The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-06-12
ESCAPED IN THE MIGHT.
Defeated FilipinosSlip Away From
the Conquerors.
FILIPINO OCCUPATION BROKEN.

Paranaaue and Las Pinas, In the Prov
tncs OF Cavite, Now in Possession Of
Our Forces--Heavy Loss Inflicted on
the Enemy.
Manila, June 1.-THE Filipino oc.
cupation Of the province Of Cavite has
been broken, and as the result Of the
present movement the Americans now
control the important coast towns OF
Paranaque and Las Pinas, while
long line Of insurgent trenches facing
our south line has been cleared.
The insurgents have again proved
their facility as dodgers, between 5000
and 1000 warriors, who seemed des-
tined to be captured. having disappear
ed, the majority sliding away under
cover of the night, after fighting the
Americans all day. Some others came
to meet our troops, with protestations
of friendship.
The Thirteenth infantry lost one
man killed and six wounded, the Ninth
infantry one man killed and five
wounded, the Fourteenth infantry three
wounded and the First Colorado vol
unteer regiment II wounded.
Saturdays work was the hardest our
army has seen. The battlefield stretch
ed out across the entire isthmus from
Laguna de Bay to the harbor. While
the troops were advancing the army
gunboat Napidan, in the river near
Taguig, shelled the enemy, killing sew
eral Of them.
The monitor Monadnock and the
gunboat Helena shelled Paranaque
and Las Pinas all day with the full
power of their batteries.
The rebel sharpshooters kent in hid
ing until the American lines had pass
ed, and then attempted to spot stray
glers from the trees. Thanks to their
poor craftsmanship, this was without
result
The whole country proved to be
succession of small hills, with DOGGY
ground between the high, thick grass,
and bushes in the hollows, which
greatly added to the difficulty of the
advance, but gave shelter that saved
many from the enemy's bullets. Our
men threw away their blankets, coats
and even haversacks, stripping to the
waist and trusting to luck for food
Water could not be obtained, and
there was much discomfort after the
canteens were empted.
AT the outset the Colorados, the
Ninth infantry and the Twenty-first
infantry forced the line of insurgent
trenches, wheeled to the left and drove
the enemy toward the lake. During
this maneuver the Filpinos in con-
cealed trenches on the RIGHT opened
an enflading fire, but the brigade,
partly owning to the high grass, had
few hit.
The Ninth infantry crcpt around to
the right, tlanking the trenches, driv-
ing out the Filipinos and killing mary
of them.
The Colorado regiment advanced to
the lake. Two companies encountered
trenches on top of a knoll where the
Filipinos stood waist high above a
trench pouring volley upon the adj
vancing Americans. The Colorado
troops charged and drove them out,
Lieutenant Colonel Moses being
wounded in the arm as he jumped into
the trench.
In the meantime General Wheaton's
column advanced one and half mile;
toward Paranaque, where the Ameri-
cans found strong trench on a ridge,
out of which they drove the Filipinos
by hard fighting
The enemy tried to flank the dis
mounted troops Of the Fourth cav
airy, accompanying Major General
Lawton, and at the same time they
made their only advance, throwing d
skirmish line to flank the Fourteenth
infantry. But they were easily re-
pulsed, the American artillery coming
to the crest of the hill and shellin!
them.
About 3 O'Clock in the afternoon
General Whoaton's brigade. headed b.;
General Lawton, who, in his white
clothing and helmet, on a big black
horse, was a shining mark for the
enemy's sharpshooters, circled to the
south of Las Pinas, encountering a
large force of Filipinos in the shelter
of the trees. General Lawton had
narrow escape. In the first volley OF
the enemy the horses of three of his
staff officers were shot from under
them. The Colorado regiment bore
the brunt of this attack and dispersed
the Filipinos.
Hardly had they finished off that lot
when a large force appeared in the
rear, which the Ninth infantry and
part of the Colorado regiment drove
away BY this time nearly the whole
division was around Las Pinas.
The Americans camped for the night
south OF the town, and in the midst of
a heavy rain.
At 6 O'Clock yesterday morning Cen
eral Wheaton advanced upon Las
Pinas, with a troop of cavalry the
Twenty-first infantry, the Colorado
regiment, a part of the Ninth infantry
and two mountain guns, crossing two
streams and entering the town with.
out firing a shot. He then advanced
upon Paranaque.
The women and chilren, and for that
matter many men, remained in the
towns. No houses were DESTROYED,
though many were torn by the shells
from the warships. Everywhere the
Americans found white flags flying.
So far as can yet be ascertained the
Filipino loss is about so killed, about
$50 wounded, and 20 taken prisoners.
The whole country is networked with
trenches. and the enemy scurred from
shelter to shelter.
Yesterday long trains of commits.
sary wagons carried provisions to the
United States troops along the road
which on Saturday was the stronghold
of the enemy, and the natives, who on
Saturday were probably carrying guns,
are today dofiing their hats and grovei-
ing before the Americans with eff
fusive greetings of welcome.
The Colorado regiment returned to
barracks in Manila last night As the
ragged and dusty men marched past
the Luneta, the fashionable gathering
nlana for ManiIanc Iho, ,rnra haartil.t