The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-26
boys would attend to them while we
were crossing"
HALE's HARD FIGHT.


were crossing
HALE'S HARD FIGHT.
General Hale's troops, on the right,
had the hardest fight. They followed
the north bank of the river nearest the
town from the east, with the First Ne
braska regiment on the left and the
First South Dakota and the Fifty-hrst
Iowa beyond. The country to be ira
versed was mostly jungle, but the Fill
pinOs stood their ground even in the
open spaces.
General HaIe's right Joined General
WheatOn's left soon after noon, curve
in the river enabling the Americans to
pour an enfilading fire into the en-
emy's trenches. About this time the
cheers of the Kansas troops announced
that the Americans had crossed the
river General Hale's men began to
ford the Chico, a branth of the Bagbag,
stretching to the northeast The gen.
eral himself plunged in up to his neck
and the regiments, all carrying flags,
fiOundered across the stream. The guns
of the Utah light artillery were dragged
over next and formed an extended line
to advance upon the trenches before
Calumpit, from which the F'ilipinos
were pouring continuous volleys.
The armOred car had one man killed
and two wounded.
The Kansas regiment had three
wounded during the charge, and the
Utah light artillery one killed and two
wounded. Most of the other casualties
befell the South Dakota regiment.
1t is difficult to estimate the insurgent
losses, but they are no fewer than 20
killed. many of them by the artillery.
To CUT OFF AMMUNITION.
Washington, April 26.-Army officials
have learned that since Manila fell the
Filipinos have been obtaining supplies
of ammunition from Hong Kong and
Singapore, as well as from Europe. 4
strict naval patrol of the island of I.u-
is expressed that the supply of ammuni-
tion will now be cut off. 1t is positively
stated that the Filipinos have no fac
tory for the manufacture of smokeIess
powder and Mauser cartridges which
they are using.
TODAY's BATTLE.
Manila, April 26-The fighting was
resumed at o'clock this morning Dur
ing the night the American engineers
repaired the Bagbag bridge, thus en-
abling our troops to cross the river.
For the first time the Filipinos are
employing artillery. They brought two
before Calumpit, firing modern shrap-
mel which burst over the heads of Gen.
Wheaton's men without effect.
Gen. Wheaton'S brigade advanced in
extended order, with the Kansas regi-
ment to the west of the railroad and
the Montana regiment to the east of it
and took up a position covering one
and a half miles on the south bank of
the Rio Crande. On the opposite bank
were fortified trenches from which a
few American soldiers would have been
strongly
We're they constructed.
TRENCHES DESERTED
The Americans found the trenches on
the south bank of the river deserted,
which furnished the men with cover
from which they could pick off FllipinoS
whenever one of them showed his head.
When the rebels began firing two puffs
of smoke, simultaneously, from the
trenches on each side of the railroad
track showed they were using cannon,
which was a genuine surprise to the
Americans Several shells burst close
to Gen. Wheaton's staff, but it seemed
that the Filipinos failed to master the
machinery Of modern arms 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
a heavy fire in the direction of the
Americans who returned it splritedly.
Two Americans were killed and sew
en- were wounded.
At about this time, Gen. Hale's brig
ade was advancing east of the line, ap-
parently to cross the river and attack
the rebel trenches in the flank as the
American did yesterday.
LAWTON HAVING TROUBLE.
Manila, April 26-Gen. Macarthur
has secured an order issued by Aguin-
aldo to the rebel commanders, telling
them to instruct their men to economiZe
their fire, save the empty shells and not
to fire at the enemy when the latter is
under cover The FiIipinoS are also in
structed never to fire at a longer range
than $50 meters, and when they have a
river or other distractions in front, to
hold their fire until within so meters.
This order was issued after the re-
cent encounters between the FilipinOS
and the Americans.
Gen. Lawton is meeting with the
- IL
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 SER
vice is giving much trouble, bullOckS
dying of 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-
tiOn but they swarm back to their hutS
as soon as the American troops have
passed.
A few Filipino sharpshooters are har-
assing the American TANKS
The commissary department is pre-
pairing to send more rations, under a
| strong escort to the front.
The United States transport Zealan-
dia. from San Francisco, March 2S,
having on board several companies of
| the Ninth infantry and large quanti-
| ty of supplies arrived here today after
| an uneventful voyage. Her troops are
now camped on the water front
| The United States transport Sheridan
| sails for home tomorrow. She will take
| among her passengers Gen. Charles
| King and Mrs. Colonel StatSenburg,
who is conveying her husbands body
| to the United States.
| The Sheridan alsohas on board sew
eral officers families who find Manila
an undesirable residence.
| rASrArrO rTCT