The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-05-05
MACARTH IN PURSUIT
Takes San Tomas Against a
Strong Resistance.
REBELS MAKING FOR THE HILLS.

Our Army Probably at San Fernando
by This Time-FunstOn Wounded 1I'
the Hand-GaIIant Kansan Again
Distinguishes Himself.
Manila, May 5.-Major General Mac
Arthur has carried San Tomas after en-
countering a strong resistance.
Colonel Sumner with a part of the
Oregon and Minnesota regiments and
gun of the Utah battery, took Maasin
on the right, resting four miles from
San Fernando.
The Filipinos are retreating toward
San Isidro, and it is expected that they
will make a stand at Arayat, at which
place the whole of the rebel forces in
the province of Pampanga is concen-
trating.
In spite of the peaceful overtures OF
their commissioners the Filipinos Wig
orously resisted the advance of General
MacArthur's division from Apalit to-
ward San Fernando, fighting desperate
ly at long range after running from
trench to trench when driven out by the
American artillery.
The movement commenced at half
past in the morning. General Hale's
brigade, consisting of five Cuttings I'M
der the command of Major Young OF
the Sixth artillery, two battalions OF the
Fifty-f1r Iowa regiment, the First Ne
braska regiment ana the First South
Dakota regiment advanced along the
road few miles west of the railway
line.
Wheaton's Advance.
General Wheaton, with Hetchkiss and
Calling guns under the command OF
Lieutenant Naylor of the Utah Light
artillery mounted on hand cars, pushed
ahead, the Twentieth Kansas and First
Montana regiments deploying to the
right and left when feasible.
The country to be traversed proved
the worst yet encountered, miles of
marshes and many unfordable streams
delaying the advance materially.
Both brigades met with resistance 81
simultaneously on approaching the river
San Tomas, which is about eight kilo-
meters from Apalit. The center span
of the railroad bridge had dropped into
the river, and the rebels had only left a
small force to check General Wheaton,
their main body lining the strong
trenches in front of General Hale.
Although the attacking force poured
a very heavy artillery and musketry
fire across the river, the enemy stub
bornly resisted for over an hour, ulti-
mately breaking when Major Young
shelled their left flank and then re-
treating along the river bank under
cover.
General Wheaton in the meantime
tried Intellectually to draw the fire Of
tho TTiIfYoiuoc in tho trannhaS ga ct of the
track.
So soon as they discovered that the
nature of the country would permit on
ly a few skirmishes 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 rapid fusil-
lade until flanked by the Montana regi-
ment. Then a general scramble ensued,
most of the enemy boarding trains that
were in readiness and the others taking
the road to San Fernando after burning
the villages Of San Tomas and Minalin.
About noon General Wheaton crossed
the broken bridge, cleared the stray
glers out of the villages and advanced
toward San Fernando. General Hale
effected crossing simultaneously after
a slight delay necessary to repair a
stone bridge.
Colonel Funston Wounded.
Our loss up to that hour noon) was
two members of the Nebraska regiment
and one of the Montana killed and Cap
tain Albrecht, three members of the
Kansas regiment, two of the Montana,
four of the Nebraska and one of the
South Dakota wounded.
The enemy's loss was very slight.
After a short rest the advance was
continued, General Wheaton encounter
ing the first series of intrenchments
near San Fernando. The rebels now
opened a hot fire.
Colonel Funston of the Twentieth
Kansas was wounded, one lieutenant
was killed, and four were wounded
while leading four companies of the
Kansas regiment to outflank the enemy.
General Hale pushed along the road
thanking the trenches.
More than 100 sick and wounded men
from General Lawton's brigade were
brought to Manila from Malolos by last
nights train.
1t is reported that, impressed by re-
cent events the Filipinos are wavering
in their allegiance to the instruction
and are likely to assume neutral atti-
tude.
The heat is unbearable.