LUKBAN
of the enemy before he was killed. The Americans who were besieged in Gandara escaped at night to their main headquarters in Calbayog. Terrified, the Americans had to withdraw several of the detachments at Tauiraro, Matuginao, Calbiga and Loquilocon. 10
On his return to Matuginao, Guevarra reported that he had repulsed the enemy numbering 150 who had attempted to take the garrison. The Americans accordingly lost more than 50, including one captain and a lieutenant and an infantry lieutenant, while his forces lost 2 soldiers and six bolomen. 11
Rebel headquarters at Matuginao
Lukban and his leaders finally decided on Matuginao as their center of operations as it was in a mountainous terrain and closer to food supplies. Here they set up their makeshift arsenal that fabricated ammunition and cartridges. Once more, they used shells made of galvanized iron from the roof of churches and convents that were burned. Here they received contributions from all over the province like palay, rice, provisions of all kinds, including meat, salted and fresh, canned goods, wine and money – all of these voluntary. Up to the last week of March, they had collected 3,250 pesos, more than half of which they sent to the national treasury, and the remainder to meet the expenses of his soldiers and their arsenal. But his soldiers refused their salaries. 12
Once more in his solitary moments, Lukban issued his proclamations, and his lessons in guerrilla warfare directed to his troops, and unleashed a barrage of counter arguments against American propaganda. Like the Americans, he understood that he was not just waging tactical battles but that the war for the hearts and minds of the residents of Samar was just a crucial for the ultimate victory.
He divided the province into 6 districts. At the head of each district was a sub-delegate to manage the administrative and military affairs. Initially, Lukban would not divulge the identity of these men, but these were supposed to be“ worthy men, who do not abuse, but work well and are active.” This way, each district commander could conduct his own operations against the enemy independent of the other districts. The overall command was still Lukban. 13 But later, he announced that Col. Narciso Abuke was assigned as area commander for northern Samar, Col. Claro Guevara western Samar, and Capt. Eugenio Daza for south eastern Samar. 14
His lessons on guerrilla warfare continued in his circulars to his men in the field. He wrote:
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