Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-05-09
RUN A TRAIN UP WITHIN SIGHT OF
SAN FERNANDO.
TEAR UP RAILROAD TRACK
NEBRASKA REGIMENT ASKS FOR
RELIEF FROM DUTY.
General Macarthur Fails to Connect
with the River GunbOnts-War
Department officials More
Than Ever Encouraged
Over Situation.

MANILA, May S.-The Filipinos surprised
the United States forces at San Fernando
with daring trick yesterday. railway
train with an engine at each end was run
almost to the American outposts ana In
plain sight of the town. Before they coulu
be reached, a gang of natives sprang OH
the train, tore up several lengths OIL the
railway track, boarded the train again ana
steamed away so quickly that there was no
opportunity to capture the raiders.
; The Nebraska regiment is asking for a
temporary relief from duty. Only 5lS men
of this regiment are left at the front.
The armys gunboats, Laguna de bay
and Cavadonga, under command OF captain
Grant, which started up the San Fernando
river for Guagua on yesterday, as was
presumed, to establish there base OF sup
plies for the troops engaged in the North
ern campaign, returned to-day, Major GEN
eraI Macarthur having failed to connect
with the expedition. The gunboats found
rebels intrenched at Sosmoan and Guagua
on the water fronts of the towns. The
vessels steamed past the works, shelling
the occupants and driving them out. Land
- ing parties from the boats entered potn
towns, capturing at Sosmoan spanish
captain in uniform who was ostensibly
prisoner in the hands OF the rebels, ana
also a native officer. Arriving at Guagua,
the town and small gunboat were found
to be burning, and the natives were eVac-
uating the place in consequence OF the
bombardment-
At Sosmoan the landing party captured
a number of Filipino flags and quantity
of arms chiefly bolos and bows and ar
rows, besides a lot of band instruments,
which the men played as they marched
back to the boats.
Captain Grants expedition will probably
return up the San Fernando river, after
being reinforced, on recently purchased
light draft Spanish steamers.
WASHINGTON, May s.-The war depart
ment has received from General Otis dis
patch giving the situation in the Philip
pines, some parts Of which have been
omitted by the war department in making
it public. The dispatch is as follows:
MANILA May S-Adjutant General,
washington:-Situ as follows: Law
ton at Maasin and Balinag; scouting par
ties 10 the north and east Macarthur at
San Fernando; population of coun-
try between Manila and northern points
held by. troops returning home; appear
cheerful and contented. Army gunboats
operating in rivers. Have cleared country
west of Macarthur of insurgents.
Signs of insurgents weakness more appar-
ent daily. OTIS.
The war department officials seem to be
even more encouraged over the condition
I'm Manila. The report of General Otis re-
-ceived to-day indicates that the American
troops are well disposed. 1t has been evil
dent that the insurgents which, were ope-
rating I'm the swamps and jungles east of
General Macarthur have been very annoy
ing. but the army gunboats have made ii
too hot for them TO remain. General Law
ton appears to be pushing northward some
fifteen miles to the east of Macarthur.
The Rio Grande river lies between them,
and their gunboats evidently are at work.
The portions of the dispatch which the de-
partment has not made public perhaps re-
fer TO the future movements of the two d.
visions of the army.