Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-23
REBELS HOLD THEIR POSITIONS.
Advices Of spanish Reverse In the
phIIipnIne IsInnhs.


SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 22.-Private ad-
vices from Manila, Philippine islands
reached here today and are verified by an
Press received by the Belgc 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 dislodge the insurgents in Ca
vite and Nejo. At the end OF the campaign
which lasted until November IL, the Span
ish authorities sent out dispatches report
ing that the attack had been successful and
that the rebel loss was very heavy. The
Spanish claimed to have lost about thirty
five killed and about 100 wounded. 1t Is
learned that the great victory that the Cas-
tillians predicted ended in gnominous de-
feat. The rebels held Noveleta against war
ships and troops. The Spaniards retired
after suffering heavy loss.
The Spanish forces under General Rios
were divided into two brigades Of 1000 each
supported by the Spanish gunboats in the
bay. The insurgents numbered about l20OO
but they were strongly entrenched in Ca
vite and Noyeleta. At the head Of the Nov
eleta 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 artil-
lery. Rios attacked the first line of redoubts
at Noveleta and the rebels fell back to the
main line of defense mile in the rear of
the picket line. The Spaniards had their
plans well arranged. They placed the
cruiser Castillo close in shore and their
guns covered the attacks OF the royal rebels,
but had little effect on the defenses of the
city. The fight started at o'clock on sun
day. November s, and by l o'clock in the
afternoon the insurgents outer works had
been evacuated. Then a general attack fol-
lowed. Rios throwing the main body OF his
G~gt Irfy 40 agrniFo OF hn
ments. The gunboats opened fire on the
enemy but owing to bad gunnery failed to
cause any damage to the defenses. The
Cardelia, 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.
When Rios men reached the insurgents
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 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. The morning
of the 9th the Spaniards were back in their
camp again, and had repaired the remnants
Of the First brigade. The Second brigade
had suffered very little. The steamers lsa-
bel | and a small transport were used to
fetch the wounded to port from the PENN
sula At least 500 wounded were brought
from the battlefield. On Wednesday, No
vember H. Rios prepared 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 Span
ish did not attempt to renew the action,
but waiting until the morning OF the IAN,
when weak effort was made TO flank the
rebels, the failure Of which ended the fight
ing for the time being.