The herald., 1896-12-23
Visited Upon Spanish Forces at
Manila
FALSE REPORTS ARE ISSUED
And the Usual Claims of Signal Victory
Made
In Order to Secure the Success of the
Next Loan the Real Conditions
Are Concealed.


advices from Manila, Philippine islands,
reached here today and are verified by
an account in the Hongkong press re-
ceived by the steamer Belgic this morn
ing. The news contained in the COM
munication deals with the attack by the
Spanish on Noveleta isthmus and the a.
tempt of the Spanish to dislodge the in"
surgents in Cavite and Viejo. At the
end Of the campaign, which lasted until
the 18th of November, the Spanish au-
thorities sent out dispatches reporting
that the attack had been successful and
that the rebel loss was very heavy. The
Spanish claimed to have lost about
thirty-five killed and one hundred
wounded. 1t is now learned that the
great victory that the Castillians pre-
dicted ended in ignominious defeat. The
rebels held Noveleta against warships
and troops. The Spaniards retired af-
ter suffering heavy loss.
The Spanish forces under General
Rios were divided into two brigades Of
1000 men each. supported by the Spanish
gunboats in the bay. The insurgents
numbered about L., 900 men, somewhat
smaller force than the Spanish COM
manded, but they were strongly en-
trenched in Cavite and Noveleta. At the
head of the Noveleta peninsula the
ground was honeycombed with rifle pits
and the town defended from assault by
earthworks planted with rapid fire can
non and several pieces of artillery.
Rios attacked the first line of redoubts
at Noveleta and the rebels fell back TO
the main line of defense, a mile in the
rear of the picket line. The Spanish had
their plans well arranged. They placed
the cruiser Castillo close iushore, and
with her guns covered the attack of the
royal troops. The cruisers SHELLS reach
ed the outside defenses of the rebels,
but had little effect on the defenses of
the city. The fight started at 9 o'clock
Sunday, November Sth, and by / .. nl..
the Insurgents outer works had been
evacuated.
Then a general attack followed. Rios
casting the main body of his first brigade
against the rebel intrenchments. The
gunboats opened fire on the enemy but,
owing to bad gunnery, failed to cause
ally damages to the defenses. The Car
della, the closest to Cavite. was fully
six miles from the town and all of her
shells fell short owing to the extreme
elevation given to the ships cannon.
When Rios men reached the insur-
gents works terrific fire was opened on
them. They marched forward resolute-
ly until the riflepits commenced to belch
fire. moving down the front ranks. The
column faltered then retreated slowly
under heavy fire.
The Spanish troops were in the open
and subjected to the full effect of the
fire. Had the rebel gunners been good
Rios could have been slaughtered.
On the morning of the 9th the Spanish
were back in their camp again and had
repaired the remnants of the first brig
ade. The Second brigade had suffered
very little. The steamer Isabel /. and a
small transport were used to fetch the
wounded to port from the peninsula
At least 500 wounded We're brought from
the battlefield.
prepared and headed a second attack
on Noveleta. He threw his entire army
against the redoubts and was routed
with heavy loss in the first attack. The
gunboats failed to aid the troops to any
extent, their shot falling short. The
Spanish did not attempt to renew the
attack but waited until the morning of
the l4th, when a weak effort was made
to flank the rebels the failure of which
ended the fighting for the time being
OFFICIAL LYING
LONDON. Dec. GA Madrid dis
patch to the Daily Mail says: I'm order
to insure the success of the next loan.
the government is straining every nerve
to conceal the true situation in the
Philippines. The whole colony is in re-
volt and scattered bodies of Spanish
troops have been hemmed in by the
rebels. 1t is rumored that certain pro-
portion of German reserve officers are
in the inslrgent ranks.
TROUBLE AT HOME.
MADRID. Dec. 22.-The Correspon-
dencia asserts that the gendarmes have
dispersed small revolutionary band
that has been organized near this city.
An official denial was published of this
report but an official telegram was pub
lished here stating that the gendarmes
had dispersed band of ten men bear
ing republican flag at Novelda in the
province of Alicante. in southern Spain.
1t is further reported officially that sew
en- of the men'were killed and a number
of dynamite bombs have been seized.
The cabinet meeting today was presid-
ed over by Senor Canovas del Castillo,
president of the council. The cabinet
decided not to make any reply to Presi-
Dent Cleveland's message through dip
lomatic channels.
A WARSHIP COMING.
HONGKONG, Dec. 22.-The German
warship Irene, with Admiral Tirpitz on
board, has sailed for Manila under or
ders from Berlin to protect German sub
jects and the subjects of other powers
iii the event of severe fighting which is
there.