Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-05-11
SAN TOMAS IS TAKEN
The Filipinos Retreat Before Mac
Arthur After a Strong Resistance.
LARGE AMOUNT 0. RICE CAPTURED.
Col. Funston, of the Twentieth Kansas
Wounded in the Hand-The Enemy's
Loss Slight-The Heat Almost
Unbearable.

Hale moved on the euemy's right and
Brig. Gen. Wheaton attacked the left
in a daring charge, in which Col. Fun
ston again distinguished himself. The
Kansan was wounded in the hand and
several other officers and enlisted men
were also wounded.
Col. Summers, with part Of the Ore
gon and Minnesota regiments and a gun
Of the Utah battery, took Moasim on
the right, resting four miles from San
Fernando. The Filipinos are retreat
ing toward San Isidro and it is ex-
pected that they will make stand at
Arayat, at which place the whole of
the rebel forces in the province of Pan
parga is concentrating.
1t is reported that, impressed by re-
cent events, the Filipinos are wavering
in their allegiance to the instruction
aid are likely to assume a neutral atti-
tude. 1t seems as though Gen. Anto-
MO Luna's forces are destined to de-
struction within a few days unless they
surrender or scatter. The American
army has been skillfully posted at
points Of immense strategic advantage.
The insurgents expected them to adj
vanceon Balinag by way of Quinguaan
had furrowed the entire country beyond
Quingua with the strongest sort of en-
trenchments. Instead of taking this
course Gen. Macarthur swung towards
San Tomas, the route to which was al
most unprotected. Gen. Lawton
brought his brigade in against Balssum
from the southeast, covering the line
of retreat of the rebels towards the
mountains and depriving them of a
refuge on which they had already
counted. Gen. Lawton captured $4,000
bushels of rice, an important part OF
the stores established by the rebels.
In spite of the peaceful overtures OF
their commissioners, the Filipinos Wig
orously resisted the advance of Gen.
MacArthur's division from Apalit to-
ward San Fernando, fighting desper-
ately at long range, after running from
trench to trench when driven out by
the American artillery. The move
ment commenced at $50 in the morn
ing. Gen. Hale's brigade, consisting
of five Gatlings, under command of
Maj. Young of the Sixth artillery; two
oattalons Of the Forty-tirst Iowa regi-
ment, the First Nebraska regiment and
the First Dakota regiment, advanced
along the road, a few miles west of the
railway line. Gen. Wheaton, with
IIotchkiss and Calling guns, I'M
der the command of Lieut.. Naylor,
of the Utah light artillery, mount
ed on handcars, pushed ahead, the
Twentieth Kansas and First Montana
regiments deploying to the right and
left when feasible. Both brigades met
with resistance simultaneously on APP
preaching the river near San Tomas,
which is about eight kilometres from
Apalit. The center span of the rail
road bridge had been dropped into the
river and the rebels had only left a
small force to check Gen. Wheaton,
their main body lining the strong
trenches in the front of Ten. Hale.
Although the attacking force poured
very heavy artillery and mushetry
fire across the river, the enemy Stub
bornly resisted for over an hour, ulti-
mately breaking when Maj. Young
sheled their left flank ana then retreat
ing along the river bank under cover.
Gen. Wheaton, in the meantime, tried
Intellectually to draw the fire Of the Fill
pnos in the trenches east of the track.
So soon as they discovered that the ma
ture of the country would permit only
few sliirmishers on each side of the
embankment, the rebels regained their
courage and fought desperately for
three-quarters of an hour in the face
of the American volleys and a rapid
fire fusillade, until hanked by the Mon
tana regiment. Then general scram-
Bile ensued, most of the enemy board
ing trains that were in readiness and
the Others taking the road to San Fer
roudo, after burning the village of San
Ii mas and Manalin.
About neon Gen. Wheaton crossed
the broken bridge, cleared the strag-
glers out of the villages and advanced
toward San Fernando. Gen. Hale eff
fected crossing simultaneously after
slight delay necessary to repair a
stone bridge. Our loss up to that hour
was two members of the Nebraska reg
iment and one of the Montana killed
and Capt. Albrecht, three members of
the Kansas regiment, two of the Mon
tana. four of the Nebraska and one of
the South Dakota wounded. The enc
N.Y. loss was very slight.
After a short rest the advance was
continued, Gen. Wheaton encounteriDg
the first series of intrenchments near
San Fernando. The rebels now opened
a hot fire. Col. Funston, of the TWEEN
tieth Kansas, was wounded, one lieuten.
ant was killed and four were wounded
while leading four companies of the
Kansas regiment to outhank the enemy
ten. Hale pushed along the road
fanliing the trenches. More than lOC
sick end wounded men from Gen. Law
tons brigade We're brought to Manila
from Malolos by the night train.
| Highest Price Ever Reached.