The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-12-24
SLAUGHTER THE DONS.
Spaniards Suffer Defeat in the
Philippine Islands.
REBELS GET THE BEST OF THEM.

They Lay Hone, comb 81 Rihepits ir
Front OF Cavite and WHO. and Nov Down
the spanish Army without Mercy
Gunboats Open Fire on the Insurgents
but DO Little Damage Owing to BAD
Gunnery.
San Francisco. Dec. 2i-Private adj
vises from Manila. Philippine islands
reached here Wednesday. and are veri-
fed by an account that appears in the
Hong Kong press received by the Bel
gic. The news deals with the attack
by the Spanish on the Noveleta 18TH
mus. and the attempt of the Spanish TO
dislodge the insurgents in Cavite and
WHO. At the end OF the campaign,
which lasted until Nov. II. the Spanish
authorities sent out dispatches report
ing that the attack had been success
full, and that the rebel loss was very
heavy. The Spanish claimed to have
lost about thirty-five killed and 100
wounded. 1t is now learned that the
great victory" of the Castilians was
an ignominious defeat. The rebels held
Noveleta against warships and troops.
AFTER 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 1900.
They were strongly intrenched in Ca
wife and Noveleta.
Honeycombed with RiHepits.
At the head of the Noveleta PENN
sula the ground was honeycombed with
rifiepits, and the town was defended
from assault by earthworks. planted
with rapid-fire 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 Dononze, mile in the rear of
the picket line. The Spanish had their
plans well arranged. They placed the
cruiser Castillo close -inshore and their
guns covered the attacks Of the royal
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 9 o'clock on sun
day, Nov. S. and by / o'clock in the
afternoon the insurgents outer works
had been evacuated. Then a general
oNNe~Nh AO4iOhEls MUS lDIOMlIk lDe /
main body Of bis first brigade against
the rebel intrenchments. The gunboats
opened fire on the enemy, but owing
TO bad gunnery. failed 10 cause any
damage 10 the defenses. The Cardelia
was fully six miles from Cavite, and all !
Of her shells fell short, owing to the |
great trajectory. When Rios men I
reached the insurgents works a ter !
riff fire.
marched forward resolutely until the /
rifiepits opened fire. moving down the
front ranks.
Reiterated Cnder Heavy Fire.
The column faltered. then retreated J
slowly under heavy fire. The Spanish !
troops were in the open and subjected |
TO the full effect of the fire. If the |
rebel gunnery had been good Rios |
army would have been slaughtered. |
The morning of the 9Th the Spanish 1
were back in their camp again. and |
had repaired the remnants of the first =
brigade. The second brigade had suf- /
fered very little.
The steamer Isabella l. and a small
transport were used to fetch the
wounded to port from the peninsula. 4
At least 500 wounded were brought
from the battlefield Wednesday, Nov.
IL. Rios prepared and headed a second .
attack on Noveleta. He threw his en- |
tire army against the redoubts and was |
routed with heavy loss in the first at
tack. The gunboats failed 10 aid the !
troops to any extent. their shots falling
short The Spanish did not attempt /
TO renew the action, but waited until
the morning of the 14th. when a weak
effort was made to flank the rebels, the
failure of which ended the fighting fol /
the time being.