The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-11
CAPTURE OF SANTA CRUZ.
Details of Lawton's Expedition Across
the Lake.

Manila, April 11.-Santa Cruz was the
FiIipinos' stronghold on Laguna de Bay,
and it fell into the hands of Gen. Law
tons expedition after some sharp, quick
fighting, forming one of the most inter
esting and important battles of the
war. The plans of the American COM
manders worked perfectly, with the ex-
cept1On that the progress of the eX-
petition was delayed by the difficult
navigation of the river. About 1900
picked men composed the expedition,
which was under the personal command
of Gen. Lawton, on account of the ill
ness of Gen. King. These troops partly
surrounded the city, while the gunboats
Laguna de Bay, Napidan and Oeste.
under the command of Capt. Grant of
the Utah battery, shelled the city and
outlying trenches.
Gen. Lawton and his staff accom-
panied the troops sometimes leading
charges in Indian fighting tactics, which
eventually resulted in the complete
route of the insurgents, with the small
est amount of damage to the city and
slight loss to the Americans.
The expedition started from San Pc
dro Macati at dusk on Saturday, intend
ing to capture Santa Cruz by assault at
dayereak But in navigatins the shall
low, tortuous Pasig river, perhaps
through the cunningnesS of the native
pilots who were not anxious to see the
Americans successful, several boats
grounded, and it was nearly dawn when
the troops reached the lake. The ex-
petition then steamed cautiously for
ward, the Napidan and the Oeste a mile
ahead of the Laguna de Bay, which
guarded the rear.
Insurgent signal fires, however, were
lighted on the mountain tops, giving
alarm of the approach of the troops.
1t was noon before the white church
towers of the city appeared in the shad-
Ow of the volcanic mountain on
marshy plain dotted with occasional
palm groves.
A casco, with a force of 200 picked
sharpshooters, under Maj. Weisen ber-
ger, mostly belonging to the First
Washington regiment, was run into
shallow inlet about five miles south of
the city.
Then a few shells were sent toward
the entertainments at the edge of the
woods, sending the enemy scampering
inland.
Then a number of Americans jumped
into the water, and, wading for about a
hundred yards, crept forward and
formed into line, covering the landing
of the remainder, which was finished
about O'Clock. The three troops of
the Fourth cavalry, unmounted, were
sent ashore in a dangerous marshv
point, directly south of the city, under
fire from the enemy'S trenches.
Meanwhile, in the town itself there
was utter silence and not a sign of life
Gen. Lawton, desiring to make an in
Spection and to give the inhabitants an
opportunity to surrender, went on board
the Laguna de Bay, and, accompanied
by the Associated Press launch, steamed
SLOWLY TO the COCK, the whole fleet
watching anxiously. When it was dis
covered by the glasses that the trenches
and stone buildings were swarming with
white clad soldiers, the two boats with
drew, receiving voleys from the
trenches thrown up on the marShy plain
north of the city. The fiotilla anchored
in compact formation for the night
ready to resist any surprises from the
insurgent gunboats supposed to be in
the lake. At sunrise Monday the as
sault commenced The American line
south of the city, stretching two miles
inland and with it's left sweeping the
shore, moved north, while the Fourth
cavalrymen on the point advanced to-
wards the city. pouring volleys upon
the trenches. Simultaneously the gun
boats hoVered along the shore, Smelling
the woods ahead of the troops and driv-
ing the Filipinos inland. The Cuttings
cleared several trenches.
The whole brigade was divided into
squads of u and the fighting was car
ried on in the old time frontier fashion
from behind trees, crawling through
trenches that were not cleared by the
gunboats gave considera BILE resistance
when the line was nearing the city and
the Laguna de Bay and Oeste bonn
barded for an hour in the hope of max
ing them too warm for occupancy but
did not succeed in clearing them en-
tirely.
General Lawton with the Fourteenth
infantry battalions, approached a mar
row iron bridge across a creek on the
south border of the town. Here COM
paHy of FilipinoS was intrenched across
the stream and behind a stone barri-
cade at the entrance to the bridge The
in the face of a calling fire, demolished
| the barricade with their hands and