Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-04-29
WAR IN The PHILIPPINES.
Are Still Investing the City OF
Calumpit.


The operations of the American
forces in the Philippines during the
past few days have been directed
against the city of Calumpit, where
the Filipinos are making the stand that
was expected of them at Malolos.
Calumpit is on the Bagbag river,
about 35 miles northeast of Manila,
with which place it is connected by
rail. The understanding is that Agui-
naldo is in personal command of the
the Filipino force in the city (; but the
number of his troops is not known. 1t
is quite probable, however, that they
constitute the main army of the
Filipinos.
There was good deal of fighting in
the vicinity of Calumpit on last Tues
day. The Filipinos met the Americans
several miles from the city and con-
tested every inch of the advance with
great stubbornness. They fought hard,
not only under cover, but stood their
ground well in the open. The Amer
leans, however, continued to advance
steadily, driving the Filipinos before
them.
After the Americans had fought
their way through long stretch OF
jungle, they were confronted by lines
of Filipinos strongly entrenched along
bluffs on the opposite side of the Rio
Grande river. The entrenchments
were protected with rocks, between
which the Filipinos could fire without
exposing themselves. Company K, of
the Goth Kansas, charged toward these
entertainments, a quarter OF a mile,
through open fields 10 the bank OF the
river, the Filipinos peppering away at
them all the while, until they found
shelter in ditch.
The Filipinos had damaged the rail-
road bridge, and Colonel Frank Fun
ston called for volunteers to cross the
river. Lieutenant Ball, a corporal and
two privates responded, and the colo
mel placed himself at the head of
the little party, which at once pro-
ceeded to crawl across the broken
girders in the face of a rattling fire.
When they could go no further along
the bridge, they climbed down into
the water and swan ashore. Then
the colonel, revolver in hand, followed
by the other four, advanced on the
Filipino trenches. In the meantime,
Company KS sharpshooters were pick
ing off every Filipino that showed his
head, and on the approach of the colo
mel and his party, those that were left
took to their heels.
Shortly after this incident, General
Hale's men succeeded in fording the
river, and when the Utah light artil-
lery was gotten into action, the out
lying bodies of Filipinos retired on
the city of Calumpit. The loss of the
Americans during the day included
two killed and eight wounded. The
Filipino loss is estimated at not less
than 70 killed, principally by the ar
tilery.
There was not a great deal of fight
ing on Wednesday. The Filipinos, to
the surprise of the Americans, got
several pieces of artillery in action
during the day but did little damage,
their shells bursting too high. Having
gotten things in very nice shape on
the day before, the Americans spent
Wednesday getting their forces proper
ly disposed around the city of Calumpit
and in bringing up supplies of ammu-
milton and food preparatory to what,
it is hoped, will be final engagement
resulting in the slaughter or capture of
the Filipino army.