The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-10
THROUGH MUD kNEEDEEP
FILIPINOS SURPRISED, DRIVEN
FROM THEIR WORKS.
our lossfSBeIWEEN THIRTY AND FORTY
fiIpnos Unable 10 Stand Save for Short
While the Storm of Iron the Americans
Hurled Upon Them. Noted
FIIipino fakir Captured.


General McArthur's advance beyond San
Fernando show that the Americans coy
cred five miles in the first five hours and
at two o'clock had advanced six miles
along the railway, stretching ON each side
of it for two miles and resting at night
three miles from Angeles, which will be
made the northern base of operations
instead of San Fernando, where a gar
rison of six hundred men has been left.
The casualties are between thirty and
forty. The Filipinos We're surprised, ex-
pecting the American forces to move
against Tico. They followed their usual
tactics of holding their trenches until
they became too warm and then retreat
ing in disorder. They are now falling
back westward toward Poric.
The Twelfth and Seventeenth regi-
ments had the sharpcst engagements.
The country our troops passed over is
covered with rice fields and bamboo
thickets. the hardest possible ground for
marching. The mud, in places, was
knee deep.
Angeles is one of the richest towns
north of Manila and is considered to be
a better base OF operations than San
Fernando.
The forces at San Fernando consist
ed of the Iowa regiment, the Seventh
regiment, the Ninth regiment. Twelfth
regiment, Bells new Thirty Sixth regi-
nlent battalion of the Sixteenth regi-
ment, Troop + Of the Fourth cavalry
and 15 guns.
The movement had been planned for
some time, but was delayed by rains.
Finally, two days of sunshine dried the
rice fields sufficiently to warrant the at
tempt.
The Americans position had dong been
unpleasant. The rebels almost surround
ed the town and fired nearly every night
into it, the Americans not replying, eX
cept on extreme Drovocation. 1t was
necessary to keep 800 to 600 men on out
post duty constantly.
Captain Deems with a provost guard,
last night captured noted Filipino
fakir, with several aliases, who, by
means of ventriloquism, has persuaded
the natives that he has supernatural
powers He raised much money, 0sten-
sibly for the inst ction, which he kept
for himself. Our soldiers surrounded his
house and corralled thirty Filipinos
Many others escaped. The troops also
captured one thousand dollars.
Emmanuel, as the fakir is generally
known, has been predicting the fall of
Manila. His prophecies" have created
excitement among the natives who be-
lieyed them.
Reports from rebel sources say 80
Filipinos We're killed in General Halls
engagement at Calamaba and in the
subsequent skirInishes.
Tile American loss in the fighting about
San Fernando at 3 O'Clock was known
TO be eight men killed and twenty six
wounded. The loss may possibly exceed
these figures, as the line is five miles
long and it is impossible, at this hour.
to hear from every point
Our troops are row about Angeles.
waiting for the artillery, which has the
greatest difficulty LII moving, owing 10
the wet ground.
The attack WAS opened at ) o'clock
in the morning, a battery of the First
artillery shelling Bacelor, on the left.
simultaneously Bells Thirty Sixth infan-
try struck Bacolor from the rear and
drove the rebels ont. Armored cars,
each with a six FOUNDER and two CAT
hing revolving cannon on board, then
moved out on the railroad track, in the
centre of our lines. Soon afterwards
these guns did sharp execution.
Battery NJ, Of the Third artillery and
hundred men Of the Iowa regiment
made feint towards Mexico while the
main body of troops, consisting of the
Iowa regiment, the Seventeenth regiment
and a battalion Of the Twenty
under General Wheaton on the right and
the Ninth regiment, Twelfth regiment
and Bells regiment, the Thirty-sixth,
under General Liscum. on the left, al
yanced steadily, pouring their fire into
the rebels and receiving a heavy fire in
return. The rebels were well protected
by trenches and seemed mot to lack am
munition. But, they were unable TO
withstand for any length OF time the
hail Of shots our artillery and infantry
poured in on them. and retreated, leay-
ing -- dead and wounded on the field.
a dozen prisoners were captured by our
troops
The reports indicate that the Ninth
infantry suffered the most though thc
casualties Of all the regiments are not
yet reported.
The weather was extremely hot and
Cur troops suffered greatly. But there
was no faltefing.
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