The Portland daily press., 1899-10-09
Took Forts With Slight
Resistance.
American Injured In Another
Series of Skirmishes.

Novelta, Island Of Luzon, October g., BIS
PIN. General Sohwan's column, consist
ing of tho 18Th infantry, "a battalion of the
18th, two troops of cavalry, Capt. Reilly's
battery of the 9th artillery and Lowe's
scouts, advanced from Bacoor this morn
inng and occupied Cavite, Viejo and
Novelta. The American loss was thres
officers and nine privatos wounded, one
OF the officers being mortally hurt. The
loss OF the enemy Is unknown but the
bodies of three Filipinos were seen.
There were two sharp lights near Novel
ia. loves scouts first encountered the
enemy nsar Casite Viejo and soon put
them to flight, continuing their advance.
Capt. Saffold's battalion of the 18Th
regiment with two companies of the
l4th, number OF Tagalo scouts, Cap.
tain MeGrath commanding the troops
from the 4th cavalry and Capt ReilIy's
battery came upon the enemy in strong
ly intrenehed position ON the road be-
tween Cavits Viejo and Novelta. A fight
lasting half an hour followed, resulting
in the enemy's being drire back. The
Anerican forces suffered considerable
loss in this engagement. the men being
shot from trenches on to Novelta, which
they found deserted AID will rennain there
tonight
The marines and naval forces co-operat-
ed with the troops. The gunboats
Wheeling, Pesrsi and Calloa lay eff the
shore near Noyelta and threw shells into
the town and Santa Cruz for au hour
preparing the way for tho marines to
land. Two batalions, eonsisting of 450
marines under Col. Elliot advanced along
the peninsula from Cavite to Novelta
The only way was by narrow road
through swamps. A mile beyond the
marines outpost the column WAS suddenly
reoeived with q volley from trenches
across the road. A flank movement was
executed and the insurgents were driven
from the trenches. the marines wading
through rice fields In turning the flank OF
the enemy, who retreated to strong sand
forts across the creek dividing the peu-
insula. destroying the bridge across the
stream. The marines waded through'inore
rice fields, forded the river in water to
their shoulders aud carried the forts,
meeting with feeble resistance, the first
encounter having disheartened the enmey.
Squads were sent to Novelta and buried
the tcwn and the huts all along the road
from which the enemy commenced the
firing. There a junction was formed
with tine scouts who had been sweeping
the swamps and thickets Thence the
marines returned to CaYite thoroughly
exhausted. Lieut.. Wynne with @ three
FOUNDER did execution during tn Q ad-
vance. Gen. Lawton was not In personal
command of today's movement. Capt
Cowel's battalion of the 4th infantry,
while reoonnoitering today. found body
| Of several hundred insurgents near San
Nicholas. After brisk eight, lasting
for three-quarters Of an hour, the enemy
were driven of. In this engagement,
the American casualties were four men
slightly wounded. Six of the enemy were
killed but the number OF wounded is not
known. 1he bad condition of the roads
made the progress of artillery slow.
THE ADVANCE CONTINUES.
Manila, October ., 10 20 a. IN. .-The ad :
vance upon San Francisco de Malsbon is
continuing. Gen. Schwan's advance
guard entered Rosario this morning meet
iug with slight resistance.