Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1896-12-26
THE SPANISH DEFEATED
BLOODY BATTLE IN PHILIPPINE
ISLANDS WITH INSURGENTS.
Eepuised by an Inferior Force
of Islanders.

! San Francisco, Dec. 22.-Private ad-
vices from Manila, Philippine Islands,
arrived here today, ana are verified by
an account that appears in the Hong
! Kong Press, received per steamer Belgic
! This morning. The news contained IN
/ the communication deals with the attack
/ by the Spanish on the Noveleta isthmus
and the attempt of the Spanish to dis
/ lodge the insurgents in Cavite and Viejo.
At the end of the campaign, which last
! ed until the 14th Of November, the Span
| ish authorities sent out dispatches rep
! 1esenting that the attack had been sue
! cessful, and that the rebel loss WAS very
! heavy. The Spanish claimed to have lost
about 80 killed and 100 wounded. 1t is
| now learned that the great victory that
the Castillians predicted ended IN ignomi-
nous defeat. The rebels held Noveleta
| against Warships and troops. The Span
| ards retired after suffering heavy loss.
| The Spanish forces under General Rios
6ere divided into two brigades of 10,l0
men each. supported by the Spanish gun
coats in the bay.
The insurgents numbered about II. 600,
gut they We're strongly entrenched IN
the Noveleta peninsula the ground was
! aoneycombed with rifle pits and the town
defended from assault by earth works
planted with rapid firing cannon and
several pieces of heavy artillery.
Rios attacked the first line of redoubts
At Noveleta and the rebels fell back to
he main line of defense, a mile in the
rear of the picket line. The Spanish had
Rios Driven Back.
their plans we'll arranged They placed
the cruiser Castillo close in shore, and
with her guns covered the attack of the
troops. The cruisers shells reached the
outside defenses Of the rebels but had
little effect on the defenses of the city
The fight started at 8 o'clock Sunday.
November S, and by l o'clock in the af-
ternoon the insurgents outer works had
been evacuated. Then Il general attack
followed, Rios throwing the main body
Of his first brigade against the rebel en-
trcmchments The gunboats opened fire
cn the enemy. but owing to bad sl1nnery
failed to cause any damage to the de
fenses. The Cardelia. the closest to Cav
lie, 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 insurgent
works a terrific fire was opened on them.
They marched forward resolutely until
the rifle pits began to belch forth, moving
down the front ranks. The column falter-
en, then retreated slowly, under heavy
fire. The Spanish troops We're in the open
and subjected TO the full effect of the tire.
Had the rebels gunnery been good, Rios
~ ID have been slaughtered.
On the morning of the 9th the Spanish
We're back in their camp again and had re-
paired the remnants Of the First Brigade
The Second brigade had suffered very lit
tie. The steamers Isabelle /. and a small
transport We're used to bring the wounded
to a port in the peninsula. AT least SEQ
wounded were brought from the battle
field.
Routed Second Time.
On Wednesday, November II, Rios pre-
pared and headed a second attack on Nov
eleta. He threw his entire army against
the redoubts and was routed with heavy
loss in the first attack. The gun5oets
failed to aid the troops to any extent their
shot falling short. The Spanish did not
attempt to renew the action. but waited
until the morning of November H. when a
weak effort was made to flank the rebels.
the failure of which ended the fighting tor
the time being.
Germany Sends :. W:irshiu.
Hong Kong, Dee. 22.-The German wlr-
ship IRE has sailed for Manila under or
ders to protect German subjects and the
subjects OF other powers, in the event of
severe fighting which is anticipated there.