New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-16
HET TENANT CLARKE'S EXPLOIT.

HAS EXCITING EXPERIENCES WHILE
MAKING a Reconnaissance OF SPAN
ISL WORKS ABOUT MANILA.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrNE.l
HEADQUARTERS Of General Anderson. Cavite,
Phillppne Islands July 49, via San Francisco.
August 15-Iieutenant Elmer w. Clarke. Of
General Anderson's staff. has just successfully
finished q most daring reconnaissance. and is
hailed as hero by his comrades He sue
ccedod In making a complete detour Of the city
~ Manila. and his Investigations place his chief
in position 81 practically complete information
as 10 the defencrs Of the city
Lieutenant Clarke was under Are half dozen
times. and that he lived to deliver his valuable
Information to his leader Is due to poor Spanish
craftsmanship for he went pokng into every
Spanish stronghold about the city He was alb
sent for nearly four days. and was given royal
welcom, by his fellow Officers.
His Journey led him first to Baker TO get the
necessary passes from Aguinaldo and nearly
half day was wasted In waiting on the latter.
A launch took him to Paranarue, and there.
with his guide he bade farewell to the Ameri-
cans and plunged into thicket He started
along tho insurgen. lines east of Malate and
Travelled due east a mile and a hair from
Malate hc encountered the second Spanish de-
fence blockhouse on high ground, with an
elaborate series Of trenches. He was not dls-
turhed In his examination and he pressed on
~ tho ncxt defence a distance OF three-auarters
~ n mile There the Spaniards had seized an
English cemetery. and its high stone walls
make good Notifications The cemetery STANDS
on high ground. The approach is abrupt. be-
ginning in swamps. and the view Is clear ana
urobstructcd Guns cover the road from Pasay
to san Pedro Macate
Lieutenant, Clarke waded through the swamp
and succeeded in making a complete ooserva-
ton OF tho Spanish works. He reached Pasay
I,,c in the day. muddy and tired. and decided
10 remain there I'll morning. The house he
sion, in was under fire during the night. and
.ovcral Nauser bullets came crashing into his
rom r.. was too tired TO be disturbed. how
ever. r.f..
on Julv Il h. walked from Pasay n Santu-
In where the plan. 81 the waterworks that
SUNNY Manila is located. He found the place
in charge of strong force Of insurgents. against
hose advice he started in toward Manila 70
examine the Spanish fortlhcatons at san Juan
del Norte He WINS given An escort ana was
proceeding down the road when he came In sight
az the Spanish trenches He was given volley
from the rine pits and Jumped TO cover In the
hush one hulle. struck at his feet and two
vhis.ed by his head He crawled behind a
stone fence and for twenty minutes the enemy
kept up the fire.
lie managed 10 make a complete survey Of the
place Then came the hard task Of getting out.
Every time he showed himself the Spaniards
fired at him. BY crawling through the bushes
he escaped and reached santulon in safety. On
Saturday morning he journeyed to Bile Bic.
another Spanish atronGhold. There again. on
high ground the Spaniards have blockhouse.
surrounded by ntrenchment5. The rebels con-
troll the road and hev, kept the enemy confined
10 the bockhouse
At San Francisco del Norts. the next stop
ping place Lieutenant Clarke got the best view
Of the defences Of the rear NJ Manila From the
church stcere he could see a mile and half
of Spanish lines His observation gave him
good opinion Of the Spanish front. as IT showed
that they had occupied all the high ground. and
had made 1t all as strong as possible.
Next heading for San Lezero. he found the
main road covered nv Spanish guns. He was
forced to make a detour and came out at Call
docan There he found Spaniards and insur-
gents fighting. The Spanish stronghold was
thick walled old convent surrounded by low
stone fence. which had been sandbagged They
had several serviceabla guns mounted. and
buildings walls and trenches were filled with
rifemen Lieutenant Clarke ventured too closely
to the fort and was fired upon by the keen
eyed rifemen He succeeded. however. In max
ing reconnaissance tina. was satisfactory.
on the day preceding his. arrival there the in
surgents had boldly but foolishy placed muz-
zle-loading cannon on the railway running north
through the town. in plain view of the Spanish
forces The Spanish gunners got the range. and
destroyed It. killing one gunner
on Saturday night Lieutenant Clarke was at
Malabon and a native boat conveyed him down
the bay in front Of Manila to the American fleet
Lieutenant Clarke Is modest about his achieve
ment and would not discuss the official feat
urcs OF II beyond the assertion that he was sat
isned Of the utter liability OF the rebels to take
the place without heavy guns. Speaking about
the experience OF being under fire. he said:
Il was never under fire before. and the sensa-
ton was rather creepy. You see. carried only
side arms and did not return single shot IL
had had rifle or been at the head Of a COM
pany believe the excitement would have made
me forget the danger. oldest Of all were my
thoughts In working out Of tight places Ny
back was turned. and / did not even have the !
satisfaction Of watching the fellows shooting at
have taken fashlght pictures Of me-
Lieutenant Clarke was a football hero at West |
Point in his day.