Evening star., 1901-10-18

1t is believed that the enemy only re-
tired for reinforcements.- As soon as the
news was received at Catbalegan two gum
beats We're dispatched, General Smith going
in person to the scene
News at War Department..
The War Department officials were some-
what dismayed at the press report of the
new setback on the Island of Samar They
had no confirmation from official sources,
but they received none for several days
after the last affair of the kind which hap
pened at Balangiga. The 9th Infantry
which suffered there was the same organ
lzatlon that engaged in the latest fight at
Bangajen, although in this case the COM
pany involved is not known.
An inspection of the disposition made of
cen Smith s troops on the Island of Samar
shows that he had before the Balangiga fight
no less than thirty-eight separate posts.
Naturally these were, disposed around the
shores of the island, where supplies could
DC conveyed to the troops by water, for the
extremely mountainous interior would not
De possible as place for permanent posts,
owing to the difficulty Of getting in sup
plies through the country, which yields
nothing to maintain civilized force.
Gen. Hughes has left SSmar and gone to
the Island of Cebu to rec,iperate, which ac-
counts for the assumption of the command
on Samar by Gen. Smith. Gen Hughes was
worn fr1, out and suffered from the effects of
the mountains of Samar.
Gen. Huglless Report.
AS of interest in connection with the re-
port from samar Adjutant General Corbin
this morning made public a report by Gem
eral Hughes, to General Chaffee, dated Au-
gust 20, on the situation in that island.
General Hughes says: THE progress in
Samar is satisfa ctory in some ways and
not in others. The subduing of the fight
ing propensities of the war faction is re-
duced almost to nulfty. The growth of
our strength in the estimation of the peo
pie is also quite satisfactory. The fact is
their love for the flesh; pots, and incidental
ly for the Americans who represent said
pots, is growing burdensome as the Sc
curing OF the hemp with which to pay for
rice Is becoming a heavy business. In
nearly all our posts where the commander
has exercised good judgment, colonies of
natives have come in and settled and con-
Ga'est GUIDED they would set up their Lares and
differ in strength, but in this vicinity or be-
tween the Hibitan and the Gandara rivers
about 16,G,o have come in. In the interior,
Blanca Aurora, Taviran, Matuguinao,
Oquendo, etc, have their colonies. The
correspondence the troops have captured
Shows that the armed forces are desert
Ing and breaking away from military con-
troll of the Vicol leaders.
The unsatisfactory features are the slow
ness OF the process of conversion, the fall
ure to get the rifles and the slowness and
the difficulty in making roads and trails.
Every foot presents its peculiar obstacle,
but the troops are doing all that can be
Justly demanded Of them, and while ef-
forts have been made to push things faster
! am entirely satisfied with the results thus
far secured. inclose map which will
show the commanding general at glance
our situation, with the exception Of two
stations now on the map which it is hoped
to occupy when all the Infantry is in po-
SitiOn. The ndS small hI1t I
hope have not made a mistake in under
estimating the fighting ability of the forces
now in the field against us.
Uneasy About His Officers.
II would feel quite easy If all officers Of
the organization were present, but it is
fully appreciated that some Of the detach-
ments are commanded by officers who have
really never been shot over.
Just at this date the bulk of the rifles
seem to be in the region just west Of the
Catubig river. There are now five detach-
ments in there making 1t uncomfortable for
people-one the Pambujan, one on the
Mondragon two moving east from the up
per Chairman and one moving north from
Taviran and San Enrique. The Pambujan
mountain Is the objective, speaking gen.
orally, of all these detachments.r
THE people of Bohel seem to be grad
ually coming to the opinion that they made
a mistake and are showing symptoms Of
Our cause is growing stronger with the
people in Cebu, and while the outlaws there
will have to be roughly dealt with, there Is
no doubt that we will find much assistance
from the natives themselves in doing so. l
hope to be able to go over there in person
by the 1st of September and try and push
matters.
In Leyte the latest surrender was that
of the Chief Pacheeo. The Capilli brothers
are still out, and will probably have to be
killed; but to do SO it will be necessary to
find them, which is difficult. They have
not made eny aggressive move for months.
'Negros and Panay continue in entire
tranquility. 1t is my intention to leave one
battalion Of the 6tA Infantry and the Ma
tive Battalion in @Negros; in Panay six
companies of the 9Th Infantry, four troops
10th Cavalry and tWo batfalions of natives.
Two companies of the 9Th Infantry, ex-
pect to bring, temporarily. at least, to the
west coast Of Cehu."
Gen. ChaRee,s Report.
The following brief cablegram from Gen.
Chaffee, reporting the fight OF the 9th In
fantry Sin Samar yesterday, was received
at the War Department this afternoon:
"MANIEA.s October 1S.
"Corbin. Adjutant General Washington:
ment, United States infantry. under First
Lieut. George w. Wallace, in field, lower
Candara, Samar. were attacked by 400 bolo
men October 16. Our loss, ten killed. six
wounded; names not received Eighty-one
of the enemy left dead on the field. En-
emy beaten off.
(Signed) "CHAFFEE."
ANARCHIST GOES fO PRISON.