The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-23
SPANISH FORCES DEFEATED.
The Rebels in the Philippines Win
Great Victory.

San Francisco, Cal, Dec. 22.-Private ad-
vices from Manila, Philippine Islands,
reached here yesterday and are verified
by an account that appears in the Hong
Kong Press. received here on the Belgic
this morning. The news contained In the
communication deals with the attack by
the Spanish on the Noveleta Isthmus, and
attempt of the Spanish 20 dislodge the In
surgents in Cavite and Viejo.
AT the end Of the campaign, which lasted
until the l4th of November, the Spanish
authorities sent out dispatches reporting
that the attack had been successful and
Spanish claimed to have lost about thirty
hve killed and 100 wounded. 1t Is now
learned that the great victory that the
Castilians predicted ended In gnominlous
defeat. The rebels held Noveleta against
the warships and troops. The Spaniards
retired after suffering heavy losses.
The Spanish forces under Gen Rios were
divided into two brlgades of 1000 men each,
supported by the Spanish gunboats in the
bay. The insurgents numbered about H.
0uO, somewhat smaller force than the
Spanish commander, but they were
strongly entrenched in Cavite and Novele-
ia. Az the head of the Noveleta Peninsus
Ia the ground was honey-combed with
rihleplts, and the town defended from as
sault by earthworks planted with rarid
hre cannon and several pieces of heavy
artillery. Gen. Rios attacked the first
liue Oh fe-uouDtS at NoVeieta, ana the
rebels fell back to the main line of de-
fense, mile in the rear OF the picket line
The Spanish had their plans well arrang-
ed. They placed the cruiser Castillo close
In shore and with her guns covered the
attack of the royal troops The shells
from the cruisers fell outside the defenses.
The Tight began at o'clock Sunday,
NOV. 3, and by ! o'clock the outer works
OF the insurgents had been evacuated.
Then general attack followed, Gen. Rios
throwing the main body of his brigade
against the rebel entertainments. The gun
boats opened fire on the enemy, but owing
to bad gunnery failed to cause any dam
age to the defense. The Cardela, the ship
closest to Cavlte was fully six miles from
the town, and all of her shells fell short.
When Gen. Rios men reached the insur-
gents works a terrific fire was opened on
them. They marched forward resolutely
until the rife pits commenced to belch
forth fire, moving down the front ranks
The column faltered, then retreated slow
ly under heavy fire. The Spanish troops
were in the open and subject to the full
effect OF the fire. Had the gunnery of the
rebels been good Gen. Rios would have
been slaughtered.
On the morning of the 9th the Span
ish were back In their camp again, and had
repaired the remnants of the first brigade.
The brigade had suffered very little. The
steamer Isabella and a small transport
were used to fetch the wounded to port
from the peninsula. At least 800 wounded
were brought from the battlefield on
Wednesday, Nov. II. Gen. Rios prepared
and headed a second attack on Noveleta.
He threw his entire army against the re-
doubts, and was routed with heavy loss IN
the first attack. The gun boats failed to
aid the troops TO any. extent, their shots
falling short The Spanish did not at
tempt to renew the attack, but waited un-
til the morning of the 18th when a weak
effort was made to flank the rebels the
failure Of which ended the fighting for the