New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-17
RELIEVED BY MARINES.
THE NAVY HELPS GENERAL LAWTON's
TROOPS AT A CRITICAL TIME.
10
lRv TELEGRAPH To TIRE TRrBrNE.l

fRy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrNE.I
Washington. Aug 16-The narrowness of Cen
! eral Lawton's escape from defeat south Of Ma
! Mia when operations undertaken two
/ months ago 10 clear away the threatening force
/ Of insurgents in Cavite Province after they had
controlled that district since the day Dewey de-
stroved the Spanish feet. is disclosed in reports
/ which havS reached Washington in the latest
! mail from the Philippines
From these reports II appears that the Army.
after thoroughly demoralizng the Tagals for
few weeks was finally compelled n return 10
Manila and since that time the insurgents have
recognized the towns they abandoned, and are
again in full control ~ all places outside the
range ~ the Navy's guns. for which they seem
10 possess a most wholesome respect. They are
also afraid 81 the United States marines. who
gave them their severest punishment. and It IS
for this reason that the Navy Department Is
sending a marine battalion 10 Cavite, with con-
fdence that the insurgents will keep well away
from the little six millmetre magazine rifles
CAPTAIN BARRIERS REPORT.
The lesson that was taught the Cavite insur-
gents by A detachment Of ninety marines
backed by the gunboats, is recounted IN an in
| teresting report to the Secretary Of the Navy
! from CAPTAIN Barker. who succeeded Admiral
Dewey in command at Manila. This report
shows how signary effective naval co-opera-
| ton has proved in Army victories. This report
| is follows
! United States Naval Force on Asiatic station
Flagship, Baltimore. 100
Cavite Philippine Islands, June 10. lS99
Sir: % I have the honor TO make the Iol-
| lowing report IN regard TO the part taken py
! the Navy in the movements against the IN
| surgents resulting in the crossing Of the Zapote
River and capture Of the important city OF
| Bacoor by the troops under General LaWton.
do NY
! ed. occurred the combined movement resulting
! in the capture of Paranaque and Las Pinas.
! On the 18th inst. the United States steamship
| Helena took General Lawton and General
| Wheaton on tour of observation along the
| shore Of the bay from Las Pinas TO Old Cavlte
/ Flag Lieutenant Eberle was with the party
/ viewing the country from the upper fighting
/ top. After the reconnaissance was nnlsheo l
asked General Lawton what assistance ne
would like from US. He said there would prob
| ably be no general advance for a day or two.
! but he would like 10 have US fire occasionally
| a. the insurgent intrenchments TO keep the
/ enemy the qui vive and make them lose
/ sleep 7 then told Commander Swinburne, who
was standing near. to carry out the Generals
wishes Captain Forsyth. Flag Lieutenant Eb-
/ erie and then returned 10 the Baltimore, OF
Manila, In the steam launch.
Third-On the morning Of the 18th. as there
was considerable firing by our ships off the
! arsenal and in BacoOr Bay more than a simple
stirring up Of the insurgents would warrant,
and the morning was too calm 20 read sig
nails from where the Baltimore was lying. got
| a
! Captain Forsyth and Flag Lieutenant Ebeue.
steamed over toward Cavite and ran alongside
1 the Monterey. which was then in action. Com
| rnander Leutze informed me that the insurgents
| had fired at the Nevy Yard with 6-inch gun. and
4 that the shot had reached the yard. also that
| the Callao had been fired From the Mon
terey steamed 10 the Princeton. which was
also Smelling intrenchment, and from the Prince
| ton n the Helena much further in shore.
! Mauser bullets were flying about and striking
the water
HOT MAUSER FIRE.
Running alongside the Helena, Commander
| Swinburne ceased firing a short time 20 let US
know the condition Of affairs as he UNDERSTOOD j.
General LawtOn had started on a reconnaissance
| and Commander Swnburne had been sJeaming
along the shore. keeping just ahead OF THIS force
| until the Monterey sgnalled about the hring
| from the 6-inch gun. when he steamed faster
ahead TO assist in silenclng the gun ne was
| we're talking the Mauser bullets increased in
| number. and fire again opened by the Hell
| ena. The Armys advance guard was seen re-
| turning TO the beach. and a signal was being
| sent to the Helena when left that vessel for
/ the Monterey Upon arriving alongside the lat
ter ship the Helena signalled, THE Army wants
support"
Fourth-The following vessels took part In the
engagement which extended from Las Pinas 10
! Old Cavite. viz. The Helena the Monterey, the
Princeton. the Manila the Monadnock. the Cal
lao and the small gunboats Basco and Tn
daneta Shoal water rendered il impossible for
the flagship 10 be OF service. hence, IN order
|
emergencies l visited the ships In a steam
NET HARD FIGHTING
Fffth-It appears that the reconnoitring
party had met with greater resistance than
had been expected. and when they signalled for
support their ammunition well nigh
hausted. and they had no drinking water or
food Reinforced by our landing party. this de-
/ tachment kept a thousand insurgents from join
ing the main body OF the enemy, which was op-
posing our Army. thus nsuring an overvhelm-
ing victory
The Manila and the small gunboat Tndaneta
were Immediately sent close in shore and Com
mander Swinburne landed ninety men with a
Colt gun. from the Helena and Monadnock,
which ware abreast Of the party. 70 reinforce the
armys advanced position Armed launches also
| rendered assistance and the ships shelled the
trenches Water and provisions we're sent from
the Helena with the landing party. Thus rein
| forced by our men and supported by the ships.
the advanced position was held against very
| heavy fire from the insurgent trenches. until A
| general advance Of the main army was ordered
| when our men accompanied the army along the
/ beach far as the Zapote River. Just before
| dark the landing party returned 20 the ships
| without casualty. and the following signal was
| received from General Lawton Carried the
! bridge crossed the river; enemy completely
| routed / appreciate assistance OF the Navy.
which I will with pleasure acknowledge Off
| cially."
Sixth-On the morning Of the 14th inst our
| troops occupied Bacoor. and no insurgents could
| be seen from Bacoor to the linus River, and even
10 Old Cavite. All the villages along the shore
4 displayed
! dren returned TO their homes. seeming 10 be over
| toyed that our troops were in possession. The
! decentralization of the insurgents was 50 great
! that large number Of Spanish prisoners
| caped reporting that the enemy had incurred
| heavy loss in killed and wounded. cOnserva-
! tive estimate puts the number OF insurgents
killed az one thousand.
MENTIONED FOR GALLANTRY
seventh-The character Of the hghting on the
| mart OF the navy may not have been such as
| n hiring out the maximum heroic qualities, 8
| there were no ships opposed 10 our vessels. but
| oil deserve credit for their excellent work |
| would especially mention those who landed