The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1901-04-06
HOW AGUINALDO WAS CAUGHT
FINE PIECE OF STRATEGY.
General Funston Tells the story OF
the ExPedition-Nany Harslships
Observation-Disclosures says Il
Mas "a smooth Trick.

MaICn d captured GenefAl Emilio
Aguinaldo, 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 IS at Pantabangan,
in the province OF Nueva Ecija, north
J 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 Alejandrino. 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
euna, incidentally obtaining Lacunas
seal, his papers and quantity of sign
ed correspondence. From this material
two letters were constructed, ostensibIy
from Lacuna to Aguinaldo. One of
these contained information as to the
progress Of Tie 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 IS
Maccabebes, all of whom spoke Taga-
log tiuently. Twenty wore insurgent
uniforms and the others the dress of
company, armed with so Mausers, eight
Remingtons and 10 KIag, 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
tcers, one being a Spaniard ana the
other three Tagalos, whom General
Funston trusted implicitly.
General Funston and the officers
wore plain blue shirts and khawt 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 the party
embarked on the United States gun
boat Vicksburg. 1t was originally in |
tended to take easeoes 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 q. m March IA the Vfcks- |
burg put her lights out and ran in /
shore % miles south Of Casiguran.
province Of Principle. The party land |
ed and marched to Casiguran. The |
Americans had never garrtsoned 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 az
their prisoners.
The insurgent presidente Of Casigu-
ran believed the story. Two of the La
cuna letters. previously concocted, were
forwarded to Aguinaldo at PaIanan.
province Of Isabella. General Funston
and the others we're kept imprisoned
for three days, surreptitiously giving
orders at night.
On the morning Of March II. taking Il
a small quantity of cracked corn, the
party started on a 90-mile march to
Palanan. The country is rough and
and provisions could not
be secured. The party ate small she'll (
fish, but were almost starved. Wading
swift rivers, climbing preelpitous
mountains and dense jungles, they Z
marched seven days and nights, and e
on March % had reached a point eight
miles from Palanan. They were now
so weak that it was necessary to send c
to Aguinaldo's camp for food. Aguin-
aldo dispatched supplies and directed $
mat the American prisoners be kindly q
treated but not allowed to enter the Ii
own. On the morning Of March % the
advance was resumed. The column was
met by the staff officers OF Aguinaldo
and detachment OF Aguinaldo's body /
guard, which was expected to take j
charge Of the Americans. While one q
Of the ex-insurgent officers conversed I
With Aguinaldo's aide, another, a Span 9
lard, sent courier to warn General +
Funston and the rest, who, with IL r
haccabebes, was about an hour behind. 4
Having received this warning General a
Funston avoided AguinaIdo's detach. I
nent and joined the column, avoiding i
observation. The Tagalos went ahead
o greet Aguilaldo, and the column
'lowly followed, arriving finally at
Aguinaldo's household troops, so i
men, in neat uniforms OF blue and s
White and wearing straw hats, lined up
o receive the newcomers. 4
General Funston's men crossed the 81
liver in small boats. formed on the b
'ank and marched to the right and 4
hen in front OF the insurgent grena-
iers The Tagalos entered the house
There Aguinaldo was.
Suddenly the Spanish officer. notie-
lg that Aguinaldo's aide was watching 4
he Americans suspiciously. exclaimed: A
Now. Maccabebes. go for them" b
The Maccabebes opened fire. but their i
i'm was rather Ineffective and only "
1ree insurgents were killed. The u
nhaIa raturnad tho a. n L..-s m