Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-04-20
STRIPPED THE SHIPS
CLEVER TRICK PLAYED BY
CRAFTY FILIPINOS.
CAPTURE SOME BIG GUNS
Remove Armament Of Spanish Gun
boats Purchased by the United
Sates-Lively Engagement West of
Malolos-Gen. Lawton's Close
Call-Aguinaldo's Fighting Plans.

Manila. April 14.-Francisco Reyes.
the man who recently purchased the
! Spanish gunboats at. Zamboanga.
island of Minandao, has received adj
vices to the effect that the fleet sailed
| for Manila and returned a few DAYS
later with the vessels stripped of their
guns and ammunition.
The purchasers agents and the ma
tive crews of the vessels were con-
| veyed to Zamboanga by the United
States cruiser Boston and were in
structed to wait for the arrival there
OF the United States gunboat Petrol.
instead OF so doing, after the Boston
sailed from Zamboanga, the Spaniards
transferred the gunboats to the agents
OF Senior Reyes and the fleet left Zam-
boanga unescorted. They soon re-
turned and reported having been
boarded by rebels, who removed the
gunboats ornaments. If the in
structions of the American naval COM
mander had been obeyed, their cap
ture would have been impossible. Fam
boanga is fortified and still garrisoned
by Spaniards and the affair is regarded
as suspicious.
At about o'clock Thursday morn
ing small body of rebels attacked
the camp of the Sd artillery from the
swamp near Poamboan, a mile and a
half west of Malolos. Two privates
were killed and a lieutenant and two
others were wounded. With the COM
ing of daylight, the American forces
secured the district, driving the rebels
northward and killing several of them.
private soldier of the Montana regi-
ment was wounded.
A single Filipino, remaining behind
when his comrades fled, secreted HIM
self in a house which the Americans
passed during the fighting near Santa
Cruz, and, at eight feet, fired upon Gen.
Lawton and his staff. Fortunately in
his excitement his aim was bad and
the bullet missed it's mark, but Gen.
Lawton had narrow escape. Before
the daring Filipino could get out of the
yard he was surrounded and shot three
times. Even then he was not cap
tured until he was struck with a gun
and completely disabled.
Can't Get Ammunition.
Washington, April 1.-The war de-
partment officials take philosophical
view of the reported capture by the
insurgents in the vicinity of Zamboan-
go of the arms and ammunition on the
Spanish gunboats which were to be-
come the property of the United
States. They say that Gen. Otis has
withheld payment for any of these
boats until they were delivered to him
at Manila. 1t is regretted that the in
surgents should possess the guns, but
it is said they will not be able to Sc
cure and keep on hand a supply Of am
munition for them. The United States
forces have so far had no trouble with
insurgents on the island of Mindano
and in view of the suspicious circum-
stances attending the capture of these
guns it is apprehended that some per-
sons, possibly Spanish sympathizers
with Aguinaldo, have caused the guns
to be sent to him.
coming convinced that Aguinaldo pur-
poses to maintain guerilla warfare,
which will keep the island of LuZon in
constant turmoil and neceSsitate the
maintenance Of a strong American
army there. The approach of the rainy
season, now only a few weeks distant,
will greatly embarrass American oper-
rryi11 nc
insurgent forces. A great deal is still
expected from the work Of the Schur-
mann commission, but the effects or
it's recent proclamation have not been
as great as the authorities hoped for.
yet been taken by the war department
that Gen. Otis has not called for ao-
ditional troops and insists that his
present forces, reinforced by the six
regiments under orders to proceed to
Manila, will be ample. No action has
yet been taken by war department
looking to the mastering out of the
volunteers and nothing will be done
until the arrival of the regulars Gen.
Otis will then be authorized to re-en-
list such of the volunteers for six
months as may desire to serve for that
length of time.
Proclamation Well Received.
Washington, April 14.-The presi-
dent yesterday received a dispatch
from DR.. Schurman, president Of the
Philippine commission at Manila, say
| ing that the proclamation recently is
sued has done great good and F'ilipinos
| are visiting the commission every day
| to express their satisfaction ard desire
| to become citizens Of this country.
| The message also states that Filipinos
are coming to Manila and declare
| Aguinaldo's government tyrannical
and many natives are deserving his
standard each day.
| Health of Troops Good.
| Washington, April 14.-Maj. G. II.
Penrose, brigade surgeon OF the second
brigade in the Philippines, in his re-
port to Surgeon General Sternberg dat
ed Panay, March 2, says the men are
supplied with plenty of fresh beef and
| bread and since they left Manila the
troops health has improved. A few
| cocoo of cmaIlnoY were discovered but