Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-10-12
TWO SHARP FIGHTS.
Americans Advance and Occupy
Cavite viejo and Noveleta.
They Wade Through Rice Fields, Ford 1
River and Carry the Forts-Bad Con-
dlti0n Of Roads Made Progress
Of Artillery Slow.

Noveleta, Island Of Luzon, Oct. o.
Gen. Schwan's column, consisting OF
the Thirteenth infantry, a battalion Of
the Fourteenth, two troops Of cavalry,
Capt. Reilly's battery Of the Fifth
artillery and loves scouts advanced
from Bacoor yesterday morning and
occupied Cavite viejo and Noveleta.
The American loss was three officers
and nine privates wounded, one Of the
officers being mortally hurt. The loss
Of the enemy is unknown, but the
bodies Of three Filipinos were seen.
There were two sharp fights near
Noveleta. loves scouts first en-.
countered the enemy near Cavite viejo
and soon put them to flight, continu-
ing their advance. Capt. Saffold's bat
talon Of the Thirteenth regiment,
with two companies Of the Fourteenth
and number of Tagalo scouts, Capt.
McGrath commanding the troops from
the Fourth cavalry and Capt. Reilly's
battery, came upon the enemy in a
strongly entrenched position on the
road between Cavite Viejo and Move
leta. A fight lasting half an hour fol.
lowed, resulting in the enemy being
driven back. The American forces
sustained considerable losses in this
engagement, the men being shot from
trenches and shacks along the road.
The column then pressed on to Move
leta, which they found deserted, and
remained there at night.
The marines and naval forces CO.
operated with the troops. The gun.
boats Wheeling, Petrol and Callao lay
of the shore near Noveleta and threw
shells into that town and Santa Cruz
for an hour, preparing the way for the
marines to land. Two battalions, con-
sisting Of $50 marines, under Col. FL.
lott, advanced along the peninsula
from Cavite to Noveleta. The only
way was by narrow road through
swamps.
A mile beyond the marin es' outpost
the column was suddenly received with
. volley from trenches across the road.
A flank movement was executed and
the insurgents were driven from the
trenches, the marines wading through
rice fields In turning the flank Of the
enemy, who retreated TO strong sand
forts across the creek dividing the
peninsula, destroying the bridge across
the stream.
The marines waded through more
rice fields, forded the river In water to
their shoulders and carried the forts,
meeting with feeble resistance, the
first encounter having disheartened
the enemy. Squads were sent to
Noveleta and burned the town and
huts all along the road from which
the enemy commenced the firing.
There junction was formed with the
scouts who had been sweeping the
swamps and thickets. Thence the
marines returned to Cavite thoroughly
exhausted.
Lieut.. Wynne, with a three-pounder,
did good execution during the adj
vance, Gen. Lawton was not in per.
sonal command Of yesterdays move
ment.
Capt. Cowles' battalion Of the Fourth
infantry, while accommodating yester-
day, found a body Of several hundred
insurgents near San Nicolas. After a
brisk fight lasting three-qua rters Of an
hour the enemy was driven off. In
this engagement the American casual
ties were four men slightly wounded.
Six Of the enemy were killed, but the
number Of wounded Is not known.
The bad condition Of the roads made
the progress Of the artillery slow.