The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-10-11
FORCED OUT OF THEIR TRENCHES.
FILIPINOS ROUTED.
Americans Shell and Burn The Town Of
Novelela-Three OiIisers and Nine
Privates Wounded.


Philippines. consisting Of the Thirteenth
infantry, battalion OF the Fourt-
eehth, two troops of cavalry, Captain
Reilly's battery Of the Fifth artillery,
and Loves scouts, advanced from
Bacoor Monday morning and occupied
Cavite Viejo and Noveleta.
The American loss was three officers
and nine privates wounded one Of the
officers being mortally hurt. The loss
of the enemy is unknown, but the
bodies of three Filipinos were seen.
There were two sharp fights near
Noveleta. loves scouts first en-
cOuntered the enemy near Cavite Vieto
and soon put them to flight, continu-
ing their advance.
Captain Safford's battalion OF the
Thirteenth regiment with two com
panies of the Fourteenth and a num-
Der of Tagalo scouts. Captain McGrath
commanding the troops Of the Fourth
came upon the enemy in n strongly in
trenchod position on the road between
Cavite Vie1o and Noveleta. A fight
lasting half an hour followed. result
Ing in the enemy being driven back.
The American forces sustained con
siderable losses in this engagement,
the men being shot from trenches and
shacks along the road.
The column then pressed on to Mo-
veleta, which they found deserted.
The marines and naval forces CO.
operated with the troops. The gun
boats Wheeling. Petrol and Callao lay
off the shore near Noveleta and threw
shells into that town and Santa Cruz
for an hour, preparing the way for
the marines to land. Two battalions,
consisting of 450 marines under Col
onel Elliott, advanced along the penin-
sula from Cavite to Noveleta The
only way was by a narrow road
through swamps.
a mile beyond the marines out
posts the column was suddenly re-
ceived with n volley from trenches
across the road. a flank movement
was executed and the insurgents were
driven from the trenches. the marines
wadlng through rice fields in turning
the flank of the enemy, who retreated
to strong sand forts across the creek
dividing the peninsula. destroying the
bridge across the stream.
The marines waded through more
rice fields, forded the river in water to
their shoulders and carried the forts,
meeting with feeble resistance, the
first encounter having disheartened
the enemy. Squads were sent to No
veleta. and burned the town and the
huts all along the road from which
the enemy commenced the firing.
There a junction was formed with
the scouts, who had been sweeping the
swamps and thickets. Thence the ma
rines returned to Cavite thoroughly
exhausted. Lieutenant Wynne. with
three-pounder. did good execution
during the advance.
Captain Cowles' battalion of the
Fourth infantry, while accommodating
| recently found q body of several hun
dred insurgents near San Nicholas.
After brisk fight, lasting three
| quarters of an hour, the enemy was
| driven off. In this engagement the
N
slightly wounded. Six of the enemy
were killed, but the number of wound
| ed Is not known. The bad condition
of the roads made the progress Of the
| artillery slow.
General Lawton has organized a
general movement to clear the country,
| between linus and Bacoor, taking per-
sonal command. General Lawton's
force consists of all the troops from
| Bacoor and Zapote, five companies or
the Fourteenth regiment, Colonel Bag
gett commanding; Megrath's troop of
the Fourth cavalry, Reily's battery of
two guns, and another battery Of two
guns.
General Lawton Wednesday dispersed
the insurgents. driving them to the
westward. The purpose of the Filipinos
| was to cut the communication main
| tained between Bacoor and linus ana
the east bank of the river. The insur-
| gents had trenches along the west
| bank, commanding the open spaces.
force of 1900 natives attacked linus
and COO proceeded against Bacoor with
detachments along the river
Tuesday morning Colonel Daggetts
force spread. along the road from Ba-
coor toward linus, and three companies
| of the Fourth regiment, under Captain
Hollis. were thrown out from linus, the
two commands forming junction; The
entire line crossed the river and drove
the Filipinos from their trenches to the
westward, through rice fields and
| thickets. The marines, whose services
were rendered by Admiral watson
crossed the river near the bay, forming
part of the line of advance.
Before the forward movement was
begun the American artillery shelled
the enemy's position. The only Ameri-
can casualty was the wounding OF q
lieutenant of artillery. Several wounded
Filipinos We're attended to by surgeon
Major Penrose and members OF the am
bulance corps. A number of prisoners
were taken. General Lawton while rid
ing up the road to linus was the target
for many shots.
Gen. Fred Grant, with two com
panies of the Fourth infantry, two
| companies of the Fourteenth infantry
and band Of scouts attached to tbs
former regiment, advanced from linus
Saturday morning. driving the insur'
gents from the entire west bank Of
the linus river.
Three Americans were wounded
1t is estimated that 10 of the Fill
pinos were killed.
Companies C and Fl, with the scouts
crossed the river at Big bend and ad
vanced westward in the direction o
the Bincayan road, the insurgents
firing volleys but retiring. Twen,.
Filipinos were discovered intrenchet
at the Bincayan church, about mdwa!
between Bacoor and Cavite VieJo
These were routed, six being killed.
Riley's battery of the Fifth artiller,
made an effective sortie about mill
south of Bacoor and shelled the ives
bank of the river at close range. Tha
bank is now held by the Americans.