Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-26
WITH CHEERS
Americans Charge the
Fi|ipinos at Ca|umpit.
The Natives Finely Disciplined
and Make Strong Resistance.
Col. Funston of Kansas, Again
Covers Himself With Glory.
With Few Volunteers Swims the Bag
bag River Under Heavy Fire.
Americans Resting After Hard Fight
and Will Take CITY, Today.
With Few Volunteers Swms the Bag.
bag River Under a Heavy Fire.
Our Loss, Six Killed, &c Wounded.
Enemy's Loss, About 10 Killed.

Manila, April 25.-10.30 +. M.-Gan.
MacArthur's division fought its way
To the Filipnos trenches before Calum-
pit, today, advancing miles. mostly
through woods ana jungle. ana cross
ing the Bagbag river. This was ac-
complShed at a cost To the Americans
Of six killed ana q wounded the list
South Dakota Regiment being the
heaviest loser. After fording the river
the South Dakotans pursued til" insnr-
gents to the outskirts Of Calumpit. but
tected that Gen. Macarthur deemed il
best to withdraw the tired fighters ana
60 into camp for nights rest before
making the final assault.
The largest buildings in Calumpit
We're being fired by the Filipinos while
the Americans We're crossing the river,
fully a mile away, indicating the
enemys intention to abandon the place.
The insurgents seem to have adopted a
settled policy Of retiring from one po-
sition after another after inficting the
greatest possible damage on the adj
vancing army. Their forces. today,
We're well drilled. Every foot Of the
ground was tenaciously disputed by
thoroughly organized troops. who stood
remarkably firm even before artillery.
The enemy had planned to wreck our
artillery transport train. This attempt
was a failure. but a span Of the iron
railway bridge over the river was de-
stroyed. for some time hampering ,he
American transportation. The Fill
-..~lx
the structure fall with the train but it
collapsed prematurely Of its own
weight.
The Bagbag river, which is about 100
yards wide at that point was splendid
ly fortified. and the Americans We're
compelled to approach across an ope1
space from which the rebelts had
cleared every obstruction in sight. The
bank Of the river. a high bluff. was
surmounted with trenches capped with
rocks. loop hold ana partly hidden by
bushes
Gen. Wheaton's brigade approached
the river along the railroad. leaving
camp beyond Malalos city. Gen. Hale's
which started. yesterday. was earlier
on the march, sweeping westward to
ward the railroad. The armored train
was being pushed by Cinnamon. the
Goth Kansas Regiment advancing in
extended order on the left ana the 1st
Montana Regiment With the Utah
Light ARTILLERY. On the right.
The rapid firing guns on The train
Opened the bali at $50 A. NJ. about
a mile from the river. their popping
alternating continuously with the
boom Of the G-pounders The Montana
Regiment and the Utah Artillery Bat
tericS at the same time entered the
Jungle. from which the insurgents. who
were occupying q large. struggling vii
lagt Of huts poured heavy Volleys. In
the course Of I'm hour the Americans
had forced a passage through the
woods to the open space in front Of the
river ana the artillery, Immediately on
wheeling into the open. began Smelling
the Filipinos' trenches.
In the meantime 90. X, 10th Kansas
led by capt. BoltWOod. performed one
IF the most brilliant achievements of
the campaign. The regiment was be
ne held in reserve. ana co. X. charged
/ distance Of a quarter of a mile over
A corn field to the bank Of the river
near the bridge. where the insurgents
rom a trench We're peppering the ar
nnred train, then about 200 yards down
he track The company found shelter |
n a ditch.
Col Frederick Funston called for
volunteers to cross the river and the /
colonel himself, Lieut.. Ball, a private |
If Co *, a private Of Co. h, Trumeter |
Barsfiield and Corporal Ferguson OF
%. |. crawled along the iron girders
While this was going on the men % |
.. X from the ditch were tusiii5ding 4
he trenches in the endeavor 70 divert \
attention, but the Filipinos got the |
range from a trench down the river, !
and their bullets soon spattered the \
water under the structure.
Having reached the broken span the |
small but valorous party Of Americans |
did down the eaisSon, swan few /
Yards to the shore and crawled up the u
,ank. the little colonel leading the way |
o the trenches. revolver in hand. while 1
he few remaining Filipinos bolted.
Col. Funston said afterwards IL ,
was not much to do. We knew they |
,ould not shoot straight and that our |
ooys would attend to them while we
we're. crossing"
can HaIa'5 troops on.tIe right had /