Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-27
Jungle, Heat and Strong Intrenchments to
Be Oontended With.
AMERICAN CASUALTIES AP> >Nt,Dh,,y
Otis is Well Pleased with the Resu,.
Both Movements.
GEN. lAWToN ALSO MEETS WITH SUCCESS
His Command Drives Enemy to the
North and west Only Slight Loss
Being suTcrcd-Couriers
Carry the News.

WASHINGTON, April 26.-The following
cablegram was received at the War depart
ment late this evening:
MANILA, April 26.-Adjutant General,
Washington: Lawton at Ncrsagaray and
Angat. His two columns have united and
nave driven enemy to north and west. Slight
casualties; names not reported. only means
OF communication is through couriers
Macarthur has taken a portion of Calum-
pit, south of river. Movement attended with
diticulties on account of jungle, heat and
strong intrenchments. His casualties yes
terday were three killed and eleven
wounded.
Developments thus far satisfaot tory.
OTIS
MANILA, April 26.-6:1O p. m.-Aguin-
aldo's army today is defending Calumpit
energeticaly, 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 Fiipinos are en-
ploying artillery. They brought two guns
into action in the trenches today before
Calumpt, firing modern shrapnel, which
burst over the heads of General Wheaton 5
men without effect.
The fighting was resumed at o'clock
this morning. During the night the Amer
lean engineers repaired the Bagbag 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 a
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
strongly were they constructed.
The Americans found the trenches on the
south bank of the river deserted.
FiIipinos Use Artillery.
This furnished them with cover from
which they could pick off Filipinos whenever
one OF them showed his head. When the
rebels began firing the rising of two puffs
of smoke simultaneously from the trenches
on each side of the railroad track showed
they were using cannon, Hhich was genG-
inc surprise to the Americans. Several
shells burst close to General Wheaton S
staff, but it seemed that the Filipinos 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 center of the Kansas regi-
ment to silence the rebel guns. and at IL
o'clock the ropid-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
were wounded.
At about this time General Hale's brigade
was advancing east of the line, apparently
to cross the river and attack the rebel
trenches in the flank, as the Americans did
yesterday.
General Macarthur has secured an order
issued by Aguinaldo to the rebel COM
manders, telling them to instruct their men
TO economiZe their fire. save the empty
shells and not to fire at the enemy when
the latter is under cover The Filipinos are
also instructed never to fire at a longer
range than $50 metres, and when they
have n river or other obstruction in front
to hold their fire until within eighty metres.
This order was issued after the recent
encounters between the Filipinos and the
Americans.