The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-25
SUBDU|NG THE ISLAND
Panay Has Been for Months in
Control of Insurgents.
TOWN OF ILOILO WRECKED
A Third OF the Placs Is in Ruins-Gen-
eral Hughes Column Is Driving
the Natives Into the
Interior.

Correspondents OF the Associated Press.
Iloilo. Nov 13.--The island of Panay,
sister island to Negros and others of
the Viscayan group, has for months
past been in the insurgents hands. To-
day the American forces are taking the
aggressive for the first time and are
moving out to cover and hold more ter
ritory. Up to the present we have pos
sessed the half burned town of Iloilo
and nothing more.
The 26th regiment, under Colonel
Rice, arrived here two weeks ago from
the United States.
I'VE at home" said officers of this
regiment, knew that our troops We're
on Panay, but we had the impression
they occupied the islands: that the m
portant coast towns We're at least ours;
that our possession was more than
nominal. Hence we are surprised to see
the American forces actually besieged
by the insurgents upon three miles Of
land Immediately surrounding 1loilo.
''The people of the United States may
have the same ideas as had the officers
of the 26th regiment, and to them 1t
would be well to say that our lines, up
to the present, embrace the suburbs of
Jaro and Molo, both within three miles
of this port, and nothing more. The in
surgent trenches face us on the north
and west and outpost firing is to be
heard at any time.
with the coming of reinforcements
a battalion of the 10Th and 26th regi-
ment entire, General Hughes, in the
midst of typhoon that swept the
country with driving rain, flooded rice
fields and made quagmires of the roads,
an expedition composed of the 18th reg
ulars, under Colonel Carpenter: the I'd
battalion of the 26th regiment; two bat
talions Of the 18th; light battery G of
the 9Th artillery, under Captain Bridge
man, and Captain Gordon's mounted
scouts from the 18th regiment, ad-
vanced into the enemy's country. The
battalion of the 26th and the two bat
talions of the 29th constituted a pro-
visional regiment under Colonel Rice,
while the 1st and Sd battalions Of the
26th garrisoned Iloilo and Jaro.
THE objective point of the expedition
was the supposed insurgent strong
hold at Santa Barbara, eight miles
north of Jaro, but as the direct road
between these two points had been
strongly entrenched. the American
forces made a detour to the west in
order to approach Santa Barbara on
its unprotected side. Yesterday Gen
eral Hughes had occupied successfully
the villages of Often, Tigbaun and
Gurmai Oh the coast, and west of Ilo-
lilo. likewise Cordoba, four miles north
Of Tigbaun.
Company c of the 26th regiment had
the only conflict With the insurgents
Of the first night out. One of the men
of the company, which was under COM
mand of Lieutenant Fales, was seri-
ously wounded. two of the enemy were
found dead when the trenches We're
captured and much ammunition fell
into our hands as a result of the brush.
To-day General Hughes column is
resting in the four towns mentioned,
waiting for ammunition and provis
ions to be conveyed to it and also for
the rains to stop and the country to
dry.
THE town of San Miguel within
sight OF Iloilo, was partially fired by
the rebels when they thought our
troops were about to enter it.
'"The town of Iloilo to-day presents
woe-begone and dismantled appear
ance. A third of the place is in ruins
and the partial reconstruction of bus-
ness houses and the humber dwellings
of the poor with debris from the con-
flagration on February II reminds one
of the wreck after western cyclone"