The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-27
AGUINALDO'S DEFENSE
or Calumpit is Very Energctic-The
Americans are Advancing Slowly.
Rebels Use Artillery for tho First

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Americans are Advancing Slowly.
Rebels Use Artillery for tho First
Time.
MANILA, April &c. 6:10 p. m.-Aguln-
aldo's army to-day is defending Calum-
pit energetically, which Is said to Indi-
cate 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
Fillpinos are employing artillery. They
brought two guns into action In the
trenches to-day before Calumpit, firing
modern shrapnel. which burst over the
heads Of Gen. Wheaton's men with
out effect
The fighting was resumed at 6 o'clock
this morning.
During the night the American engin-
eers repaired the Bagbag bridge, thus
enabling oar troops to cross the river.
Gen. Whenton's brigade advanced in
extended order with the Kansas rcgi-
ment TO the west Of the railroad and
the Montana regiment to the east of it.
and took up position covering one ani
half miles on the south hank Of the
Rio Grande. On the opposite bank
were fortified trenches. from which n
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.
which furnished them with cover from
which they could pick of Fillplnos
whenever one Of them showed his head.
Rebels Using Artillery. j
When the rebels began firing, two
puffs Of smoke simultaneously from
the trenches on each side of the rail-
road track. showed they were using
cannon, which was a genuine surprise
TO ;he Americans. Several shells burst
clcae TO General wheaton's staff, but 1t
seemed that the Fillpinos failed to mas
ter the machinery OF the modern shells
as they were unable to get the right
range.
Young's Utah battery was ordered
into position. in the center OF the Kan
sas regiment, TO silence the rebel guns.
and at II O'clock the rapid fire guns had
been ferried across the river and came
Into line.
AT noon the rebels were still pouring
heavy fire In the direction OF the
Americans. who returned It splritedly.
Two Americans were wllled and seven
were wounded.
At about this time Gen. Halc's bri-
gade was advancing east of the line
apparently to cross the river and at
tack the rebel trenches in the flank.
General Macarthur has secured nm
order Issued by Agulnaldo to the rebel
commanders telling them to Instruct the
men to economiEe their fire. save the
empty shells and not to fire at the enc.
my when the latter Is under cover. The
FIIIpinos are also instructed never to
lire. at n longer range than $50 meters
and. when they have river or other
obstruction In front. to hold their fire
until within eighty metres.
This order was issued after the re-
cent encounters between the Fillplnos
and the Americans.
Meeting With Obstacles,
General Lawton Is meeting with the
Greatest obstacles In the character OF
me country. His troops have only had
few skirmishes thus far resulting In
hHe OF his men being injured. But, he
mas been forced TO put his men at work
building roads and the transport service
II Ewing much trouble, bullocks dying
OF The heat and exhaustion and China
men having to be employed In pulling
tolR4 OF the carts. Therefore the gen.
efhl hna been unable to cover the
Ground he hoped to cover.
The natives flee before the expedition,
bnt they swarm back to their huts as
soon as the American troops have pass
el
a iew Filipino aharpshootcrs are har-
'ass'ns the American TANKS.
me commlssaTy department Ia pre-
pa'ing to send more ratIona under
'tong escort TO the front.
The United STAGES transport Zcalan-
wa. from San Francisco, March 2S, hav-
"S on board several companies Of tho