Evening journal., 1898-08-10
THE MANILA FIGHT.
London Correspondents Story
of the Skirmish.
DESPERATE SITUATION OF THE CITY.
Inhabitants Reduced to Verge of starva-
tiOn-Merritts OmciaI Report-Dew-
ey's Fleet TO BE Re-enforced-span-
ish Story of Cherokee Revolt.


ent of The Times at Cavite with Gen
eral Greene's brigade, under the date of
Aug. 3, says:
"A heavy southwest monsoon has
been blowing since Sunday. and deluges
of rain have greatly increased the diiii-
culties Of landing and moving the Unit
ed States troops and multiplied the dis
comforts I'm camp. which were already
almost uncomfortable
las I anticipated. General Greene's
brigade is the focus of the active land
campaign. Already the troops are in
constant and close touch with the enc
my. On Friday morning a battalion
consisting of the First Colorados, under |
Lieutenant Colonel Mccoy, with four |
guns of the Utah battery. commanded |
by Captain Young, grandson of the |
Mormon prophet. occupied the line so |
yards in advance OF the insurgents be- |
tween the beach and Gale Real and |
/ 300 yards from q formidable earthWork /
situated at the southern end OF Malate, /
the foreign residential quarter of Ma
Mia. After 16 hours of continuous labor
the work Of intrenchment was complet-
! ed the enemy not firing a shot until the
Americans INDUCED in sharpshooting.
Saturday was comparatively quiet
and so was Sunday until nightfall, when
the Tenth Pennsylvania, Colonel Haw-
kins commanding. occupied the trench
es after some desultory picket firing.
At 11:30 p. m. the enemy, estimated at
$500 strong. opened fire vigorously un-
der cover of the dense underground.
Their movements were further hidden
by the Foods OF rain The Pennsylva-
mans met the attack with a succession
Of volleys, covering their right with two
companies stationed IN the swamp be-
yond the intrenchments
After about quarters Of an
hour two companies OF the Third regu-
lar artillery under Major O'Hara ar
rived at double quick to relieve the
Pennsylvanians, whose ammunition was
almost exhausted. They soon silenced
the enemy's fire.
"The First California, under Colonel
Smith, and the First Colorado, under
Colonel Hale, acted as supports. The
affair lasted two hours. But, notwith-
standing the tremendous fusillade and
the heavy shell fire. only ten Americans
were killed and 46 wounded, though
there were some casualties among the
, supports. while during the advance OF
the relieving battalions the only officers
S wounded We're Captain Richter OF the
s First California, wounded seriously in
| Alt nt1uf anu 0dUldAA AAUlWH VI Ant
y Third artillery. wounded slightly in the
leg.
Although the engagement scarcely
O attained the Importance Of a battle, It
thoroughly tested the quality OF the
United States troops and had an excel
: lent effect, stimulating their zeal and
enthusiasm and inspiring them with
confidence The Spaniards, whose loss-
es in the engagement are not known,
are adopting tactics intended TO irri-
tate the Americans. Every night they
. maintain an annoying fire They have
S now got the true range Of the earth
works. and their shell and shrapnel
fire is very accurate.
"On Monday night the American loss
/ es were one killed and five wounded and
l on Tuesday night one killed and six
!. wounded. This percentage is heavy.
considering that the men were well in
. trenched and that there has been hardly
. any fighting in the open.
r General MacArthur's brigade, which
y arrived Sunday. is landing today
Z through the heavy surf. Nothing more
+ serious than a thorough wetting has
C occurred as yet. although the operation
r is not without considerable danger.
y Hardly any cases Of sickness are re-
{, ported"
d The correspondent Of The Times at
J. Cavite. under date oc Aug. 1. says:
yesterday visited Camp Dewey and
the American intrenchments before Ma
late. Captain Grant and Captain Young
Of the Utah artillery were busily throw
ing up advanced earthworks for guns.
If under protection Of the Nebraska volun-
y teers From the upper floor Of Euro
l. pean house. forming an alignment with
,r the earthworks, I was observing the
# Spanish positions. when a Nebraska
II sharpshooter beside me fired the first
r. shot discharged by the Americans upon
- the Spaniards. who were crouching in
the forward trench This was contrary
- to General Merritt's orders. He had
forbidden an aggressive attitude unless
z" the Spaniards advanced The insur-
n gents. now in force inland on the right
10 OF the American lines. also opened fire
le the Spaniards replying briskly with
is quick firing guns and rifles. but thoil
IS shooting was high. and their shots fel
D. half a mile behind the intrenchments
= where a Colorado volunteer picket wa.
in hit by a Mauser bullet.
htI Personally. / was impressed by the
nonchalant demeanOr OF the America ms
in the fighting line. They were lik,
high spirited youth ont on q picnic
while groups lying i'm the second lin,
n, were playing cards Had the Spaniards
10 who were unaccountably mona aggressiv'
th during the American landing and ad
as vance. dropped shrapnel from Malatl
n fort they would have wrought terrible
ne havoc. one house. forming a consVicu
On Gus mark. being within easy gun range
40 "The' return 10 camp was exciting
- but effected without mishap. The ma
lives follow the American advance. oc
a' cupying the houses within the hghtinl
71 line. General Aguinaldos guerrillal
~ raused the Americans considerable trou
ne bic. While I was I'm camp information
he was received that a party OF Californi,
IL volunteers engaged in Telling timber ha,
ny been arrested hy the insurgents Colo
d. mel Smith. under General Greene's in
li structions. ordered out an armed de
n tachment. which released the prisoner
and brought the insurgents into CAM
= Dewey. General Greene sent messag
. to General Aguinaldo, saying that If tn
Americans were further mOlested H.
.rd would 6isarm the whole Filipinos.
be ''The third expedition reports tha