Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1898-10-01

In the advent Of Dewey the iusur-
gents saw their opportunity. At first
the poor and needy and weak among
them fi0oked to the American camps to
beg, to SELL to labor, to do anything
that would bring them good out of the
stranger. Stalwart men gathered in
bands, and, armed with the machete,
represented themselves as insurgents,
taking orders from Aguinaldo, who had
been posing as the insurgent chief from
the time that Dewey set sail. Gradual
" these bands armed themselves with
Mauser rifles and began to fight the
Spaniards ON the outskirts of Manila.
The Mausers did not come out of the
American ships, and the insurgents had
no means for buying them had there
been a market open. In fact the rifles
were captured from Spanish soldiers.
A band Of insurgents without rifles
secured the coveted weapons by first at
lacking small parties of Spanish sol
diers and taking their Mausers.
Strengthened by these weapons, the in
surgents would surprise a larger de-
rifles of all they could kill, which was
often half the party. In these hand to
hand struggles the long, keen machete
cut down the enemy so quickly as to
spread surprise in the ranks and there
was little resistance offered except when
the Spaniards were under cover. In
these attacks the insurgents always out
numbered the Spaniards, and they
thought no more of life than the Turks.
If it cost three or four Filipinos TO get
one Mauser, the game was worth the
price At the end of May Aguinaldo
numbered about 500 followers, armed
with Mausers taken from the enemy in
battle. About that time filibustering
steamer landed 2, 600 Remingtons, with
plenty Of ammunition No time was
lost in getting to work, for the night
of the arrival Of the new guns and am
munition 600 insurgents crossed a small
bay between Cayite and Manila and
landed in front of ?, 600 Spaniards who
had been driven out Of Cayite. When
daylight came on, the insurgents found
themselves in trap, for the only road
Of retreat, a narrow neck Of land, was
under control of the enemy.
With their usual contempt for the
rebels the Spaniards let them alone for
two days and on the third day sent an
inferior force to gobble them or drive
them into the sea. But the insurgents
didn't drive at all and ended the fight
by killing and capturing ia Spaniards
Mausers and all. Next day the Span
iards sent another weak detachment
out, and the insurgents killed and cap
tured 234 more, securing that number
of rifles.
1t was this bold dash of the insur-
gents in Cavite province which eventu-
ally brought them to the doors of Ma
Mia and would have placed that city in
their power but for the Americans. AS
matters stood after the last repulse of
the Spaniards the only help for them
would have TO come out from Manila.
To prevent that the insurgent general
stationed 500 rebels, armed with Mau-
sers in a pass where three can hold "a
thousand in check In some minor fights
about that time the rebels captured four
small field guns, which they planted to
defend the pass.
Barely had the insurgents got their
defenses ready when the Spaniards
marched out Of Manila, 4, 600 strong, to
clear the rebels ont Of Cavite province.
The position taken up by the FilipiDos
was strong by nature. It's approach
from Manila WIGS by roadway through