New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-29
GENERAL HALES REPORT.
ACCOUNT OF FIGHTING AROUND WATER
WORKS NEAR MANILA.

Washington, May 2S-The War Department
has made public a report from General Irving
Hale. who commanded the Second Brigade Sec
ond Division Of the Eighth Army Corps. at
Manila upon the stirring events between the
nights Of February and there. This division
was quartered in the vicinity of the water
works. and a portion Of 1t. the Nebraska Regi-
ment. fired the first shots that began the active
fighting with the insurgents. General Hale tells
the story Of the operations of his command with
great preciseness and military dryness.
He says he received his first information OF the
outbreak along the front Of the Nebraska regi-
ment through the lucky hearing by one Of his
operators OF a part Of telegraph dispatch that
was passing the wires from Colonel Stot
senburg to division headquarters. His account
of the beginning of the difficulty with the in
surgents agrees in every respect with the stories
Of Colonel Stotsenburg and General Macarthur
and he adds that his troops did not begin
firing until the insurgent firing had been going
on for some time.
The first opportunity that the United States
troops had to test the real quality of the insur-
gents appears to have been at the attacks on the
blockhouses Sampooo Cemetery. Here
says General Hale, the LIST Colorado made
charge in fine STYLE rushing and hating alter
nately in case the enemy's fire became too
strong. When halfway to the blockhouse the
insurgents broke from the earthworks, bushes
and houses In surprising numbers and ran for
the hills. the Americans picking them of as they
ran. Thirty-five were gathered up near by,
twenty four dead and eleven wounded. This
movement broke the nsurgent centre, ana
showed that they could not stand charge
Therefore the tactics were repeated and other
charges were made by other regiments of the
command with like gaantry and success, the
Tennessee and South Dakota troops being COM
mended among others.
General Hale speaks in one portion Of the re-
port of finding the body OF Assistant surgeon
Young, of the Utah Battery. with a powder
stained bulethole In his head, indicating that ne
had been captured and killed after his capture
The successful campaign against Mariquina 10
protect the waterworks Is set out in detail ana
an explanation is offered of what at the time ap-
peared to have been check experienced oy the
advancing American forces. General Hale tells
how his troops had been excellently placed ana
stopped the advance because of the approach Oh
darkness. this deciding them to remain where
they were until morning General Hale then
says:
Lieutenant A. P. Haine, California Heavy ArtiI-
ery. who had voluntarily accompanied Ma,1F % Ciy
Was allowed 10 do so and on his arrival went to
the department commander with grossly ex-
aggerated report OF the situation. on the strength
OF which the department commander dlrectea ne rt9
withdrawal Of the battalion. Captain kLayenpuh
and Lieutenant Perry OF the brigade stan. with a
natoon OF oregon troops escort and carrying
Two canteens OF water per man. with larger sup
niv on a cart were therefore dispatched to the re-
lief OF the 23d Battalion An orderly was sent 70
the waterworks to notify Colonel Stotsenburg OF
the avail OF this covering force on his left, so
that he could take other means for protection. II
was found that the report was practically grohnn ho
less that the position strong one; that there
was no firing and no apparent danger. and that
Major Goodale was reluctant TO Withdraw espe,
there and returned Lieutenant Perry rePortnggn gn ine
ized me TO leave the battalion where II WAS ana
proceed according to my best Judgment IN the
morning This was about $3.50 a. m. on FEBRUARY l.