The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-06-05
A NIGHT SURPRISE.
The stealthy Attack Upon the Oregoni


 Marilao was more elaborate ly planned.
 These three companies had no intrench-
 ment, their tents being pitched near the
 station building. They maintained out posts of twelve men each on the track a
 mile from camp, from which patrols | were sent out along the track to connect | with like patrols from other stations. | The night was dark as pitch, and five | companies of natives stole quietly | through the woods and across the rice- | fields in single file between the camp
 and the track outposts on both sides of
 the Marilao river, and formed skir-
 mish line around it on both sides of the
 camp, and each party sent up colored light when in position. They then moved down towards the camp rapidly. | The cutting of the wires was known at once by the operator at Marilao, and he l had just reported it when a track patrol came in breathlessly to say that he | could hear men on the track about a | quarter of mile north tampering with | the wire. Just then an outpost discov-
 cred the line of troops advancing at | double time, and poured volley into it. Instantly it seemed as though hell had | broken it's gates. Little flashes of flame I burst out on three sides of the camp accompanied by the sharp pot of the | Mauser and the heavier report of the Remington, and a storm of bullets
 sailed over and through the tents. For tunately the officers were dressed and expecting some difficulty, because of the sounds of battle at Bocave As fast tl,oY ,Nr tIo;,, ,+, with guns and ammunition, none of them stopping to put on more clothing than they had been sleeping in, the of ficers located them behind the low rice
 paddles on either side of the track. The Filipinos stopped their advance when fired upon, and followed their old tactics of firing from safe distance.
 Had they continued the rush they could have come clear into camp before the
 men could have been organized for a fight. It was another illustration of the
 well-known fact that the Filipino does
 not care to come into personal contact
 with the lusty American. They lay be-
 hind the rice-paddies at a distance of
 two hundred and fifty yards, and
 worked their guns as fast as they could.
 The attack began at 3:20 and continued for an hour, a continual stream of fire pouring both ways, and just at the first sign of dawn in the east the natives re- tired quietly, leaving few men to keep up the fire, while the main body worked it's way gradually out of range. They did not dare remain until daylight
 would give the Americans a chance to display their craftsmanship. Two blue Etrhtc q a ciUnaI for thjc retreat, but our men, not knowing their significance and fearing 1t meant rush, held their fire and secured a new supply of ammunition during the lull
 Just then there was a sudden commo- ton, firing and shouting at the Filipino line across the track, and the expectant troops heard a great shouting of Out post! Outpost" The patrol party that had been cut off had stolen up quietly in the rear, hiding behind the paddles when our men were firing, and when the lull came they made rush through the line. killing two Filipinos as they passed and demoralizing them so that our men got through in safety. They were in great dainger of being fired upon by our line and continued to call Outpost" This call the F'ilipions took up on both sides of the track, and the troops at camp became fearful that 1t was ruse of the natives to enable | them to get in closer without being fired | upon The officers ordered their men to | be ready, but not to fire until the com l mand was given, and then shouted | "What's your name?" repeatedly, but | all the reply they received was the con- tinued chorus of "Outpost, outpost" In the darkness nothing could be seen, l and matters were getting very critical, | when one of the advancing outpost men | stumbled over a tie and ripped out a se ries of American curses This was iden tifcation enough and the men were not fired upon Meanwhile the Filipin with | drew and the battle was over,
 Not an American was wounded, l there were several narrow es capes when the tents were first fired | into After that our fire made the at tacking force keep so close to the ground that their bullets all flew high Besides the two men killed by the out post, numerous spots of blood and sev- eral straw hats with holes in them, found where the Filipino lines had been, indicated that there had been some cas- ualties among the enemy. These hats all belonged to amigos, for none of them bore the insignia on the hats of all of regular troops,
 A Cowards Responsibility.
 The outpost to the south was not SO fortunate. When the firing on the north began they started in. and had ap- preached within few hundred yards | when a hatless and coatless man came rushing down the track and told them the camp had been annihlated and they would better go back up the road for l safety This man was q detailed guard to the signal corps and a member of an- other regiment one that has done much gallant service, and I withhold it's name 90 that the act of this one coward in it's ranks may cast no stigma upon it. When the attack upon the camp began 1e hid behind the station house. One of he officers saw him and kicked him out, elling him to go down to the line with he others and fight. It was then he led wildly down the track and led these nen to their death by his lying story. Five men turned back with him, while he others secreted themselves to await developments, and finally reached camp II safety The six men proceeded along he track until suddenly a crowd of Fil- pnOs sprung up on both sides of them, |