and
on March p had reached a point eight
miles from Palanan. They were now
so weak that 1t was necessary to send
TO Aguinaldo's camp for food. Aeuin.
aldo dispatched supplies and directed
that the American prisoners be kindly
treated but not allowed to enter the
town. On the morning OF March % the
advance was resumed. The column was
met by the staff officers of Aguinaldc
and detachment of Aguinaldo's body
guard. which was expected to take
cha Of tho -. :. wv