The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-02-09

precaution was taken to guard
against the contingency.
The plot of the natives was carried
out with great secrecy, but General
Otis had enough information about
their plans to enable him to block
any move they might attempt against
our forces. 1t was not known from
what direction the blow would be
dealt, land consequently measures
were adoptedsto make sure each and
every part of the American lines.
These measures were carried out in
such quiet and unostentatious man
ner that Aguinaldo's spies, of whom
he had many within the American
lines, were completely deceived as to
the real strength of the American
positions, and their reports to their
chiefsled him to make the most seri-
Gus mistake of his life.
Aguinaldo Not in the Fight.
The enemy were totally unprepared
Tor the vigorous punishment that was
administered to them, and from which
they will require a long time to re-
cover, The moral effect of the drub-
blng given to them will be. great.
The Filipinos apparently thought
they could massacre the Americans in
a night attack, as they easily and fre-
quently did the Spanish troops sent
against them, making the fatal error
OF not weighing the difference be-
tween the moral and the discipline of
the American and Spanish troops.
This difference resulted in thousands
OF them losing their lives in a hope
less cause. Aguinaldo, so far as can
be learned, did not risk his precious
skin with his troops, and is still able
and willing to make further trouble.
Gallant Fighting for our Men.
The Fourteenth Regular Infantry,
the old command of Brig. Gen. j. NJ.
Anderson, from Vancouver Barracks,
suffered the greatest losses. The reg
lment was quartered at Malate, and
under command of Major Robe was
assigned to the task of carrying the
rebel position south of that suburb.
The men fought through country
covered with dense underground and
made slow progress at first. The ma,
tives took refuge in nipa- covered huts
and until they were dislOdged and
driven back inflicted considerable
damage on our men. The Fourteenth
Is armed with krag- -Jorgensen rifles,
and these weapons proved most effec-
tive. For every life that the gallant
old regiment gave up it took a score
in revenge.
The First Washington Volunteers
and Third Regular Artillery also saw
severe fighting and sustained mater
ial losses.
The Utah Light Artillery and the
Sixth Regular Artillery did splendid
effective work, and the latter proba-
bly, saved the First California Regi-
ment from being badly cut up. The
guns were posted east of the CITY. and
during the early hours of Sunday
poured deadly fire into the insur-
gent trenches. The Utah battery
men were seasoned by their exper-
ience at Malate in August and con-
Quoted themselves like veterans.
CalIao's Machine Guns.
In the district between TondO and
Malabon TO the north of the city
great slaughter was done by the gun
boat Callao, Lieut.. Benjamin Tap
pan, which Admiral Dewey captured
from the Spaniards. This little YES
sci is terror. She mounts more
guns proportionally than any other
vessel in the American Navy. being
full of one, two and three Founders
and machine guns. She duplicated
her performance of August 13, when
she covered General Merritt's ad
vance on Manila. Then she steamed
close to the breakers and moved along
the shore as the troops advanced,
pouring deadly fire into the Span
iards.
Yesterday she again ran close in to
the shore, and, getting the range of
the enemy, she began to spit fire from
her bow guns. Then manoeuvering,
she brought her starboard battery to
bear, and the rattle and din were ter
rifle. Soon she came about and
brought her port battery into action.
and these manOeuvrs were repeated
until she was ordered to cease firing.
Natives Moved Down by the Fire.
The COncOrd's G-inch and the Char
leston's S-inch guns did awful execu-
tion. General Otis brigade had
driven large body of the enemy from
their positions and the Filipinos ran
at top speed for the beach, disor-
ganized and panic stricken mob.
When they reached the shore they
were met by the devastating fire from
the warships and moved down score
upon score. The sight was a sicken-
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