The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-23

SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 2s-Pr4vats ad-
wees from Manila. Philippine stands.
reached here today and are verified by aa
account that appears IN tt1S HongSong
press resolved per Relgsc thss morning.
The news contained n the comnUntSsagion
deals with the attack by che Spanish on
the Noveleta lsthmus and the attempt OF
she spanish 70 dtslodge che insurgents IN
Covite and Vleio. Al the end OF the cam
pa.gn, wnsca lasted unEl November "a.
The spanish authorities sent ogs DIS
patches reporting that the attack had been
successful and that the rebel loss was very
heavy. The Spanish cla-rned % have lost
about thlriy-five killed and 100 wounded.
Il * now learned that the great victory
the Cast.lians predicted ended In txno-
m.nious defeat. The rebels he'd Novele;a
against the warsh.ps and troops. and the
Spaniards retired suffering a heavy loss.
The spanish forces under Gen. Rics
We're divided into two brlgaass Of 7,0O9
men, each supported by the Spanish gun
boats in the bay. The insurgents num-
bered about u 2.eoo. a somewhat smaller
force than The spanish commanded. but
they We're strongly entreRched IN Covita
and Noveiets- Al the head of t7le Move.
leta peninsula the ground was honey
conbe1 Win rife p4ss. aDd TIE town de-
Tended from assault by eartaworks plant
ed with rapid-fire cannon and several
p.eeeS OF nraNN artillery.
Gen. Rios attacked the first line OF re-
doubts at Noveleta, and the rebels fell
back 20 the main line Of defense. a mile
in the rear OF the picket line. The Span
isa had their plans well arranged. TAsy
placed the cruiser Castillo close In shore,
and with her guns covered the attack OF
the royal troops. TIE cruisers shells
reached the outside defenses o. the reo-
els but had little effect on The defenseE of
he seff Fgy 81 ggsf nj "a ~ 'FsA X
Sunday. November S, and by D. m. the
insurgents outer works had been evacu-
ated.
Then general attack followed. Rios
throwing the main body OF mis- first bri-
gade against the rebei entrencments- The
gunboats opened nre on the enemy, but
owing 10 bad gunnery failed 20 cause any
damage 10 the defenses. The Cardelis.
the closest to Covite, was fully six miles
from the town. and AL OF her shells fell
short, owing 20 the extreme elevation
given the ships cannon.
When Rios men reached the insurgents
works a terrific fire was opened on them.
They marched forward resolately unel
the rife pits commenced 10 beich fire.
moving down the front ranks The coll
umn falfered, then retreated slowly under
q heavy nle. The Spanish troops We're
in the open and subjected TO the fun ef-
feet OF the fire. Had the rebels gnnnery
been koOc, tasy NouEu nave otSh SAAHshA-
cred
on the morning OF November the
Spanish were hack IN their camp again
and had repaired the remnants OF their
first brigade. The second brigade had suf-
fered very little. The steamer Isabel l.
and small transport were used 20 fetch
the wounded 10 port from the peninsula.
Al least 900 wounded were brought from
the battlefield.
on Wednesday. November II. Rios pre-
pared and headed second attack on
Noveleta. He threw his entire army
against the redoubts but was routed with
heavy loss In the first attack. The gun
boats failed 10 aid the troops to any ex-
tent. their shots falling short.
The Spanish did not attempt TO renew
the attack, but waited until the morning
OF November IA. when a weak effort was
made 20 flank the rebels. the failure OF
which ended the fighting for the time be-
ing.