Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-04-27
THE AMERICANS IN CALUMPIT.

THE AMERICANS IN CALUMPIT.
The following cable mcsgage from
General Otis was received at the War
Department about 1880 last night:
Adiutant General, Washington:
Lawton at Norzagaray and Augat,
his two columns united; have driven
enemy to north and west. Slight casu-
alties; names not reported. Only means
of communication couriers. MacAr-
thur has taken portion OF Calumpit
south of river. Movement attended
with difficulties on account Of jungle,
heat, and strong intrenchments. His
casualties yesterday three killed, eleven
wounded. Developments thus far salts
factory.
General MacArther resumed his ad-
vance yesterday morning, and entered
Calumpit after an all-day fight, during
which the enemy resisted stubbornly,
killing and wounding fifteen Ameri-
cans. They fired shells into the Amer
lean ranks. Their defensive works
were found to be very strong and well
made. The fighting on the American
side was confined to General Wheaton's
brigade. The bridge across the Bagbag
river, many girders of which were de-
stroyed by the enemy, was repaired,
enabling the baggage of the troops to
be taken across.
The Kansas and Montana regiments
attacked the trenches, driving the
enemy to the brush, where the rear
guard temporarily checked the advance
of the Americans, the main BODY Of the
Filipinos in the meantime retreatlng to
Calumpit, where they crossed the Rio
GranGe.
At II o'clock yesterday morning the
troops reached the south bank OF the
Rio Grande, from which the guns OF
the Utah battery hurled shells into
Calumpit. One line Of trenches and
small river remained to be overcome
before the troops entered the town.
General Hale's brigade on the right
partly hanked the eDemy's nearest posi-
ton. The Montana regiment had two
men killed and three wounded. The
Kansas regiment had one killed. Nine
wounded Filipinos left on the field were
sent back TO Manila. Few of the enemy
were killed.
When General MacArthur's troops
entered Calumpit they planted their
guns in front of the church and bonn
barded the suburbs, where the insur-
gents were still fighting behind trenches.
Yesterday afternoon theAmerican losses
had reached fifteen killed and wounded.
The insurgents are strongly entrenched
on the opposite bank of the Rio Grande,
and for the first time are using cannon.
Major Starr, of General Lawton's
staff, arrived in Manila last night, tray
cling by way of Bocaue. The object OF
his visit is to confer with Major General
Otis in regard to further operations.
General Lawton's troops are still en-
camped at Norzagaray. Colonel Sum
mers, with the Minnesota and Oregon
regiments and troop Of caValry, ad
vanced and captured Augat, returning
to Norzagaray. General Lawton is
still without communication, as 1t Is i'm
possible TO maintain it through the en-
emy's territory.
It's reported from Spanish official
sources that General Antonio Luna SUI
persedes Aguinaldo as the Filipino
leader. Luna. the report says, has is-
sued a proclamation pronouncing the
sentence of death upon all natives found
with the proclamation of the United
States commissioners III their posses.
sion.
The United States transport Hsalan-
dia, from San Francisco, with part OF
the Ninth infantry On board, arrived at
Manila yesterday. The transport Sheri
dan is scheduled to sail for home via
Nagssaki on April q.
General Lawton is meeting with the
greatest obstacles in the character Of
the country. His troops have only had
a few skirmishes thus far, resulting in
five Of his men being wounded. But
he has been forced to put his men at
work building roads, and the transport
service is giving much trouble, bullocks
dying of the heat and exhaustion, and
Cinnamon having to be employed in
pulling some of the carts. Therefore,
the general has been unable to cover
the ground he hoped to cover.
The natives flee before the expedi-
ton, but they swarm back to their huts
es soon 80 the American troops have
passed. A few Filipino sharpshooters
are harassing the American flank.