The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-01-02
A T

BY the Spanish Troops In the Philipplnes
Proves 70 Have Been . bad Derea-Ths
Attacking Army Being Repeatedly Re.
pulsed with Great Slaughter In Their At
tack on CaIvte Finally Retire from the
Field.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 23.-Private ad.
vices from Manila, Philippine islands,
reached here yesterday, and are veri-
fed by an account that appears in the
Hong Kong Press received here on the
Belgic yesterday 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 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 nave lost about IS
killed and 100 wouped. 1t is now
learned that the great victory that the
Castilians had predicted ended in igno-
minious defeat. The rebels held No
veleta against war ships and troops.
The Spaniards retired after suffering
heavy losses.
The Spanish forces under Gen. Rios
were divided into two brigades OF 1000
men each, supported by the Spanish
gunboats i'll the bay.
The insurgents numbered about 49,
600, a somewhat smaller force thar the
Spanish commanded, but they were
strongly ~intrenched in Cavite Novel
eta. At the head of the Novelta PENN
sula the ground was h~oneycombed
with rifle pits, and the town defended
from assault by earthworks planted
with rapid-tre 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 attack 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 nine
o'clock Sunday, November s, and by
one p. III the Insurgents outer works
had been evacuated.
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 Cardelia, the closest 10
..avite, was fully six miles from the
town, and all OF her shells fell short,
owing to the extreme elevation given
the ships annon
When Rios men reached the insur-
gents works a terrific fire was opened
on them. They marched forward res
olutely until the rifle pits commenced
to belch forth fire, moving down the
front ranks. The column faltered,
then reiterated slowly under heavy
fire.
The Spanish troops were in the open
and subjected to the full fire. Had
the rebels gunnery been good Rios
would have been slaughtered.
On the morning of the 9th the Span
ism were back in their camp again.
At least 800 wounded were carried
frou the battlefield.
On Wednesday, November IL, Rios,
prepared and headed a second attack
on Novelette,. He threw his army
against the redoubt, and was routed
with heavy loss in the first attack.