The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-04-27
His Army Fighting Desperately to
Hold CaIumpit,
A Portion Of Which Place General Mac
Arthur Has Already Taken.
The Filipinos for the First Time
Employing Artillery, Two Guns
Firing Modern Sharpnel Having
Been Brought Into Action,
Which Burst Over General
Wheaton's Men without Effect.


Wheaton's Men without Effect.
WASHINGTON, April 26.-The fol-
lowing cablegram was received at the
War Department late this evening:
Manila, April 26th.
'.Adjutant General, Washington:
Lawton at Norzagaray and Angat. His
two columns, united, have driven enc
my to north and west Slight casual
ties; names not reported. Only means
of communication by couriers.
Macarthur has taken a portion of
Calumpit south of the river. The move
ment attended with difficulties, on ac-
count of the jungle, heat and strong in
trenchments. HIS casualties yesterday
three killed and eleven wounded.
Developments thus far satisfactory.
"OTIS.
AGUINALDO IN HIS LAST DITCH.
MANILA, April 26-(6:10 p. nj
Aguinaldos army to-day is defending
Calumpit energetically, which is said to
indicate that the rebels are finally
making that place their last ditch, or
stand which the Americans expected
them to make at Malolos-
For the first time the Filipinos are
employing artillery. They brought two
guns into action in the trenches to-day
before Calumpit firing modern shrap
mel, which burst over the heads of Cen
eral Wheaton's men without effect.
Fighting was resumed at q o'clock
-,
engineers repaired the Baghag bridge,
thus enabling our troops to cross the
river.
General Wheaton's brigade advanced
in extended order, with the Kansas reg
iment to the west of the railroad, and
the Montana regiment to the east of it,
and took up a position covering one and
a half miles on the south bank of the
Rio Grande. On the opposite banks
were fortified trenches from which a
few American soldiers would have been
able to defy thousands, so strongly were
they constructed. The Americans fos,nd
the trenches on the south bank of the
river deserted, which furnished them
with cover from which they could pick
off Filipinos whenever one of them
showed his head.
puffs of smoke, simultaneously from the
trenches on each side of the railroad
track. showed they were using cannon.
which was a genuine surprise to the
Americans. Several shells burst close
to General Wheaton's staff, but it seem
ed that the Filipinos failed to master
the machinery of the modern shells, as
they were unable to get the right range.
Young's Utah Battery was ordered
into position in the center of the Kan
sas Regiment, to silence the rebel guns,
and at II o'clock the rapid fire guns
had been ferried across the river and
came into line
At noon the rebels were still pouring
a heavy fire in the direction of the
Americans. who returned it spiritedly.
Two Americans were killed and seven
were wounded
At about this time General Hale's
brigade was advancing east of the line,
apparently to cross the river and at
tack the rebel trenches in the flank, as
did the Americans yesterday.
General Macarthur has secured an
order issued by Aguinaldo to the other
commanders, instructing them to in
struct their men to economize their fire,
save the empty shells and not to fire at
the enemy when the latter is under
cover. The F'ilipinos are also instructed
never to fire at a longer range than
$50 meters. and when they have a river
or other distractions in front to hOId
their fire until within eighty meters.
This order was issued after the recent
encounters between the F'ilipinos and
the Americans.
General Lawton is meeting with the
greatest obstacles in the character of
the country. His troops have only had
a few sllirmishes thus far, resulting in
five of his men being wounded. But
he has been forced to put his men at
work building roads, and the transport
service is giving much trouble. bull
locks dying of the heat and exhaustion.
and Cinnamon having to be employed
in pulling some of the carts Therefore
the General has been unable TO cover
the ground he hoped to cover.
The natives flee. before the expedition,
hut they swarm back to their huts as
soon as the American troops have
passed.
A few Filipino sharpshooters are
harassing the American ranks.
The Commissary Department is pre-
pairing to send more rations under
strong escort to the front.
TIE United States transport zealand a
from San Francisco March 18th, hav-
ing on board several companies of the
Ninth Infantry and "a large quantity or
supplies arrived here to-day after an
uneventful voyage Her troops are
camped on the water front.
The United States transport Sh riian
sails for home tomorrow She will take
among her passengers General Charles
King and Mrs. Colonel Stotzenburg,
who is conveying her husbands body to
the United States. The Sheridan also
had on board several officers families.
who find Manila an undesirable resi-
dence.
SpR ECK EI Ar CASE