The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-04-28
At and About Calumpit. The
Filipinos Fight DOggedly.
REBELS USED CANNON.
Their Fireing However, Was Harm
less, AS They Could Not Get
Range.

Manila, April $3.50 p. m.-Agui-
naldo's army today is defending Cal
umpit 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
today before Calumpit, firing modern
shrapnel, which burst over the heads
of General Wheaton's men without
effect.
The fighting was resumed at 900
o'clock this morning. During the
night the American engineers repaired
the Bagbag bridge, thus enabling our
troops to cross the river.
General Wheaton's brigade advanced
in extended order, with the Kansas
regiment 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 mile on the south bank
of the Rio Grande. On the opposite
bank were fortified trenches, from
which few American soldiers would
have been able to defy thousands, SO
strongly were they constructed.
The Americans found the trenches
on the south side of the bank deserted,
1 xrhi ioh f,,n had hon xuif f.Orr
which they could pick off Filipinos
whenever one of them showed his
head.
When the rebels began firing, two
the trenches on each side of the rail-
road track, showed they were using
cannon, which was genuine surprise
to the Americans. Several shells burst
close to General Wheaton's staff, but it
seemed that the Filipinos failed to
master the machinery of modern shells,
as they were unable to get the right
range.
Il Youngs' Utah battery was ordered
into position in the center of the Kan
sas regiment to silence the rebel guns,
and at IL o'clock the rapid-fre guns
had been ferried across the river and
came into line.
II At noon the rebels were pouring 6
1 heavy fire in the direction of the
Americans, who returned it spiritedly
Two Americans were killed ani
ISovor, uaro mouDdod
D At about this time General Hale
brigade was advancing east of the line
apparently to cross the river and at
tack the rebel trenches in the flank, a
!. the Americans did yesterday.
O General Macarthur has secured al
y order issued by Aguinaldo to the rebe
!. commanders, telling them to instruc
: their men to economize their fire, saw
n the empty shells and not to fire at th'
lenemy when the latter is under cover
The Filipinos are also instructed not t
fire at longer range than $50 meters
and when they have river or othe
> distractions in front, to hold their fir
- until within eighty meters.
This order was issued after the re
cent encounters between the Filipino
and Americans.
= General Lawton is meeting with tn
: greatest obstacles in the character {
the country. His troops have had onl
few skirmishes thus far, resulting i
: five of his men being wounded. Bu
Il hoo tn
10 building roads, and the transpor
service is giving much trouble, bullock
:: dying of the heat and exhaustion an
Cinnamon having to be employed j
:. pulling some of the carts. Therefore
" the General has been unable to cove
- the ground he hoped to cover.
-. The natives fee before the exped
- tion, but they are soon back to thei
huts as soon as the American trooI
~ have passed.
~ A few Filipino sharpshooters ar
harassing the American flank.
The Commissary Department is pr
pairing to send more ratiOns, under
strong escort, to the front.
s. The United States transport Zealal
ne dia, from San Francisco, March 2
to having on board several companies
n the Ninth Infantry and large quaint
C. ty of supplies, arrived here today afte
nd an uneventful voyage. Her troops al
to now camped on the water front.
y. The United States transport Sherida
wv sails for home tomorrow. She wi
nd take among her passengers Gener
in Charles King and Mrs. Colonel Stotse
Id burg, who is conveying her husband
he body to the United States, The Shel
dan also has on board several officer
families, who find Manila an undesir
bla residence.