The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-06-16

been broken, and as the result OF the
present movement the Americans now
control the important coast towns OF
Paranaaue and Las Pinas, while a long
line of i~nsurgent trenches facing our
south line have been cleared.
The insurgents have again proved
their facility as dodgers, between 5000
and 1000 warriors, who seemed des-
tined to be captured, having disap-
peared, the majority sliding away un-
der cover of the night, after fighting
the Americans all day. Some others
came to meet our troops with protesta-
tions Of friendship.
The Thirteenth infantry lost one
man killed and six wounded; the Ninth
infantry, one man kille1 and five
wounded; the Fourteenth infantry,
three wounded, and the First Colo
RADIO regiment, eleven wounded.
AIRMY'S HARDEST WORK.
Yesterdays work was the hardest our
army has seen. The battlefield stretched
out across the entire isthmus from
Laguna de Bay to the harbor.
While the troops were advancing the
army gunboat Napidan, in the river
near Taguig shelled the enemy, killing
several of them. The monitor Monad-
mock and the gunboat Helena shelled
Paranaque and Las Pinas all day with
the full power of their batteries.
The rebel sharpshooters kept in hid
ing until the American lines had passed
and then attempted to pot stragglers
from the trees. Thanks to their poor
workmanship, this subterfuge was
without result.
SOLDIERS STRIP TO THE WAIST.
The whole country proved to be a
succession of small hills, with boggy
ground between the high, thick grass,
and bushes in the hollows, which great
1y added to the difficulty of the ad-
vance, but gave shelter that saved
many from the enemy's bullets. Our
men threw away their blankets, coats
and haversacks, stripping to the waist
and trusting to luck for food. Water
could not be obtained, and there was
much discomfort after the canteens
were emDtied.
Az Llc Oul0CI IAC OAO ouOo, ~
Ninth infantry and the Twenty-frst in
fantry forced the line of insurgent
trenches, wheeled to the left and drove
the enemy toward the lake. During
this maneuvre the Philippines, in con-
cealeG trenches on the right, opened
an enfilading fire, but the. brigade, part
ly owing to the high grass, had few
hit.
TNbn Ninth inf ptrv appnt around tn
the right, flanked the trenches, driving
out the Philippines and killing nan
of them.
The Colorado regiment advanced to
the lake. Two companies encountered
trenches on top of a knoll, where the
Philippines stood waist-high above a
trench, pouring a volley upon the ad-
vancing Americans. The Colorado
troops charged and drove them out,
Lieutenant Colonel Moses being wound
ed in the arm as he jumped into the
trench.
In the meantime General Wheaton's
column advanced one and a half miles
toward Paranaque, where the Amerl-
cans found a strong trench on a ridge
out of which they drove the Philippe
nos by hard fighting.
'luG tuSuly IIlCu W hdAh IA viz
mounted troops of the Fourth cavalry
accompanying Major General Lawton.
and at the same time they made their
only advance, throwing a skirmish line
to flank the Fourteenth infantry. But
they were easily repulsed, the Ameri-
can artillery coming to the crest of the
hill and Smelling them.
WHEATON'S NARROW ESCAPE.
About 3 o'clock in the afternoon Gen
eral Wheaton's brigade, headed by
General Lawton, who, in his white
clothing and helmet, on a big black
morse, was a shining mark for the en-
emy's sharpshooters, circled to the
south of Las Pinas, ~encountering u
large force of Philippines in the shelter
of the trees. General Lawton had a
narrow escape. In the first volley of
the enemy the horses of three of his
staff officers were shot from under
them. The Colorado regiment bore the
brunt of this attack and dispersed the
Philippines.
Hardly had they finished off that lot
when a large force appeared in the
rear. which the Ninth infantry and a
part of the Colorado regiment drove
away. By this time nearly the whole
division was around Lake P1naS.
The Americans camped for the night
south of the town and in the midst OF
a heavy rain.
At 6 o'clock this morning General
Wheaton advanced upon Las P1nas
with a troop of cavalry, the Twenty
first infantry, the Colorado regiment,
part of the Ninth infantry and two
mountain guns, crossing two steams
and entering the town without firing a
' shot. He then advanced upon Par
anaque.
The women and children, and for
that matter, many men remained in
the towns. No houses were destroyed,
though many were torn by the shells
from the warships. Everywhere the
Americans found white flags flying.
THE ENEMY'S LOSES !
So far as can yet be ascertained, the