LUKBAN
Chapter 3
The Chase Continues
As soon as the fighting erupted in Catbalogan , the American detachment at Calbayog prepared to block the forces of Lukban in case they retreated towards Calbayog . As in most towns that they occupied , the Americans selected the municipal tribunal building as their battalion headquarters , with the lower portion used as the adjutant ’ s office and commissary storehouse , while the upper storey became the sleeping quarters of the battalion commander Gilmore and his staff . Another large public building served as the guardhouse .
A tip from a local informant about the existence of an arsenal sent a group of soldiers scouring the countryside for it , even if it was located several miles into the interior – only to find out that everything had been removed , save for a can of sulphur . The next day , on January 27 , another information sent the detachment hurrying to the town of Sta . Margarita , about five miles southeast on the coast . They came back with a useless homemade cannon . Then on the 28 th , another detachment was dispatched to the town of San Jose because , according to reports , that was where the rebel forces had retreated after the fight in Catbalogan . The detachment returned at nightfall , unable to reach the town because there were no guides . It was impossible to make inquiries since no one in the group spoke the language of the locality . Another detachment sent along the Hibatang River likewise returned frustrated .
But the Americans succeeded in using natives as puppet municipal presidents . They could spot out locals who would toe their garrison policies and faithfully implement them . In Calbayog , they appointed Rufino Pido as the president , while in San Policarpio , they had Luis Villas . These were ordered to police their respective municipalities and provide lighting in the streets . They also informed on the rebels .
Again Gilmore tried to reach San Jose on the 30 th . The detachment reached it on nightfall but reported no rebel activity . So their best bet was on Gandara as Lukban ’ s fallback position from the Catbalogan firefight . Gilmore was determined to cut off his retreat . Securing a sailboat owned by Mr . Scott , the American representative of Warner ,
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