Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-06-21
ROUT FOR THE ENEMY
Filipinos Put Up the Hottest Battle
of the War.

Engage the Enemy with FerOcity-
Fighting Continues All Day-War-
ships Take Part-American Brave
cry Is Finally Successful.
Manila, June IA. - Gen. Lawton I'M
expectedly stirred up one of the liveli-
est engagements of the war south of
Las Pinas Tuesday morning, upon
which occasion American field guns were
engaged in the first artillery duel
against Filipino battery concealed In
the jungle.
Companies F and 1 of the Twenty
first infantry, were nearly surrounded
by large body of insurgents, but the
Americans cut their way out with
heavy loss.
Warships in Action.
The United States turretship Monad-
mock and the gunboats Helena and "a
fro trained their batteries on Bacoor
and the rebel trenches near Las Pinas
all the morning. Bacoor was once on
fire, but the natives stopped the spread
of the flames.
was fred three times at the Americans
on the outskirts of Las Pinas.
Gen. Lawton Tuesday morning took
battalion of the Fourteenth regiment
and two companies of the Twenty-tirst
regiment to locate the rebel battery,
and two guns of the Sixth artillery and
four mountain guns were planted
against it at 600 yards distance. The
rebels had large gun from which they
were firing homemade canister, loaded
with nails, and smaller guns.
Shooting Most Accurate.
Their shooting was most accurate.
The first lot of canister burst directly
in front of Scott's guns and another
shattered the legs of private in the
Fourteenth infantry. Several shots
struck the edge of the town.
The country traversed was as bad as
it is possible to imagine, being main
ly lagoons, mud and water fringed
with bamboos. AS soon as the fighting
opened the Americans were attacked
by hidden riflemen on all sides, even
the Amigos, or friendly" natives, in
the houses of the town shooting into
their rear.
Caught in a Trap.
A company of the Twenty first regi-
ment, skirmishing along the beach with
Amigo guides, found, apparently, a
handful of rebels, who retreated. The
men of the Twenty-frst followed and,
suddenly, the rebels opened terrific
fire on the troops from the sides and
rear. The soldiers withdrew to the
waters edge, finding what shelter they
could, and were picked off rapidly.
After their ammunition was nearly
exhausted, the companies of the Twen-
ty-first retreated, but Gen. Lawton
dashed down and rallied the men.
A Desperate Stand.
A little group made desperate stand,
Gen. Lawton, Maj. Starr and Lieuts.
Donovan and Sonnelly taking rifles
from the wounded men and firing at
the enemy, bringing down some of the
rebel sharpshooters from tree. Final
ly their cartridges were all gone and
they were forced to break through the
enemy's flank, carrying the wounded
to the main body of the troops.
Lieut.. Donovan, whose leg was
broken, foundered for a mile through
a bog after leading his men III the face
of greatly superior force.
Wait for Reenforcements.
Gen. Lawton ceased fighting until re.
endorsements could be brought up
- h
ment and one battalion of the Ninth
regiment were hurried to the front
and in the afternoon the battle was re-
sumed.
The Monaunock anchored close to the
shore and her heavy guns pounded the
rebels continuously, while the smaller
warships, steaming along the shore
poured bullets from their rapid-fre
guns at the enemy.
The Filipino force engaged appears
to have been the largest and best or,
ganized body of men which has met ou1
troops.
Gunboats in Action.
Manila, June 14.-At daylight to-day
the rebels at Cavite Viejo dropped two
shells from big smooth-bore gun
mounted in front of the church in the
navy yard. The only damage done was
splintering the top of the huge shears
on the mole. The gunboats Callao,
Manila and Moquito then proceeded to
dismount the gun.
After breakfast the rebels opened fire
along the beach to Bacoor.
After silencing the big gun at Cavite
Viejo the gunboats ran close along the
shore, bombarding the rebel position
The rebels replied with rifle fire and
with the fire of some small pieces OF
artillery. So vigorous was the enemy's
fire that at $3.50 a. m. the gunboat He.
lena Joined the small gunboats already