The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-02-15
BATTLE AT MANILA
Between the American Troops and
the Filipino Troops,
DESCRIBED IN DETAIL.
The American Troops Conducted
Themselves Most Gallant
ly and Routed the Enemy
With Ease.
With Ease.

circle of fully Il miles, details regard
ing individual fighting have been cx-
tremely difficult to obtain. So far as
can be gathered. the brush commenced
at S:45 on Saturday evening, Jy the tr-
ing Of Nebraska sentry at Santa Mesa
upon Filipinos who were deliberately
crossing the line afterrepeated warnings,
with the evident purpose of drawing
our fire. The first shot from the Am
erican sentry was evidently accepted as
| prearranged signal, for it was followed
Immediately by terrific fusilade along
the entire Filipino line on the north
side of the pasig river. The American
outposts returned the FIRE with such
vigor that the Filipino i.e was checked
until the arrival OF reinforcements. All
the troops in the vicinity were hurried
out and the Eilipinos ceased firing for
half an hour, while tnc::r oTn reinforce
ments came up.
At 10 o'clock the fghtiug was resuMed
the American firing liae consisting OF
the Third artillery, the Kansas aud
the Montana regiment, the MianeSota
regiment. the PennSylvanianS, the Ne
braskans, the Utah battery, the l5ahos,
the Washingtons, the Californlans, the
Fourth cavalry, the North Dakota vol
unteers, the South Dakota and Colorado
regiments, the Sixth artillery and the
Fourteenth infantry. The Flllplnos
concentrated their forces at three places
| Caloacan. Santa Mesa and Gaiingatan,
and maintained an intermittent fusll-
lade for some hours.
They brought artillery into action at
Galingatau at atl0:30, but only one gun
annoyed the Americans to any aprrecla-
bic extent, a howitzer, on road beyond
Senta Mesa. The Third artillery sil
enced the Galingatan battery by nring
two guns simultaneously, which vas
followed Immediately by volleyS from
the infantry. Atabout midnight there
was lull in the firing, lasting until 3:4o
a. M, when the whole Filipino line re-
opened fire. The Americans poured
terrific fire into the darkness for 20
minutes and then there was another
lull until daylight, when the Americans
generally advanced. During the night,
in response to Rear Admiral Eaweys
signals flashed across from Cav;te. the
United States cruiser Charleston aud
the gunboat Concord, stationed at Mala-
bon, poured deadly fire from their
secondary battery into the Filipino
trenches at Caloacan.
After daylight the United States
monitor Monadnock opened fire of
Malate and kept shelling the Filipino
left flank, while the other vessels
shelled the enemys right faux for sew
eral hours. By 10 o'clock the Ameri-
cans had apparently completely routed
the enemy and had taken the village OF
Palapong, Santa Mesa, Paco, Santana,
San Pedro, Macorte, Pandocan and
Pasai, had destroyed hundreds of native
huts and had secured possession-o. the
water main and reservoir distance OF
over SIX miles.
The Tennesseeans joined the firing
line at 10 o'clock on Sunday morning
and assisted in capturing Santa Mesa.
SMOKED OUT AND SHOT.
One of the most notable events Of
Sundays work was driving the Filipi-
nos out Of their stronghold at Paco by
the reserve, few companies Of Cali
! fornians, commanded by Col. Duboce.
Re main road to the village was lined
BY native huts full of Filipino sharp
T shooters After they had been firing
upon Gen. King and his staff, killing
driver. and firing on an ambulance of
the Red Cross society, Col. Duboce or
dered the huts to be cleared and burn
ed.
The Filipinos concentrated in Paco
church and convent, where they made a
I determined stand in the upper stories.
A platoon of Californians stationed on a
neighboring bridge maintained a hot
lire on the Filipiuos, but was unable to
dislodge them In the face Of a ter
rife fusillade, Col, Duboce and a few
volunteers dashed into the church,
scattered coal oil inside Of it, set FIRE to
the oil and retired.
In the meantime Capt. Dyers bat
terry of the Sixth artillery bombarded
the church, dropping dozen shells in
to the tower and roof. Company L and
part of company G, Of the Califoraia S
charged into the church, but twsre un-
able to ascend the single fight Of steps
leading to the'story above.
After the incendiaries had retired, q
company OF the Idahos-i and the Wash
ington Guards, stationed on either Side
Of the building, picked off the Filipi-
nos as they were smoked out. Many of
the rebels, heweyer, escaped .luto the
bush in the rear of the church.. TIE
Americans captured 50 Of the rebels
and during the fighting about the churci.
20 Of the rebels were killed.
Some 2, 500women, children and non
combaeants we're allowed to enter he
American lines after promising to go TO
the houses of friends and remain there.
Another intensely interesting iaci-
dent occarred during the engagement.
The Washingtons and the Ida hos and
Companies X and ", Of the Calitor-
Mas charges acrosssthe rice fields be-
tween Paco and Santana, in the face OF
terrific fusillade. The ground, to-
day, over which they passed, is cover
ed with dead and weuuded natives.
The former are being buried,in groups
of FIVE or SIX ABOUT where they lay and
the latter are being brought to the hos
pital. 1t was at this stage Of the fight
ing at Caloocan that the Filipinos sut-
, fered their heaviest losses.
| The Fourteenth regulars we're in a
particularly tight place near Siugaion
! aud Col Duboce was compelled IL rush
! past them with the reserves, in ul,er 70
prevent the regulars from beiilS Cut OFT
In the last line twelve men were Killed