The National tribune., 1901-04-04
THE CAPTURE OF AGu1NALpo.

/
The capture of Aguinaldo was a feat OF
the genuinely electrifying kind, such as
| has shed luster on tire American arms in
| every struggle in which we have been en-
gagged. 1t is like Decatur's destruction
\ of the frigate Philadelphia, Gushing
| blowing up of the rebel ram Albemarle,
and many other achievements which could
| be enumerated, which show that We never
| lack not only men of the highest courage,
but those also who have the ability to
| cope with and master the most adverse
| conditions that can confront them.
Decatur found the captured Philadel-
phia in the harbor of Tripoli, surrounded
by the enemy's fleet, and under the heavy
guns of the forts. He resorted to n
stratagem to get inside the harbor and
alongside of her, where he settled matters
by desperate fight on her decks with su-
perior numbers.
By stratagem Gushing succeeded in get
ting his handful of men alongside the Al
bemarle, where they blew her side in with
a torpedo, and then took their chances
with her infuriated crew and other de-
tenders.
Funston's exploit was as desperate as
either of these. He took his life and
those of the devoted band which accom-
panied him in his own hands when he pen
etrated through a wild and hostile coun-
try, directly into the camp Of the leader of
the insurrection, and captured him in the
midst of his bodyguards. and what re-
mained of the forces with which he las
been waging war against the United States
for two years. AT any moment from the
time of starting a massacre Of the whole
party was imminent and most probable
from the treachery, or indiscretion even,
of some Of the members. A failure at
the critical moment to carry out every de-
tail of the complicated plan would have
resulted in the same bloody massacre.
There was no certainty, either, in the in
formation as to the numbers that would
have to be dealt with when AguinaldOs
headquarters were reached.
Like Decaturs and Cushing's exploits,
almost every chance but one was against
success. Funston took that one chance,
and won.
The Regular Army clique in the War
Department, naturally, attempted, through
its syndicate of correspondents, to pooh
pooh and belittle the achievement of vol
unteer, but the people recognized it too
overwhelmingly to be denied. The Presi-
dent understood this, and promptly and
properly rewarded Funston by Brigadier-
Generalship in the Regular Army. There
upon went up wall that in the nature
of things the army would be commanded
for 10 years by volunteer. AS if the
Army of the United States has not nearly
always been commanded by volunteers.
Twelve out of 19 commanders were ap-
pointed from civil life, and they have COM
manded it for IS Of the 112 years it has
been in existence. The remainder of the
time it was commanded by Mcclellan,
Halleck, Grant, Sherman, Sheridan and
Schofeld, who got all their rank and repu-
tation by service with the volunteers.
There is another qualification to the vet
Grams, in that Funston is the son Of vet
eran. His father was a good soldier, and
First Lieutenant of the 18th Ohio Bat
terry.
The effect of the capture, both military
and moral, can not help being prodigious.
In a military way it takes from the in
surgents their head and chief inciter and
ulTectOr. lne TeUeiiiou Gull uol uoW uelp
collapsing into spasmodc guerrilla raids
which will be promptly and effectively
handled by Lieutenants and Sergeants.
The moral effect will be conclusive. Like
all semi-civilized peoples, a leader is every
thing to the Filipinos. All their leaders
are now in American hands. There will
be no further thought of resistace.
The demonstration of the thorough and
far-reaching character of the Americans
will be most impressive. The Spaniards
contented themselves with defending them
selves in their towns, with occasional puni-
tive raids into the surrounding country,
which never reached the leaders. On the
other hand, the Americans show a strenu-
Gus disposition to hunt every enemy to his
hole, and kill or capture him. This will
have the most powerful influence in paci-
flying the country. The way in which
Funston succeeded in penetrating to Ag-
uinaldo's distant and inaccessible retreat,
and capturing him in the midst Of his fol-
lowers, will have paralyzing effect upon
other would-be leaders. and upon the peo-
pie who look up to them. 1t showed an
American superiority of courage, deter
mination, and willy strategy that will be
moct conclusive fo the EiiipinoS