The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-12-26
THE SPANISH DEFEATED
BLOODY BATTLE IN PHILIPPINE
ISLANDS WITH INSURGENTS.
Two Attacks, Assisted by Gunboats,
Repulsed by an Inferior Force
of Islanders.

San Francisco, Dec. 22.-Private adj
vices from Manila, Philippine Islands,
arrived here today, and 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 4sthmus
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-
resenting that the attack had been sue
cessful, and that the rebel loss was very
heavy. The Spanish claimed to have lost
about So 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
iards retired after suffering heavy loss.
The Spanish forces under General Rios
were divided into two brigades of 1000
men each, supported by the Spanish gun
boats in the bay.
The insurgents numbered about 1900.
bul luty were SlIOuBlJ III
Cavite and Noveleta. At the head of
the Noveleta peninsula the ground was
honeycombed 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
the main line of defense, a mile in the
| Of M, Iod
Rios Driven Back.
their plans well 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 o'clock Sunday,
| November s. and by o'clock In the af-
ternoon the insurgents outer works had
| been evacuated. Then a general attack
| followed, Rios throwing the main body
| of his first brigade against the rebel en-
| trenchments. The gunboats opened fire
on the enemy, but owing to bad gunnery
| failed to cause any damage to the de-
lenses. The Cardelia, the closest to Cav
lite. 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 terrific fire was opened on them.
They marched forward resoutely until
the rifle pits began to belch forth, moving
down the front ranks. The column fal.er-
ed, then retreated slowly, under heavy
fire. The Spanish troops were in the open
and subjected to the full effect of the fire.
Had the rebels gunnery been good, Rios
could have been slaughtered.
On the morning of the 9th the Spanish
were 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 1. and a small
transport were used to bring the wounded
to a port in the peninsula. At least SEQ
wounded we're brought from the battle
field.
Routed N Second Time.
On Wednesday, November II, Rios pre-
pared and headed a second attack on Now
eleta. 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 action, but waited
until the morning of November IA, when a
weak effort was made to flank the rebels,
the failure of which ended the fighting for
the time being.
Germany Sends warship.
Hong Kong, Dec. 22.-The German war;
ship TIRE 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 tha~a