The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-08
Reaches Vigan After a Five
Hours Battle
With TinO's Force of Insur-
gents In the Mountains.
THE SEAT OF WAR
Appears About to Be Trans
ferred to Cavite Province
Where AguinaIdO Is Expected
to Command I'm Person.

Manila, Dec. S.-There was considera-
ble relief in Manila when the news was
received today that Gen. Young's small
force had arrived safely at Vigan, pro
vince of South uocos, December g.
Anxiety had been felt for Gen. Young
and the garrison at Nigan since it was
known that Gen. TinO had a large ag-
gressive body of insurgents operating
in the vicinity. Gen. Tino made a stand
in the mountain pass between Narva-
can and san Quinto. The natural
strength of the position was augmented
by trenches and pitfalls. The fight
lasted five hours.
Gen Young had three companies of
the Thirty fourth infantry under Lieut.
Col Robert L Howsee and two troops
of the Third cavalry Capt. .SWigart COM
manding and one troop under Capt.
Chase He was reinforced during the
fight by Col Luther r. Hade with a
battalion of the Thirty-third en- route
to Nigan. Gen. Young ended the fight
by charging and routing the enemy
who left % dead and several rifles and
thousands of rounds of ammunition in
the trenches The enemy employed ar
1Ously wounded
The uprising of the island of Negros
was led by the police of La COrta dis
trict where there is a small American
garrison. The police inspired false re-
ports of insurgent victories in LuzOn
and Panay. There are $50 native police
in Negros, uniformed and armed with
Springfield rifles Lieut.. Ledyard, the
American officer killed was a son of
the president of the Michigan Central
railroad and a popular officer.
The expectation of catching Aguin-
aldo in the north has been practically
abandoned and the probability now Is
that he viii turn southwark if he is not
already there with his destination. Ca
Nlte province, his home. where the in
surrectiOn began and where it still has
its greatest strength.
The Filipino soldiers in that province
have recently been showing increased
enthusiasm and bOIdness, and captured
insurgents say that AguinaldO is com
ing TO join them with a large army, and
that he intends to make his headquar-
ters in Cavite province.
There are 5000 insurgents before
linus and BacOor. keeping the Ameri-
cans sleeping on their arms and night
ly awaiting attack. The FiIipinOs have
several cannon. The first mayor of
linus under the American reign who
ultimately deserted is their leader in
the assaults and is ambitious to take
the town Three soldiers of the Fourth
infantry have deserted and are now
with the enemy
Most of the inhabitants of linus are
so strong in their sympathies with the
Insurgents that it is necessary to use a
part of the regiment to patrol the
streets and to prevent shooting from
houses whenever an attack begins. The
American forces in the north have sep
arated into many small commands and
are pursuing bands of FilpinOs Cen
era1 Macarthur IS engaged in cleaning
the mountain country west of the Ma
uila-Dagupan railway.
General Grant is moving from An
geleS toward Subig with 400 men. Col
onel Bell is sweeping south from Man
gatarem. Thus far the American com
mandeTs have been unable to locate
large bodies of Insurgents, although
there We're about 500 in San Clementine.
nine miles south of Mangatarem. early
in the week Colonel Hood, with the
Sixteenth regiment and cavalry, and
General Lawton, with force from San
Isidro, are operating against General
Pillars army in the San MateO valley.
Major Bachelor with a battalion of
the Twenty-fourth infantry is making
daring expedition. He left Bayom-
bong province of Neuva Nizcaya a
week ago TO march through Cagayen
valley to the north coast of LuzOn. in
tending to reach Aparri at the mouth
of Cagayen river. the most important
northern seaport of the island.
While no large forces are known to be
in his path it may be that he has had
some nghtlng, although the friendli-
ness of the inhabitants is counted upon
to help him When he arrives at Apar-
ri. he viii find a gunbOat awaiting him.
The Spanish prisoners in the BengueI
region are escaping from the Fiipinos
and are hOcking into Nigan, several
hundred are there already, and a
steamer will go to bring them to Ma
Mia
GEN OTIS REPORT.
Washington Dec S-Gencral Otis to-
day cabled the war department i'm racra rd
to The uprising in Negros as follows:
Manila Dec 81 am informed the
outbreak of natives in the district of
South Negros was the result of reported
recent great insurgent victories in Luz0n
and Panay, which the natives believe.
The extent of the outbreak not ascer-
tanned. Lieut.. A. c. Ledyard sixth infan-
try. killed. two priVates wounded one
of our chief difficulties arises from the
circulation of falsehoods among the ma
tives. defamatOry newspaper articles of
United states and Europe promptly pub
lished in Spanish in San Francisco. Mad
Tld ana BY Hong Kong junta and circu-
lated in Philippines. insurgents have bas-
ed all hopes upon false rumors."
A second dispatch from General Otis
dated Manila today said:
Hospital ship Relief just returned from
N1gan bringing two hundred seveuty-tvvo
sick soldiers. two hundred and thirty-two
spanish prisoners. reports several hun
dred Spanish prisoners at Vigan for which
We send transport this evening. Col. Hare.
Ihtrty-third infantry took Bangued 5th
instant and now with portion of regiment
pursuit ol insurgents on road southeast
TO LepantO thence to BOncO on which
S1PpoNtu t9 pe reIreatlng with American
coast friendly and give assistance
Iai Jus also reports the arrival
Of the transport Olympia with the 3qth in
Iantry- one battalion of the 18th infantry
and some recruits. There were no casual
ties during the voyage
The town of Bontoc. towards which
Asllnaiuo s4th ms body guard is said
TO be retreattne, lies in the mountain fast
nesses about 55 or 60 miles southeast of
Nlgan- II this last report as to Aguin-
that he has been headed off to the morn n
ward for the first time and is baine cor1-
pelled 70 reIrace ms steps towards the
stronghold in Cavite province. his chanc-
IS or success are very slight. Directly in
his line Of march Is a considerable Amer