Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-05-11
ASKS FOR RELIEF.
Less than 400 Men In the First Nebraska
Re1iment FIT for Dufv


Regiment Fit for Duty.
MANILA, May 9.--The Filipinos
surprised the United States forces at
San Fernando with daring trick on
yesterday. A railway train with an
engine at each end was run almost to
the American outposts and in plain
sight of the town. Before they could
be reached gang of natives sprang
OF the train tore up several lengths
of the railway track, boarded the train
again and steamed away so quickly
that there was no opportunity to cap
ture the raiders.
The Nebraska regiment is asking for
temporary relief from duty. Only
375 men Of this regiment are left at
the front.
The army gunboats Laguna de Bay
and Cavadonga, under command Of
Captain Grant, which started up the
San Fernando river for Guagua yes
terday, as ives presumed, to establish
there base Of supplies for the troops
engaged in the northern campaign, re-
turned today, Major General MacAr-
thur having failed to connect with
the expedition. The gunboats found
rebels entrenched at Sosmoan and at
Guagua, on the water fronts of the
towns. The vessels steamed past the
works, Smelling the occupants and
driving them out. Landing parties
from the boats entered both towns.
capturing at Sosmoan a Spanish cap
tain in uniform, who was ostensibly a
prisoner in the hands of the rebels, and
also a native officer. Arriving at Qua
qua, the town and a small eunboaf
were found to be burning and the ma
tives were evacuating the place in con-
sequence of the bombardment.
At Sosmoan the landing party cap
tured a number of Filipino flags and a
quantity of arms, chiefly Bolos and
bows and arrows, besides lot of band
instruments, which the men played as
they marched back to the boats.
Captain Grants expedition will pro-
baby return up the San Fernando riv-
er after having been reinforced, on re-
Gently purchased light draft Spanish
steamers.
WASHINGTON, May 9-The war
department has received from General
Otis a dispatch giving the situation in
the Philippines, some parts of which
have been omitted by the war depart
ment in making it public. The dis
patch is as follows:
MANILA, May 9.-Adjutant General,
Washington: Situation as follows:
Lawton at Maasin and Balinag; scout
ing parties to the north and east. Mac
Arthur at San Fernando.
Population of country between Manila
and northern points held by troops is
returning home; appear cheerful and
contented. Army gunboats operating
in rivers. Have cleared country west
of Macarthur of insurgents.
Signs of insurgents weakness more
apparent daily. OTIS.
The war department officials seem to
be even more encouraged over the
condition in Manila. The report Of
General Otis, received today, indicates
that the American troops are we'll dis
posed. 1t has been evident that the in
surgents, who were operating in the
swamps and jungles east of General
Macarthur, have been very annoying,
but the gunboats have made it too hot
for them to remain. General Lawton
appears to be pushing northward some
fifteen miles to the east of MacAr-
thur. The Rio Grande river lies be-
tween them, and there the gunboats
evidently are at work. The portions
of the dispatch which the department
has not made public perhaps refer TO
the future movements of the two di-
visions of the army.