The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-23
Special Correspondence st. Paul Gloha

News or Camp.
Special Correspondence St Paul Globe
MANILA, P. l., Feb AT last the
fight Is on, and everything points to a
fight to the finish. The general impress
sion has been today that the INSURGENTS
would soon be foolish enough to attack
and tonight at o'clock, when the gen.
eral call to arms came all the boys were
saying that 1t was another scare, and
we all believed 1t, but the scare proved
to be something more serious than was
generally supposed.
L was on guard on Escolta street at the
time when the first trouble came and
had good chance to see the regiments
as they hustled to the front This was
about o'clock p. M. and up to that time
no firing was heard.
At about 10 o'clock we first heard scat
tered shooting, and then, as 1T became
more regular, we all knew the stuff was
off
Firing for the first thirty minutes was
almost entirely from San Mesa where
the Nebraska men We're stationed on the
right bank. They were reinforced at once
by the Californians, who took up the
iSAe, s'ii-i thC iiiiu6 lIOIl tflS llfnG on was
brisk The fighting then seemed to spread
all along the line. and soon we could
hear the Third artillery who are in the
Tondo district. letting them have it right
and left. This was broken into occa-
sionally by the terrific noise of the
smooth bore (6-inch) that the Insurgents
were using.
NAVY TAKES PART.
Then, shortly, all the boys cheered
when the crack of the Charleston's guns
told us the navy was taking hand in
the fracas. First the boom of the eight
inch and then the incessant rat-tat Of
the rapid fire told us they had the range
and We're making use of it. Tondo is
the northern part of the city. On the
south side of the city the Monadnock
monitor was the bull dog on guard in
the bay, while the Washingtonians, re-
inforced by the North Dakota and Four
teenth regiments. We're keeping things
we'll in hand
l a. NJ. Feb. 5.-F'iring now has ceased
all along the line, and everything seems
quiet. The night is dark and starless
| but the searchlights from the battleships
keep the sky illumined.
Reports coming in now say that the
Nebraska, South Dakota and California
regiments have suffered badly. Orderlies
are dashing here and there through the
3:l5 a. m.-Firlng has now commenced
again, and more fierce than before The
Calico (gunboaD has moved in close to
shore near Tondo district and is using
all rapid fire guns.
The fight has reached Malate now, and
this completes the whole line, and the
battle is on in earnest. The Monadnock
has not as yet opened up. I must go to
bed now and get some rest.
Feb D. so ID. m.--HaVa inst returned
from the trenches at Malate, and they
! (our boys) aren't doing much to them
though God knows at what cost for the
hospital is filling up, 100 in now, and only
| the wounded being brought in at present.
TROOPS FIRE AT WILL.
| The scene on the suburbs Of Malate
| beggars description. The long line of
| troops spread over the field, lying and
| 1neeling, fires at will and in volIeys.
| while the artillery is gradually driving
| the Insurgents back
| / mustn't forget the Monadnock and
the Charleston, which moved down to
her support. They weren't doing much,
just making new roads in the country
piling up niggers and raising fearful
havoc.
First you see a cloud Of white smoke
from the monitor S side, then in six sec
| onds comes the boom; you wait another
,
then another bamboo house goes up in
smoke.
Dewey has burned Paranaque and ev-
| cry building between there and Manila
| Ever seen forest fire? Well, there
| you have 1t. That describes the scene
| beyond our lines.
| On the left of the line the boys are
| using the bodies Of dead natives for pro-
| lection. These are piled up in places
| three or four high. (This statement is
| a factD
| The Tennessee men went to the front
| today, and, after entering the firing,
| line, their colonel was shot. Then the or
f'der was given to cease firing, and the
| Tennessee regiment is still going, no
| one knows where but the insurgents,
and they aren't in a condition to tell
after the regiment has passed. The
Tennesseeans are showing that they are
made of splendid stuff.
The boys only stop firing when they
are worn out and guns too hot to han
die.
S p. m.-The Third artillery today
| flanked the insurgents in the Tondo dis
| trict and commenced moving them down
| before they knew what had happened
Now l must come to the Thirteenth h
| and what we are doing. Col Ames tried
| to get permission to take the regiment
| to the front, but Gen. Hughes won't
| " II, lOf we KNOW the city we'll,
and l guess we are in for a hot time
right here, even warmer than the
! trenches, for the boys are being stab
| bed in the dark and shot at from win
| dows.
ORDERED TO SHOOT.
A detachment of our company went
| to Benando to search house and were
| fired on, but no one was hurt Orders
now are to shoot every one seen on
| house tops. and suspicious persons are
| likewise dealt with.
Not a wink Of sleep, you might say.
! for the boys, and, when one don't dare
| sit in an open window or turn his back
! to the public on the streets, you can
| imagine the state of affairs in Manila.
Officers and men alike are constantly
| on the alert.
| Our whole company has been on guard
now for forty-eight hours, getting its
meals when it can and presenting In
| appearance a walking arsenal I forget
how many guns Sergeant Bunker car
| ries, but It's a considerable number
| 1t Is hard work to get at the real facts
| of things, as one cannot leave quarters.
and, If you do and are caught 1T would
| go hard with you.
| 1 shall use my best endeavor to get
| to the hospitals and outposts soon, and
/ more accurate news will follow this.
| No one In our regiment killed I'D to
| now. though some have undarStoDd