The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-28
THE SPIRITED DEFENSE
OF the Insurgents az
Calumpit
THEIR FIRST USE OF CANNON

The American Army Entrenehed on
One Side Of the River Rio Grande
and tine Philippines on the Other.
They Offer Greater Resistance Than
Expected-Thefr Artillery Ineffective.
Difficulties Attending Lawton's Ad-
vance.
Manila, April 26.-6:10 p. m.-Agui-
naldos army today is defending CAL
umpit energetically, which is said to
indicate that the rebels are finally
making that place their last ditch, or
stand, which the Americans expected
them to make at Malolos For the first
time the Philippines are employing ar
tillery. They brought twt guns into
action in the trenches today before
Calumpit firing modern sharpnel, which
burst over the heads of General Wheat
on's men without effect
The fighting was resumed at o'clock
this morning. During the night the
American engineers repaired the Bag
! bag bridge, thus enabling our troops
to cross the river.
General Wheaton's brigade advanced
in extended order, with the Kansas
regiment to the west of the railroad
and the Montana regiment to the east
of it, and took up position covering
one and half miles on the south bank
of the Rio Grande. On the opposite
bank were fortified trenches, from which
a few American soldiers would have
been able to defy thousands, so strong
ly were they constructed.
The Americans found the trenches On
the south bank of the river deserted,
which furnished them with cover from
which they could pick off Philippines
whenever one of them showed his
head.
When the rebels began firing, two
pufs of smoke, simultaneously, from
the trenches of each side of the rail-
road track showed they were using
cannon, which was a genuine surprise
to the Americans. Several shells burst
close to General Wheaton's staff, but it
seemed that the Philippines failed to
master the machinery of modern shells,
as they were unable to get the right
range.
Young's Utah battery was ordered
into position in the centre of the Kan
sas regiment, to silence the rebel guns
and at II o'clock the rapid-fire guns
had been ferried across the river and
came into line.
At noon the rebels were still pouring
a heavy fire in the direction of the
Americans, who returned it spiritedly.
Two Americans were killed and seven
wounded
At about this time, General Hale's
brigade was advancing east of the line,
apparently to cross the river and at
tack the rebel trenches in the flank, as
the Americans did yesterday
PHILIPPINES RESERVING THEIR
FIRE.
General Macarthur has secured an
order issued by Aguinaldo to the rebel
. commanders, telling them to instruct
their men to economic their fire, save
the empty shells and not to fire at the
enemy when the latter is under cover
The Philippines are also instructed
never to fire at a longer range than $50
meters, and, when they have river
or other distractions in front, to hold
their fire until within eighty meters.
This order was issued after the recent
encounters between the Philippines
and the Americans
DIFFICULTIES IN LAWTON'S WAY.
General Lawton is meeting with the
greatest obstacles in the character OF
the country. His troops have only had
a few Skirmishes thus far, resulting in
five Of his men being wounded. But
he has been force to put his men at
work building roads and the transport
service is giving much trouble, bullocks
dying of the heat and exhaustion, and
Cinnamon having to be employed in
pulling some of the carts. Therefore,
the general has been unable to cover
the ground he hoped to cover.
The natives flee before the expedition
but they swarm back to their huts as
soon as the American troops have pass
ed. few Philippine sharpshoooters
are narassing the American f1anks.
! The commissary department is pre-.
pairing TO send more rations, under 9
strong escort to the front
TRANSPORTS ARRIVE AND DE
DEPART.
The United States transport Zealan
dia, from San Francisco March 2Sth
having on board several companies O
of the Ninth infantry and a large gan
tity OF supplies, arrived today after al
uneventful voyage. Her troops ar
now camped On the water front
The United States transport Sheridan
sails for home tomorrow. She viii
take among her passengers, Genera
Charles King and Mrs. Colonel Stotz
berg, who is conveying her husband
body TO the United States. The Sheri
dan also has ON board several officers
families who find Manila an undesira
BILE place of residence.
MORE RESISTANCE THAN EX-
ECTED.
, Washington, April 26.-At the clos