The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1896-12-28
SPANIARDS MEET
A WATERLOO
Philippine Island Insurgents Drive the
Regulars Back.
FIVE HUNDRED ARE WOUNDED
Gunboats Aided the Army but the
Rebels Defeated the Forces by
Land and Sea Easily.

San Francisco. Cal, December 22.-Pri-
waite advices from Manila, Philippine ISL
ands. reached here today. 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
the attempt Of the Spanish 20 dislodge
the insurgents in Cavite and Viefo.
At the end of the campaign. which lasted
until the 18th 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 thirty
five killed and a hundred wounded
it is now learned that the great victory
that the Castlians predicted ended in igno-
minious defeat. The rebels held Noveleta
against warships and troops. The Spanish
forces under General Rios were dlNlded
into two brigades Of 1850 men eacn, sup
ported by the Spanish gunboats IN the
bay. The insurgents numbered about l.
coo a somewhat smaller force than the
Spanish commanded. but they were strong
" entrenched in Cavite ana Noveleta-
At the head Of the Noveleta peninsula
together was honeycombed with rifle PITS
and the town defended from assault ny
earthworks planted with rapid fire cannon
and several pieces Of heavy artillery. Rios
AT the head OF the first line Of recruits Of
Nevela and the rebels fell back 70 the
main line Of defense. a mile in the rear
of the Dicket line. Tie Spanish had their
plans well arranged. They placed the cru
iser Castillo close in shore and with her
guns covered the attack Of the royal
troops The cruisers shells reached the
outside defenses OF the rebels but rad
little effect on the defenses Of the city
The fight began at . o'clock Sunday, No.
veuber Sth. and by j p n the insurgents
outer works had been evacuated
Five Hundred Spaniards Wounded
Then a general attack followed, Rios
throWin-, the main body Of mis- hrst Dri-
eade against the rebel entertainments.
The e1lnboats opened fire on the enemy,
but owing To bad guurery failed TO cause
any damage TO the defenaes-
The Cardala, the closest 10 Cavite, was
fully six miles from the town and all OF
her shells fell snort. When Ross men
reached -he iTsUr--uts' WORKS q terrific
fire was opened on them.
They marched forward resolutely until
the rifle pits commenced to beieh forth
fire moving down the front ranks. Tho
column faItered, then retre2-ed slowly
under heavy fire.
The Spanish troops were I'm the open and
subjected to the fuu effect of the fire. Had
the rebels gunuery been good Rios men
would heve been slaughtered ON the morn
ing of the gth the Spanish We're back III their
caui, again and had repaired the remnants
Of the first brigade
The second brigade had suffered very lit
tie. The steamer ISABEL I and q small
transport were used 70 fetch the wounded
to port from the peninsula At least 90
wounded were brought from the batueneld-
on Wednesday. November nth. RIOS pre-
q arr 81
Ieta.
He threw his entire army against the re
doubts and was routed with heavy loss In
the first attack. The gunboats failed 10
aid the troops to any extent, their shot fall
ing short The Spanish did not attempt to
renew tine attack. but waited until the
morning of the 18th, when a weak effort
was made 10 flank the rebels, the failure
OF which ended the fighting for the time
being.
What Spanish Rule Means
In private advices received from the
Philippine Islands count for anything, the
moral force of the United States in tanning
Spanish cruelty in cuba must be consider
able. There is no hetrodoXy in the Philip
pines. The rack and the thumbscrew ara
being freely used 20 eNtorL confessions
Natives VINO are quite innocent Of partak-
ing Iu the rebellion are shot on sight or
brought together in squads in the public
sl,l,a-es 5,-F.re rbeir brains are blown out
by soldiers holding rifles close TO their
heads. The worst death Of all IS being I'M
prisored iu black hole Spaniards seem
10 have obtained their idea for this from
the famous black hole Of Calcutta The
prisoners are locked in 10 sumocate in the
midst Of filth and Nermin. or 90 put In on
one night ir IS reported that only 100 were
alive the next morning. Technically, tho
black hole is correct The Spdnlards de-
scribe &c as a prison where rebels are con-
fired pending trial The leaders Of the
rebels are for the most part half-breeds.
which is he result Of the fact that Spanish
women seldom 20 TO the colonies Well
informed men VINO are oD the spot say that
Spain viii never be able TO suppress tho
rebellion The natives have been oppressed
for goo years and have worked themselves
M 10 such a pitch that they would as soon
die as i've under spanish rule.