The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-17
HIS PRESENT LOCATION A MYSTERY
To THE AMERICANS.
FINDS TARLAC TOO UNHEALTHY
HIS Omcia1ly-Announced Reason for
Changing His Capitai-Nearly Driven
to Earth Fflipinos Astounded BY
Rapid Of Dur ~Forces-Some
Hot Fighting -~Insurgent Trenches
stormed Under Severe Fire Fill
pinos Again Aggressive In Cavfte.

1919 X
Gently issued a proclamation transfer
ring the capital to B~ongabong, giving
as a reason for the step the unsanitary
condition Of Tarlac.
1t is supposed that the leaders of the
lnsurrection who are not already at
Bongabong are r~etreating 10 that place,
though when they left Tarlac, wheth-
er they are travelling with the army,
how many soldiers they were able 10
hold together and whether the leaders
or the troops have got beyond General
Lawrton's line are all unknown. 1t
is hoped however, that General Whea-
ton has effected a junction with Gem
eral Young, forming a Gordon from San
Fabian to San Isadro.
General Lawton has 5000 men, Gem
eral Wheaton 2.700-a small force to
control so many miles, but it commands
the main a by which the insurgents
must move to the northeast.
RAPID ADVANCE OF AMERICANS.
With the Americans advancing at the
present rate they could drive the insur-
gents from Bongabong in a fortnight;
and it is impossible for the rebels to
establish another capital in Luzon
which cannot be captured within a
month.
The rapid approach Of the Ameri-
cans was a complete surprise to the
insurgents. as the latter expected them
to move slowly, as they did from Ma
Mia to Angeles. The FHlipinoS thought
it impossible for the Americans to make
Roadway in the mud which prevailed
everywhere, and the sudden invasion
astounds the natives along the line Of
Gnnnr~o1 Vn11nn'1 mn rob uJbAn bod hao0
told that the Americans were confined
to the suburbs of Manila.
A majority of the natives welcome
the army enthusiastically but some who
have been deluded by stories of Amer
icar cruelties, hide in the swamps
Women, who are unable to flee, fall
upon their knees upholding crucifixes
and begging to be spared. When the
news spreads that the Americans in
tend to remain and establish order the
population flock to their homes, bring
ing with them their cattle and house
hold goods.
The insurgents have drained the re-
sources of the provinces. The army
has impressed a large share of the
crops and the people are miserably
poor. Every where are elaborate
trenches, built by the nom combatants
working day and night.
The Americans found big stores of
rice at ldTVdC, IuDIS anu SlStWHe1S,
and several thousand new Filipino uni
forms were captured at Tubig. Thirty
insurgents surrendered to General Mac
Arthur, each receiving $50 for his gun.
Major Marsh's battalion of the Thir-
ty-third regiment, which includes many
old rough riders from the southwest,
attacked 400 Filipinos three miles from
San Fabian, on the Dagupan road, on
Friday. The Fflipions had been firing
at the ~outposts. Major Marsh found
them entrenched across the river.
Their trenches had been made after
General Wheaton's arrival. Major
Marsh charged them, a portion OF his
battalion fording the stream and part
crossing by the bridge. When he
Americans approached, the Filipinos,
afraid to show their heads, poked their
rifles above the trench and fired blind
ly. Major Marsh's force pursued them
for a mile. Fourteen Fflipinos were
left behind, including the lieutenant
colonel commanding on the HELD. Two
Americans were Ounde
INSURGENTS AGAIN ACTIVE IN
CAVITE.
The INSURGENTS have resumed their
activity in the Cavite province, threat
ening an attack on linus. Yesterday
they attacked Calamba in the usual
fashion. A nightly fusillade between
the marines and 100 insurgents VINO
have again intrenched themselves on
the isthmus between Cavite and NO.
velta is plainly heard in Manila
On Saturday the Filipinos attempted
to entrap the marines by landing a force
from canoes behind them. The search
lights of the Petrol discovered the prep
arations to embark and a few snots
from the M~onadnock and Petreps guns
spoiled the game.
A SHARP FIGHT.
8 D. m.-The Thirty -third infantry, in
one of the SharpeSt Two hours en-
gagemenits of the war, with an equaI
force of insurgents, five miles from san
Fabian Saturday, lost l officer n D
men killed and 1 officer and II men
wounded. The Americans captured %
Filipinos and 100 rifles and FOUND 81
insurgent dead lying in the trenches
and rice fields. Many more F1lplnos,
doubtless, were killed or
General Wheaton was Informed that
the enemy was gathering alt san Jac-
into for the purpose of preventing the
Americans from controlling the road
from north, whereby Agul-
naldo might retreat. The ~Thirty-thlrd,
Colonel Howe commanding. a de-
tachment of the Thirteenth, WNn a
Calling gun, Rowland
were sent to disperse them. The troops
encountered the worst road ever found
in the island Of LuZon. There was a
succession of creeks whose bridges the
Americans had TO stop and repair, and
miry bitches, and at certain places men
and horses struggled waiss deep IN
ouagmires. A hundred soldiers had TO
drag the Calling gun part OF the way,
the horses being useless.
The insurgents opened the fight Two
miles from a Jacinto, While the
American battalion vas passing a
| clump Of houses, in the midst OF a Goa
coanut grove, knee deep in mud. The
Filipino sharpshooters, hidden in
trees. houses and small trenches across
the road, held their fire until the
| Americans were close to them. When
| they began firing other Filipinos open
ed fire from thickets right and lett,
further away. The -insurgent sharp
| shooters picked OFT the offices first.
Five of the Americans who fell wore
shoulder straps or chevrons; but the
| Thirty-third never wavered. Its crack
| marksmen knocked the Filipinos. from
| the trees like squirrels. and the Amer