Page:Under MacArthur in Luzon.djvu/257

Rh should land his forces at San Fabian beach and press the rebels from the west. Thus it was hoped Aguinaldo's main army would be hemmed in and forced to surrender.

General Arthur MacArthur, Ben's new commander, had been conspicuous in Philippine warfare ever since the outbreak of February 4. He was a born soldier, having entered the Civil War as first lieutenant of the Twenty-fourth Wisconsin Infantry when but seventeen years of age. A year later, for conspicuous bravery, he was decorated with a medal of honor, and at the age of nineteen he became the commander of a regiment which accomplished much under his daring leadership. When the great rebellion ended, he entered the regular service as a lieutenant, but speedily arose to the position of captain. From this his progress was steady until, when the trouble in the Philippines broke out, he was sent to the islands as a brigadier general of volunteers. For services at the taking of the capital he was appointed major-general of volunteers by President McKinley. Although over fifty years of age, he was in the prime of manhood and as full of vigor and dash as ever.

The transfer to Angeles was not unwelcome to Ben, for this meant getting closer to the territory where