The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-05-16
Manila AdVicss Picture The Re.
bells 10 Wild Retreat.
AMERICANS ALWAYS vICIoRS
Gallant Charges Made BY the Vol.
unteers-Rushes on Trenches
Killed ana wounded.

NEW YORK, May "a cable TO the
Sun, dated Manila, May 8, s:55 p. m,
says: The charges made yesterday by
the Kansas Regiment north 'of San
Tomas were most gallantly executed
under the personal leadership of Gen.
Wheaton and his stan and Col. (Briga-
dier GeneraD Funston. The Kansans
were full of fight and they drove the
enemy almost TO San Fernando. Our
troops were then recalled to San Tomas
for the night TO wait the arrival Of the
wagon train, which had been delayed
by the destruction OF bridges by the
rebels.
This morning Gen. Hale, with two
battalions of the Fifty-irst Iowa Reg
iment and Hotchkiss gun advanced
On San Fernando, his men nanking the
town on the right. The Americans were
compelled to wade across two shallow
streams to reach the town. When they
approached San Fernando they found
that the main body of the enemy had
deserted that place yesterday, fleeing
northward. Only a small garrison was
left to make defense. When our
troops were in the middle OF the sec
Ond stream, which they had to cross,
the Filipinos opened a brisk fire on
xhem. II they thought to hold the Am
orleans in check they were woefully
disappointed, for the 1owans, with
cheers and shouts, scrambled up the
bank of the river and then matters be-
came lively for the Filiplnos. With
out moments hesitation the Amer
leans rushed the position held by the
enemy and drove them out. Then they
chased tAem through the town and
mile beyond. 1t was simply foot race,
in which the lightly equipped natives
had the advantage, unless they were
halted by the bullets, as many of them
we're.
When our troops returned to town
they found that the church, convent,
railroad station and several other
buildings had been burned by the Fill
ipinos yesterday and this morning.
The town was strongly fortified, and
IL the rebels had not lost heart they
could have inflicted severe losses on
our forces before the place was cap
tured. South of town there was a
double line OF loopholed, zigzag
trenches. the construction of which
showed good military knowledge
These trenches could easily have been
held for long time against super
iOr force IL the defenders had been
willing TO fight. The fact that they
were abandoned by the main body OF
insurgents is proof of the demoraliza-
aiOn in the Filipino army. There were
also several old Spanish blockhouses
which could have been utilized for de-
tense, but they were put to no use.
A Spanish prisoner, who was form
erly a provincial officer, was left be-
hind when the enemy retreated. He
stated that Gen. Antonio Luna, the
rebel commander, was wounded in the
chest during yesterdays fighting In
front Of San Tomas. He added that
the Filipino troops were completely
iemoralized and had retreated in great
disorder.
Later in the day Gen. Macarthur
moved the remainder of his division 10
San Fernando. The greater part OF
the residence portion OF the town Is
intact. Many OF the inhabitants who
Ned before or with the troops left all
their household goods behind them.
The American casualties yesterday
were: killed-Twertieth Kansas
iAect. McTaggart anG one private;
First Montana, one private; FIRST Ne
braska, TWO priVates.
Wounded-TTentieth Kansas, thir'
teen men, Including two officers; Cen
funston, hand, slight; First Montana
THREE, including one officer; Fifty-hH
South Dakota, one.
Gen. Lawton Is now at Maasin, hvt
miles from San Miguel He captured
III ~ rroo ~ " sv@oIant ', ~ n Jo"t ,ho ontir, %