The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-06-14
ARTILLERY DUEL
WITH F|L|P|NOS
LaWton Seeks Hidden Cannon
Near Las Pinas.
4 FIERcF FIGHT F0lI0WS
A FIERCE FIGHT FOLLOWS
AMERICANS DRAWN INTO A Fill
IPINO AAlBUSCADE.
BURST OUT AND ARE RALLIED BY LAW TON
Filpino Forces Driven Across Zapote. Lying
for Hours With The Musketry One Pro-
Ionged Roar. A lull Late in
the Afternoon.

the Afternoon.
Manila. June 13.-f6:0J =. M.)-Gen-
eral I4awton unexpectedly stirred up one
of the liyeliest engagements of the war,
south of Las Pinas this morning. upon
which occasion American field guns were
engaged in the first artillery duel against
a Filipino battery, concealed in the jun
gle.
Companies + and l, of the Twenty
First infantry were nearly surrounded
by a large body of insurgents, but the
Americans cut their way our with heavy
loss
The United States turI'et ship Monad-
mock and the gunboats Helena and Ia
fro trained their batteries Bakoor
and the rebel tfencnes near Las Pinas
all morning. Bahoor was once on lire,
and the natives stopped the spread of
the flames.
During the night an insurgent cannon
was fired three times at the Americans
on the outskirts of Las Pinas.
General Lawton this morning took
battalion Of the Fourteenth regiment
and two companies of the Twentytirst
regiment to locate the rebel battery.
and then two guns of the Sixth artil-
lery and four mounted guns were planted
against it at coo yards distance. The
rebels had large gun from which they
We're firing homemade canister loaded
with nails. and two smaller guns. Their
III. fips.t
lot Of canisters burst directly in front
of Scotts guns and another shattered
the legs of private of the Fourteenth
infantry Several shots struck the edge
of the town. The country rraverseG
was as bad as it is possible to be. mainly
lagoons. mud and water fringed with
bamboos.
AS soon as the fighting opened the
Americans We're attacked by hidden rifle
men on all Sides even the amigos. or
'.frendly'' natives in the houses Of the
town shooting into their rear.
The companies of the Twenty-frst
regiment skirnishing along the beach
with amigo guides found. apparently, a
handful Of rebels who retreated.
The men of the Twenty first followed
and suddenly the rebels opened a terrific
fire on the troops from the sides and
PEAR. The soldiers withdrew to the
waters edge, finding what shelter they
could. and We're picked off rapidly. At
ter their ammunition was nearly ex-
hausted the companies of the Twenty
first retreated. but General Lawuon
dashed down and rallied the men
A little group made "A desperate stand.
General Lawton. Major Starr and Lieu
tenants Donovan and Donnelly taking
rifles from the wounded men and firing
at the enemy, bringing down some of
the rebel sharpshooters from a tree.
Finally their cartridges We're all gone.
and they We're forced to break through
the enemy's flank, carrying the wounded
to the main body OF the troops.
Lieutenant Donovan, whose leg was
broken. floundered for mile through a
bog, after landing his men i'll the face
of a greatly superior force.
General Lawton ceased fighting until
reinforcements could be brought up.
Two battalions of the Fourth regiment
and one battalion of the ninth regiment
We're hurried to the front, and in the
afternoon the battle was resumed.
The Monadnock anchored close to the
shore and her heavy guns pounded the
rebels continuously, while the smaller
warships. steaming along the shore,
poured bullets from the rapid fire guns
at the enemy.
The Filipino force engaged appears
TO have been the largest and besI or
ganized body Of men which has met oul
troops.
The Americans are compelled to ad
vance along narrow roads and over
small bridges commanded Dy earthwork:
ten feet thick.
The only means of crossing the IA
pote was by small bridge which the
FllFpinos commanded with trenches
spreading N-shaped, whence they coulf
concentrate their fire on the bridge. They
also had the advantage of the trees and
jungle SO the Americans could hardly
see q head
When the battle was resumed at onf
o'clock with the reinforrpments on,
battery having silenced the enemy's
guns, the Americans wading waist-deeI
in The mud Of the Salt Flats. SLOWLY
and pouring steady volleys Of musketry
at the rebels. drove their opponents be
yond the river.
When the two armies lay facing eacl
ether across the deep stream, the enemy
practically out Of sight While the mer
in blue and khaki lay in the mud ant
bushes, many Of them without an,
shelter for three hours without a mo
ments' cessation in the firing. pourin:
bullets at the enemy as fast as the.