New-York tribune., 1899-07-28
TOWN OF CALAMBA TAKEN
uA1L.s TROOPS HAVE SHARP FIGHT
WITH FILIPINOS.
-.o,,p SOLDIERS KILLED AND TWELVE
woUNDED-BRAvERY OF AMERICANS
-GUNBOATs TAKE PART

IN ATTACK.
Manila. July 27.-An expedition composed or
.-oons from San Pedro Macau. Pasg and Mo-
.org under Brigadier General r. NJ Hall, yes
,srday captured Calamba. an important trading
.oun on the south shore Of Laguna de Bay.
There were two hours OF sharp fighting, in which
Con, soldiers were killed and twelve wounded
The trenches commanding the harbor were un-
ds- water and the swampiness Of the land made
tho work harder The troops boarded cascos on
Tuesday night The force comprised 400 of the
washington Volunteers $50 OF the 21st Infan-
try $50 Of the 4th Cavalry. and two guns Of the
let Artillery. These and the gunboats Napidan
and Oeste assembled opposite Calamba on
Wednesday afternoon Crowds Of people in carts
and on foot were seen rushing to the hills.
Natives escaping from Calamba in canoes said
a hundred insurgents held the town.
A force under Captain McGrath, Of the 2lst
Infantry. and Captain Eltonherd landed east
OF the town. but found a river intervening Cap
tain McGrath and Lieutenant Batson swan the
river under fire from twenty Mauser rifles
Having crossed the stream. the officers pro-
cured casco to ferry the troops over The In
surgents retreated through the town. shooting
from houses and bushes as they fed to the hills
Three members Of the Washington regiment
waded from cascos through swamps. often
shoulder deep. while group OF F1lipinos con-
cealed in haystacks were shooting Mt them until
the Napidan focused her six-pounders and Cat
ling guns on the stacks for a few minutes Most
Of the work done before the Washington
volunteers could reach the town.
CASUALTIES ON BOTH SIDES.
The Filipinos left three dead. or the casual
ties on the American side. two Of the killed ana
three OF the wounded were members Of the 4th
Cavalry. and two killed and eight of the wound
ed belonged to the 2lst Infantry.
There was much shooting by amigos who
emerged from the bushes with white flags
After the fight dozen men holding up their
hands and shouting "Castillanos" met the
American cavalry. Even Spanish soldiers en-
braced Americans hysterically. There were
fifty Spanish prisoners at Calamba- OF whom
some were civil officials and some were soldiers.
10 whom the choice OF Joining the Filipino army
or becoming servants to Filipinos had been
given They chose the army, intending to sur
render at the first opportunity. Most or the
civilians reached the American lines during the
Aghting. but the insurgents took others away
with them IN their retreat
General Hall captured twelve Filipinos with
guns.
Major General Lawton. Professor Dean c.
Worcester Of the American Philippines COM
mission: Mrs I,awton and General Lawtons
AnnE I'D
launch and sat coolly in unprotected boat
close TO the shore during the fghtins the ouliets
splashing about them.
To-day General Hall brought TO Manila the
spaniards whom the expedition had released
from captivity Of more than year.
SPANISH GUNBoAT FOUND.
Lieutenant Larsen commanding the Napidan,
to-day found long missing Spanish gunooat'
which had been covered with bushes and fish
nets so as not to resemble vessel The Filipinos
having met reinforcements. and thinking that
the Americans had evacuated the town, de-
scended from the hills to-day. intending to re-
occupy Calamba. General Hall easily drove them
back garrison will be left at Calamba.
II is reported In Filipino circles in Manila that
the insurgents recently received consignments
OF saltpetre and lead from Japan. The insur-
gents had been experiencing many difficulties. in
the manufacture of good powder. that which
they produced lacking power of penetration and
rarge.
The two friars who were recently arrested here
on suspicion that they we're the bearers Of mes
sases to Aguinaldo from the Filipino Junta at
Hong Kong have been liberated for want of evil
dence upon which 10 prosecute them.
AS soon as authorization can be received from
Madrid TO incur the necessary expenditures the
Spanish General Jaramillo will send a commits
sion composed of Sehors Toral and Rios, to Tar
lac TO carry food money. medicine and clothing
70 the Spanish prisoners there. The commission
will also reopen negotiations for the release Of
the captives II is reported that 100000 in
Mexican money will be offered to the insurgents
for the release Of the Spaniards. General Jara-
milo declines 10 confirm this report.
Caamba is q town Laguna de Bay. about
thirty miles southeast Of Manila. II is much
further south than the United States troops have
heretofore pentrated land. II is In the Province
Of Laguna has a population Of r476. and is twen-
yseven miles from Santa Cruz on the eastern shore
OF the bay. Its capture is not considered of any
strategcal Importance except as part Of the plan
to harass and worry the insurgents
MERRITT MAY GO TO MANILA
HE WILL NOT DISCUSS A REPORT THAT
HE Is TO SUCCEED OTIS.
The r7imor was revived yesterday that General
Wesley Merritt is TO succeed General Otis in the