The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-15
HOW FUNSTON'S TRICK CAUGHT
 FILIPINO CHIEF
Leader of Villa Expedition Took Aguinaldo By Clev-
 CT Ruse.

When Major Gen. Frederick Fun ston, who in all probability will lead the American forces seeking Villa, captured the Filipino Chieftain, Eni- 1io Aguina1do, in 1901, he sent to Washington the following report of his exploit:
 "On Jan. fl, a special messenger of AguinaIdo's headquarters at Pa lanan, bearing letters to different gen. erals of his command and to insur- gents chiefs, asking for reinforce ments to be sent him, gave himself up to Lieut.. Taylor of the Twenty fourth Infantry, who immediately sent him to me at San Isidro. "He also had valuable information as to the whereabouts and the strength of Aguinaldo's band at that time. We found among them one in which Ball. domero Aguina1do was ordered to take command of the provinces of Central Luzon and requesting him to send as soon as possible 400 armed men to Aguina1do's camp.
 Native Soldiers Helped Him.
 Then and there I conceived the idea of arming and equipping a num- Der of native troops to pass off as their expected endorsements and to make an endeavof to trap Aguina1do in his lair. The expedition was made up of four Tagalos, who were former ly commanding officers in Aguinaldo's army, and who selected seventy-eight men of the Maccabebe scouts, all of whom could talk the Tagalo. I Ob- tained a number of captured insur- gents uniforms and ten Maccabebes were equipped with Remington and Mauser rifles.
 eve embarked on the gunboat Vicksburg and landed on March IA at 2 o'clock in the morning. The ex- petition was norninaIIy placed in com Of aa Colonel. After marching twenty miles we reached the town of Casiguran. We had sent word to the President of the town through native messengers that endorsements for AguinaldO were on the way through his town. The President was completely deceived. My troops had captured some months ago some official paper of Gen. La cuna, bearing his official stamp and seal. In order to make the decep- ton all the more complete we succeed 1 ed in forging the signature of Lacuna l to letters to Aguinaldo. These let ters were sent ahead and we followed. |
 The trip to Aguinaldo's camp was a most severe one upon the men. Our | food supply was entirely exhausted, l and my men were so weak that when | we reached within eight miles of Ag- | uinaldo's camp we could go no fur ther.
 Got Food From Aguina1do.
 we, therefore, sent a messenger ahead to AguinaIdo's camp, informing him of our plight and requesting that he send us food before we could go further. This was supplied, and the disguise and ruse adopted by us had | been complete. As we had told Az uina1do that we had American prison CTS he sent word that they be given their liberty
 ''As the Maccabebes approached the town the troops of Aguinaldo's body guard, consisting of fifty men, were drawn up in parade to receive the endorsements. The men who posed as officers of our expedi- ion marched into the camp and paid heir respects to Aguina1do, who re- ;eived them in. a large house built m the bank of the Palanan River.
 After the exchange of courtesiesl he officers excused themselves from Aguinaldo and his staff for a moment, stepped outside, and ordered their 4accabebe troops drawn up into line nd commanded them to commence ring into Aguinaldo's troops. The out of the insurgents was complete The ex-insurgent officers, the five americans, and several Maccabebe couts immediately made a rush for he house which was used as Aguin- Ido's headquarters, and took him risoner.
 Aguina1do, when first taken pris- ner, raved and swore at the decep- ion practieed upon him, but later &C., epted the situation with dignity