The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-28
Americans Had Two Hours Hot
Fighting, Resulting I'm Four Killed
and Eleven Wounded.
SPANISH SOLDIERS RELEASED
RUSHED OUT WITH WHITE FLAGS
AND EMBRACED THEIR RESCUERs.
General and Mrs. Lawton Witnessed
lets Flying About Them.


Pasig and Morong under Brig. Gen. r. Fl.
Hall, yesterday captured Calamba. an i'm
portant trading town on the south shore of
Laguna de Bay, after two hours sharp
fighting, during which four soldiers were
killed and twelve wounded. The trenches
commanding the harbor were under water,
but the swampiness of the land made the
work harder. The troops boarded cascoes
Tuesday night. The force comprised 400
Washington volunteers. $50 of the Twenty
first Infantry, 80 of the Fourth Cavalry and
two guns of the First Artillery. These and
the gunboats Napidan and Costo assembled
opposite CaIamba Wednesday afternoon.
Crowds of people in cars and on foot were
seen rushing to the hills. Natives escaping
from Calamba in canoes said hundred In
surgents held the town.
A force under Captain McGrath, of the
Twenty-first Infantry and Captain Elton
herd landed east of the town, but found
river intervening. Captain McGrath and
Lieutenant Batson swan the river under a
fire from twenty Mauser rifles. Having
crossed the stream, the officers procured
cascoe to ferry the troops over. The in
surgents retreated through the town, shoot
ing from houses and bushes as they fed to
regiment waded from cascoes through
swamps. often shoulder deep, while a group
of Filipinos concealed in haystacks was
shooting at them until the Napidan focused
her six-pounders and Calling guns on the
stacks for few minutes. Most of the work
was done before the Washington volunteers
could reach the town. The Filipinos left
three dead. or the casualties on the Amer
iaan ca do tryr off he ar,I flra. 1f \,
wounded were members Of the Fourth Cav
airy and two killed and eight wounded be-
longed to the Twenty-first Infantry.
There was much shouting by amigos, who
emerged from the bushes with white flags.
After the fight a dozen men holding up their
hands and shouting "Castillanos" met the
American cavalry. Even Spanish soldiers
embraced the Americans Historically There
were fifty Spanish prisoners at Calamba, of
whom some were civil officials and some
were soldiers. They had been given the
choice of joining the Filipino army or be-
coming servants to Filipinos and chose the
army, intending to surrender at the first
opportunity. Most of the civilians reached
the American lines during the fighting. but
the insurgents took others away with them
In their retreat
II
with guns. Maj. Gen. H. W. Lawton, Prof.
Dean c. Worcester, of the American Philip
pine commission. Mrs. General Lawton and
General Lawton's son accompanied the ex-
petition on board launch and sat coolly
in an unprotected boat close to the shore
during the fighting, the bullets splashing
about them
To-day General Hall brought to Manila
the Spaniards whom the expedition had re-
leased from captivity of more than a year
Lieutenant Larson, commanding the Napi-
dan. to-day found long-missing Spanish
gunboat which had been covered with bushes
and fish nets so as not to resemble vessel.
1t is the Otaolora. The vessel was deserted
and her guns were gone, but otherwise she
is in good condition.
Calamba is a town on Laguna de Bay
about thirty miles southeast of Manila. 1t
Is much farther south than the United
States troops have yet penetrated on land.
1t has population of II. 49, and is twenty
seven miles from Santa Cruz on the eastern
shore of the bay. The town was the head
quarters of General Malbar, and the center
OF the insurgent telegraph system in south
ern Luzon. 1t was a most important
strategic point. The place had been former
ly utilized by the Spaniards as a hospital
for convalescents. General Lawton recon-
mends % similar use of the place, regarding
1t as valuable acquisition.
The Filipinos, having met reinforcements
and thinking the Americans had evacuated
the town, descended from the hills TODAY
intending to reoccupy Calamba General
Hall easily drove them back. Hall will
leave a garrison at Calamba.