The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-05

Seventeenth regulars. HIS description
Of the fercest battle OF the war, that at
San Fernando, is intensely interesting.
and win be read with the greatest In
terest
From Our Soldier Correspondent.
SAN FERNANDO, Luzon, P. l.. June
25.-These are stirring, bloody times in
San Fernando's history. Three of the
flercest battles of the war have
been fought within its borders
and all Indications point to an
even more sanguinary encounter yet to
come. Imagine If you will, wide strip
of well watered cane. rice, hemp and
fruit district, blsect # by a railroad ex-
tending from Manila on the south, to
Dagupan on the north, place San Fer
nando almost In the centre OF the dis
trict and about seventy five miles from
each railroad terminus and you have a
general idea of the topography of a re-
gIon wherein has occurred most OF the
fighting of the war. 1t might be added
that all north OF San Fernando, is in
surrecto territory, and all south OF It.,
at least to where our forces garrison
what Is known as the south line" OF
intrenchments, is occupied by Ameri-
can troops. Those who predict an car
~ termination of the war, unless some
fortunate chance or skillful trick OF dl-
nlomacy interVenes. are ignorant Of the
true situation OF affairs. Driven from
his splendidly built intrenchments in
one part of the island. the insurrecto
simply scurries to another. where he
awaits the American advance.
The teachings Of CaloOcan and Mala-
bon, OF Malolos and Calumpit, evidence
this systematic withdrawal and re-es-
tablishment OF AguinaldO's followers.
Nearly every paper we receive from the
states contains description of how the
rebel forces are preparing TO make n
last stand" at some point or other.
Such statements serve merely to fur
Their becloud popular mind which at
best has never possessed clear in
sight into the true situation of Philip
pine AFFAIRS. At present there seems to
be four distinct divisions OF insurrec-
tionists, each under Its own leader.
These leaders may have differences
among themselves. but q common pur-
pose is theirs in worrying the Ameri-
can troops at all times and in every
way possible.
At San Fernando you might be justI-
fed In believing that n last stand" was
to be made on our immediate front.
The enemy are at work everywhere on
new intrenchments plainly within view.
Our troops on the south line, some
eighty miles from this battle Scared
city, doubtless believe the same thing of
n horde at work there So It is at Mari
guina and In the San Maguil district,
where other divisions are modified.
There will never be n final stand
such as has marked the close Of other
wars in American history. The fabric
Of the insurrection is too loosely WOW
en- to admit OF such a sudden demoli-
ton. One force of the enemy may lay
down Its arms or be compelled to sur
render them without even slightly nf-
fecting any other force In the field.
This is but one of the phases Of the
situation which presages war for years
to come unless some favorable ext
Gency arises.
There's Bright Side.
There is. however. bright side to the
picture and, after all, that is the side to
look upon. Whatever districts are now
protected by American troops are pro-
tected thoroughly. Not once since the
war began has the line of defense been
broken by the enemy and our advance
has been checked only by n sensible
policy Of acquiring no more territory
than could be readily controlled by the
troops at hand. on the north. at least,
the lines are extended as far as present
necessity demands. When the proper
time comes and n suitable number OF
troops can be spared for the undertake
Ing, the northern half OF this railroad
country will doubtless be reduced to
American control by much the same
slow and costly, albeit sure. process
which marked the advance from Manila
to San Fernando. In the meanwhile.
the troops quartered here will have
their hands full in maintaining prop
er defense OF the city. Entrenched
about It's borders are nearly all the
regiments Of the native army which
have learned many bitter lessons In the
art OF war In their spasmodic retreat
from the outskirts Of MANILA TO their
DIEHEUL
able reason these dusky warriors seem
to have displayed an unusually agrees
sIve spirit in all the actions In and
about this station.
The first engagement meant two days
OF sklllful manoeuvering through
swamp and river before San Fernando,s
defenses could be thanked.
At length smoke, pouring from the
ancient cathedral and from the BUSH
ness district, indicated 20 the tired
forces without that Aguinaldo had
adopted his usual tactics before evacu-
atiRg
ON the day OF our arrival here Gener-
al Luna brought on n second engage
ment by creeping too close to the city
with his sworn outlaw horde. His dar-
ing cost "the cause" some two hundred
In dead. wounded and prisoners. The
third AFFAIR was intended TO be sort OF
surprise party. For days before, an un-
usual activity was noticed along the
enemy's line. which parallels our own
on three sides Of the town at dis
lance varying from 800 to 1900 yards.
rather friendly. True, we didn't swap
tobacco with the other fellows, as some
OF the Civil war tales have II, but we
watched each other with great curios-
ity and sometimes held a distant con-
verHatlon In broken Spanish.
But when long trains from the north
brought "Aggic" himself and over 5000
fresh troops, the situation took DIFF
ferent turn. Whenever n hat or blue
shirt popped up above our trenches a
volley followed.
Even their shnrp-shootcrs, however.
are miserable shots. At only one point
on the north line was there any real
danger from their constant efforts. and
here the outposts took turns Mt elcvat-
ing hat or shirt on n piece OF bamboo
with the almost certain result Of get
ting brass tipped Remington through