Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-06-17
The FiIipinos Run Into
a Very Warm Mess.
Attack MaCArthur'S Lines at
San Fernando, Early Friday.
Americans Enjoy Fun and Allow
Them Within 600 Yards.
Then They Pour in Deadly Fire and
Charge, Wildly Cheering.
Natives Fly in Disorder Many Killed,
Wounded and Captured.
Rumor that AguinaIdo Has Been Killed
RumOr that AguinaIdo Has Been Killed
by Luna's Friends.

Manila, June 1G.-j.45 p. M.-After
cutting the railroad and telegraph at
Apalit. seven miles south. for the pur-
pose Of covering connections. the rebels
attacked Gen. MacArthur's lines at san
Fernando, at 40 this morning. They
met with an unexpectedly warm recep-
ton and We're repulsed with a loss Of .
killed ana 30 prisoners ana many
wounded.
The rebel force, estimated TO have
numbered 5000 men. advanced steal:hl L
from The jungle north Of the city a1d
then divided with the evident purpose
IF surrounding the Americans.
The outposts Of the Iowa Regiment
discovered the enemy and retired 70
their lines, where the entire division
awaited in an entrenccd position. The
Iowa Regiment ard the Kansas Regi-
mcnt received The first shock Of the at
tack. Res"rving their fire until the
enemy was within 800 yards, the first
vollry Of the Americans hit the rebels.
who returned the fire wildly. the rest
.of their Line falling 70 advance.
The Americans. who thoroughly en-
joycd the novelty Of the situation
awaiting an attack. sailed forth and
the insurgents thereupon turned and
lied into the jugle.
our loss was IA men wounded and the
majority Of them are only slightly hurt.
Gen. Funston's brigade Of kansans
and Montanans and Gca. Males bri-
sade. the 18th Regiment ana the Iowa
Regiment constituted the force en-
gagged.
Aguinaldo is reported to have per-
sonally conducted the attack ana pre-
prcrarationswe We're made for several days
to bring forward troops from Candaba
ana others from Dagupan were trans
ported by rail. Along the front of the
Kansas Regiment 80 rebel dead were
counted.
The first news Of the Filipino adj
vance was reported by telegraph
operator, who was sent to the bridge at
Apaiit to ascertain the cause Of a
break in one Of the wires. He was
compelled to beat hasty retreat under
fire.
A Spanish officer has been 4 prisoner
in the hands Of the rebels ana who was
released by Aguinaldo. has come
through our lines To Manila. He claims
to have been witness of the assassi-
nation Of Gen. Luna.
According TO his story, the relations
between the two Filipino leaders had
been strained to the breaking point.
because Of Luna's attempts to assume
control Of affairs and the final rupture
was forced by Aguinaldo issuing secret
orders TO the provisional governments
Luna demanded Of Aguinaldo copies Of
the documents and Aguinaldo replied
CURLY that Luna was a general of the
army ana that the civil government
did not concern him. Luna. on opening
the reply at his headquarters. in the
presence of his officers, exclaimed
hitly:
He will be dead, tomorrow"
one officer, who was friendly to
FASTENED to warn him and
ASuinaldo called together 20 trusted
soldiers, fellow townsmen Of his. ana
stationed them around his house with
Instructions to kill any one attempting
to enter. regardless of rank.
Luna appeared the next day and saw
Aguinaldo at the window. A member
Of the guard said:
"Aguinaldo has gone to inspect the |
troops
Luna then exclaimed: you are a |
liar. drew his revolver, struck the |
guard and tried to force an entrance /
nto the house. Before he could use his /
'evolvers one of the guards bayonetted .
him, another shot him in the back, and /
others stabbed him. In all he had 20
Wounds. Luna's aide-de-camp was
billed in the same way
The Spaniard's story has not entirely
lispelled the doubts of Luna's death
md bets that he is alive are freely
made at the clubs. Some people think i
Nguinaldo has taken pains to send the
'paniard here with his story for the
of some diplomatic scheme,
While others suspect that Aguinaldo
las been assassinated by Luna's men. i
Since the Americans withdrew from
recently the rebels have re-
urned and have wreaked vengeance
pom those who befriended the Ameri-
ans. They slaughtered the natives who
the town and displayed
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