The Portland daily press., 1898-10-03

Oity surrendered AIGer aour anu u adlI
of Fighting and Victorious Army
Marched In-Gallsntry of Several Off
GERS Comm ended.
Washington, October 2.-The report of
Major General Arthur Macarthur. who
commanded the first brigade, second
division, eighth army corps, on the day
of the battle of Manila, mention of which
was made in yesterdays dispatches, gives
some interesting details of the fight of the
18th of August. Following are some ex-
tracts:
"Several hours before the operations of
the day were intended to commence, there
was considerable desultory firing from
the Spanish line, both of cannon and
small arms, provoked no doubt by Fill
pino soldiers, who insisted upon main
tanning fusilade along their lines east
of the Passia road. The fire was not re-
| turned by our troops, and when the
formation of the day was commenced
things at the front were kept very quiet.
About $50 the naval attack commenced
and some twenty minutes thereafter, the
gun of battery B, Utah artillery, opened
upon blockhouse No. IA, the guns of the
Aston battery having engaged an opposing
battery some minutes after the opening
of the naval attack. There was no reply
from the blockhouse or contiguous lines,
either by guns or SIN all arms. The oppo-
sition to the Astor fire, however, was
quite energetic, but after spirited
contest the opposition consisting probably
of two pieces was silenced.
"This contest was the only notable
feature of the first stage of the action and
was especially creditaple. to the organiza-
ton engaged. The position selected by
Lieut.. Marsch after careful personal
reconnaissance, was perhaps the only one
possible In the vicinity and it was occu-
pied with great skill and held with COM
mendable f1rmness, the battery losing
three men wounded, one of whom has
since died.
"The Utah gun on the road fired four
teen shots at Elockhouse H. with good
effect asswas subsequently ascertained up
on inspection of the work. Lieut.. Grow
and detachment deserve great credit for
the commendable manner in which the
piece was served and pulled through the
mud without the assistance of horses.
"Some time about eleven o'clock con.
centrated infantry fire was heard in front
of the second brigade and not long there
after an exultant shoutl indicated sub
stantial success for our arms on the left
1t was therefore assumed that the enemy
had been shaken so as to make the ad-
vance practicable without serious disad'
vantage to our troops.
sat about 20 United States flag
was placed upon blockhouse IA, thus con-
Guiding the second stage of the action.
without opposition and without loss.
"The general advance was then re-
sumed, the 18th Minnesota leading with
Co. K as advance guard, then the Aston
battery, battalion of the 23rd infantry,
the battalion 14th infantry and the North
Dakota regiment following in the order
named. At point just south of Sing
long a blockhouse was found burning,
causing a continuous explosion OF small
arms and ammunition which, together
with scattering fire from the enemy, re-
tarded the advance for time. All diff
culties were soon overcome, however, IN
GLIDING the passage of the Aston battery.
by the determined efforts of Lieut.. Marsch
and his men, assisted by the infantry of
the Minnesota regiment, over the gun
emplacement which INSTRUCTED the road
In the village of Singlong the advance
fell under loose fire. the tendency of
which increased at the forward movement
was pressed, and very soon the command
was committed to fierce combat. This
strong opposition arose at blockhouse
No. 20 of the Spanish defenses, detached
work with impIacements for guns, which
fortunately were not filed on 18th inst.
but the work was occupied by detach.
ment Of infantry, probably strong rear
guard.
"The advance party consisting of men
of the Minnesota regiment, reinforced by
volunteers from the Asto battery, led by
Lieut.. Marsch and Captain Sawtelle of
the brigade staff as an individual volun-
tser, reached point within less than
fifty yards of the blockhouse, but was
obliged TO r6U1r6 10 6uo luU6rsooUibS Aooo
in the village, at which point hasty
work was improvised and occupied by a
firing line of about fifteen men. Aside
from conspicuous, individual actions, in
the first rush, the we'll regulated conduct
of this firing line was the marked feature
of the contest, and 1t is proposed, If
possible, to ascertain the names OF the
men engaged with view to recommend
ing them for special distinction. At
about 1. 80 p. m. all firing had ceased and
two scouting parties, voluntarily led by
Captain Sawtelle and Lieut.. Marsoh soon
thereafter reported the retirement of the
adversary. THE city was entered without
further incident through the Pace
district. The contact was made about
| twelve o'clock and the contest continued
with great ferocity until 1.35 that is to
say, about an hour and a half. The loss
\ in the combat was three officers wounded,
| four enlisted men killed and 33 wounded.
l %,ly xo