He felt that no fame could be too great for such a man, and no praise
too strong.
The commanding general decided, about this time, to begin a more
active campaign against the insurgents. It was now the month of
December, and with the beginning of the new year he wanted to
inaugurate a series of attacks against them in every part of the
islands. He was beginning to feel the criticisms of the papers at
home, and of the newspaper men at Manila, and he felt that something
must be done immediately to retrieve his lost reputation for active
fighting. Every one, as soon as this announcement was made, wondered
what plan would be pursued to worry the rebels into submission, for it
was now generally agreed that the Americans would hardly be able to
capture the whole rebel army. It was too evident that they were
familiar with numerous hiding-places in the islands. The only thing to
do seemed to be to prevent their getting supplies, and to drive them
from one point to another, hoping that they would become discouraged
in the end and submit to the inevitable.
So far the campaigning had consisted chiefly of such expeditions as
that accompanied by Archie, and most of these had returned to Manila
without having even seen a rebel soldier. It was not surprising, then,
that the general was becoming discouraged, and that he was anxious to
try a new policy.
No one knew what the new plan would be until one day several cruisers
and gunboats made their appearance in the harbour.
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