The San Francisco call., 1899-09-01


h1 who for some time have been
causing much trouble in the
island Of Cebu. Robbers under the
guise Of insurgents have taken advant-
age Of the situation to commit all sorts
OF depredations, and it has finally been
decided the time has arrived TO put an
end TO their operations. Heretofore
General Otis has been inclined to leave
the islands in the lower part OF the
archipelago practically alone until the
insurgents in LuzOn were conquered.
His idea was simply 10 hold those
islands, without carrying on military
operations. until Aguinaldo's insurrec-
ton was quelled.
The pseudo rebels took advantage Of
this plan and made themselves danger
Gus nuisances. They have intimidated
many OF the peacefully inclined inhab-
itants by threatening TO assassinate
them, and in addition to much spoil
have gained cOnsidera BILE accessiOns to
their bands. So extensive have their
operations become that they have sue
ceeded in paralyzing the business Of
the entire island Noninterference with
the IawIess proceedings added to their
roo weak 10 resent their acts, they re-
Gently had the hardihood 70 assume the
offensive. They have attacked small
accommodating parties and in the fight
ing that followed two American officers
were wounded.
Last Friday morning band Of na-
tives waylaid four men going TO Cebu
from El Pardo. The Americans were
ambushed. but made a brave fight for
their lives. Ultimately. however, three
Of the party were killed and their
bodies We're horribly mutilated.
The fourth man escaped and reported
the affair 70 the commander at Cebu.
Orders were at once given 10 hunt the
brigands and Colonel Bayless OF the
Tennessee Regiment, with a company
Of that command and a company Of the
TwenJy-third regular infantry. started
from Cebu, while Captain Allaire with
a company Of the Twenty-third In
fantry started from El Pardo TO
attack the natives. Colonel Bay
less moved up the valley while
Captain Allaire moved down. hoping TO
catch the enemy in the center. They
succeeded in clearing the valley, but
the enemy took 70 the hills.
While this operation was going on
Captain Allaire saw an insurgent try
ing to shoot an American officer. Cap
tain Allaire took a rife from one Of his
men and shot the rebel. who. it was
subsequently proved, was an insurgent
general.
1t was decided not 10 pursue the
rebels into the hills until a stronger
force was procured. on Sunday two
companies Of the Sixth regulars arrived
from Negros Island. On Monday Col
onel Bayless, with a greatly augmented
force. started out to again move
against the rebels. His command con
sisted of parts Of eight infantry com
panies, with one 3.20-inch gun belong
ing to the Sixth Artillery. The COM
rnand was divided into two parts. one
of which moved out from El Pardo
while Colonel Bayless took the other
from Guadeloupe.
The brigands had retreated 10 an
intrenched position in the hills within
plain sight OF Cebu. The hills are very
rough and steep and the country bad
for military operations. The position
occupied by the rebels was protected
by three lines Oh lIcuCIIcS, Win Cav .
and bOmbprOOfS, at an elevation of
over a thousand feet. The day was hot,
making the work of the troops hard.
After desperate work the Americans
reached the top of the PardO nils, but
so exhausted they could go no further.
The rebels, however, had been driven
TO higher ground, and meantime
Colonel Bayless was advancing with
his command from GuadelOupe. The
rebels offered strong resistance to his
advancing They had six cannons
loaded with scrapiron. but the marks
manship being extremely bad the fire
had no effect. The Americans had ter
rife. work in traversing the country
They killed eight buffaloes trying to
drag a gun into position, and finally
the men had 10 haul it themselves four
miles over the roughest possible coun-
try.
The enemy was stationed high above
the Americans and the latter We're IN
able to respond to the fire owing to the
elevation. AS the day wore on the ex
IRENE heat and eXertiOn Of campaign
ing in such a wilderness exhausted the
Americans, eighty Of whom were un-
able to take position. Colonel Bayless,
however, determined TO teach the en-
crnv a lesson, and finally got position
partly up the hills, where he had the
rebels in range. Then he opened hot
fire on them and in short time drove
them from the lower trenches ana
considerable distance up the heights.
The Americans made no attempt 70
hold the captured position, but re-
turned 70 Cebu that night.
During the absence Of the troops the