The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-31
MOVEMENTS OF MAJ. BELL.
Insurgents Taken by Surprise and
He Was Successful.

Insurgents Taken by Surprise and
He Was Successful.
Washington, May SO.-Maj. w. F. Bell
OF the engineers, who was for some time
in charge of the office OF military Informal
ZION under Gus command, has filed a re-
port which the war department has just
made public in connection with the origi-
nal report of Maj. Gen. Macarthur.
Maj. Bells report is dated March / at
Mania. He was directed to cross the Pasig
river 10 its north bank opposite the Amer
lean headquarters at San Pedro Macau
TO scour the north bank as far south as
the mouth of the San Mateo river, and to
find and drive out certain insurgenr troops
and sharpshooters. He was afterward to
fan on the right flank of another body OF
insurgents which had taken up a position
on the south bank of the Pasig, about half
way between Guadaloupe and San Pedro
MacaH. For this purpose he took COM
panies NJ and K of the Washington volun-
teers, consisting of 121 men and five Of
fiCers.
The first movement was made without
hitch, owing to the careful observation
made in person by Mai Bell of the ground
over which the American troops had TO
advance, and the insurgents were taken by
surprise and driven off with the loss of two
dead and three badly wounded The coun-
try was difficult to traverse, being badly
cut up and densely wooded. The insur-
gent wounded were shipped to the. Ma
Mia hospital.
The second movement was equally sue
cessful and as Maj. Bell had
carefully located the insurgent
force the preceding day he was
enabled to have his own men at the most
advantageous positions. The insurgents
stood their ground for twenty minutes,
and, the report states, they returned the
fire of the Americans with as hot a fire
as the latter had experienced. The in
surgents were finally driven off. however,
leaving nine dead and three badly wound
ed men on the field.
The Washington troops lost two men
killed, one from each company.
Maj. Bell pays a high compliment to the
brigade surgeon, Maj. G. F. Shields. He
says that instead of following in the rear,
the position assigned to doctors in a fight,
the surgeon, of his own accord, accom-
panied him (BelD in the front, and re-
manned there during the afternoon, giving
aid to the wounded Insurgents. When the
wounded were sent back he secured a gun
and used it to good purpose in the subse-
quent fighting.
HE conducted himself says Maj. Bell,
lin a courageous and soldierly manner
throughout both engagements"
Prof. George F. Becker of the geological
survey. also accompanied Maj Bell, hav-
ing been with him in two proceeding en-
gagements. OF them the reports says:
His conduct through this afternoon was
characterized, as it always was, by cool
ness and courage. He was always in the
front of the fight with the
men and rendered valuable
service in guiding Company K, TO a posi-
ton at which I desired them to await my
coming"
Maj Bell further says that Corpls Alex
ander Selig, Company NJ, and Otto Taught
ington of Company X attracted his atten-
ton by especially cool and courageous
conduct. He has no doubt that many
others behaved in an efficient and fearless
manner, but regrets that his attention to
the responsibilities of the United States
position prevented him from observing
them.