The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-23
Spaniards in the Philippines the
Champion Liars.
WHIPPED BY INSURGENTS
THEY SEND OUT REPORTS OF A
GREAT VICTORY.
Although the Spaniards Greatly Out
numbered the Insurgents, the Lat
ter's Good Military Tactics Caused
the Former a Very Disastrous
Defeat-Looked Like a seal Bat
tie.

san FRANCISCO, Lee. zz--tEVdLe dQ-
vices from Manila, Philippine islands
reached here today. and are verified
by an account that appears in the
Hong Kong Press. received per Belgic
this morning. The news contained in
the communication deals with the at
tack by the Spanish on the Noveleta
isthmus, and the attempt of the
Spanish to dislodge the insurgents in
Cavite and Viejo. At the end of the
campaign, which lasted until the 14th
of November, the Spanish authorities
sent out dispatches reporting that the
attack had been successful, and that
the rebel loss was very heavy. The
Spanish claimed to have lost about 30
killed and 100 wounded. 1t is now
learned that the great victory that
Castillians predicted ended in ignomin-
ious defeat. The rebels held Noveleta
against warships and troops. The
Spaniards retired 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 l.
600, a smaller force than the Spanish
commanded, but they were strongly
entrenched in Cavite and Noveleta. At
the head of the Noveleta peninsula,
the ground was honeycombed with
rifle pits, and the town defended from
assault by earthworks planted with
rapid fire cannon and several pieces
of heavy artillery.
Rios attacked the first line of re-
doubts at NOveleta and the rebels fell
back to the main line of defense a
mile in the rear of the picket line. The
Spanish had their plans well arranged.
They placed the cruiser Castillo close
in shore and with her guns covered the
aattack of the royal troops. The
cruisers shells reached the outside de-
fences of the rebels, but had little
effect on the defenses of the city.
The fire started at 9 o'clock Sun
day. Nov. s, and by l p. m. the in
surgents' outer works had been evacu-
ated.
Then a general attack followed, Rios
throwing the main body of his first
brigade against the rebel entrench-
ments. The gunboats opened fire on
the enemy, but owing to bad gunnery,
failed to cause any damage to the de-
lenses. The Cardela, the closest to
Cavite was fully six miles from the
town, and all of her shells fell short.
owing to the extreme elevation given
the ships cannon.
Wnen KOS men reached Ine IN
'surgents' works, a terrific fire was
opened on them. They marched for
ward resoIutely until the rife pits
commenced TO belch fire, moving down
the front ranks. The column faltered,
and 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 would have been
slaughtered.
On the morning of the 9th, the
Spanish were back in their camp again
and had repaired the remnants of the
first brigade. The second brigade had
suffered very little.
The steamers Isabel First. and a
small transport were used to fetch the
wounded TO Port Grom the peninsula.
At least 500 wounded were brought
from the battlefield.
On Wednesday. Nov. II. Rios pre-
pared and headed a second attack on
Noveleta. 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 attack, but waited until the morn
ing of the 18th. when a weak effort
was made to flank the rebels, the fail
ure of which ended the fighting for the
time being.