The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-27
THE TAKING OF mAlINTA.
Col. Egbert of the 2ad Infantry Killed
I'm the Action.

Manila, March 26-7.30 p. m.-The
United States troops, under Brigadier
General Lloyd Wheaton, captured the
town of Mslints, beyond the Tulihan
river today after q sharp fight Col. Hnr-
~ q. Egbert,o of the ed regular infantry
was killed. Prince Loewenstein, former
Iy aide de camp on the staff Of Brigadier
General Miller at Iloilo, somehow got in
front of the firing line and was shot In
tbs side, dying almost instantly. A Ger
man who accompanied him WAS wounded.
The American casualties today were
much lighter than those of yesterday. the
total losses thus far reported since the
engagement commsnced being As killed
and 145 wounded.
Gen. Wheaton entered Malinta, which
IL small collection of huts, ut O'Clock
this afternoon.
The United States gunboat Helena. and
other gunboats have been shelling Mala-
for several hours
The insurgents made a fierce resistance
to the American advances up the railroad
at Malintn. In addition to the fatal
woundiug Of Col. Egbert, several men of
the 22d infantry and several OF the Ore
gon and Kansas regiments were killed.
Evidently anticipating bombardment
by the fleet, a thousand rebels evacu-
ated Malabon last night, leaving a. few to
burn the town.
Gen. Wheaton's brigade, composed OF
the second Oregon regiment, and the ed
and Third infantry, stretched out along
the railroad from Caloocan to the Tuli-
ahan river, was powerless to prevent the
withdrawal, owing to the natural obsta-
cles and to the strong opposition.
A column of smoke at daybreak was
the first intlmation of the enemy's inten-
tions, but others followed at various
points, all soon blending in dense bal
loon shaped cloud. The flames OF the
burning rice mills and large buildings
could be plainly seen from Caloocsn de-
spite the strong sun light. by II O'Clock
In the morning the only building Of i'm
portance not destroyed in the entire town
was a large stone church. but even at
noon fresh fires were started among the
native huts In the outskirts Of Malabon,
although the general exodus took place
IN UGH earlier.
Many of the rebels sought refuge in the
suburbs of Navotas and Casag, or were
driven inland by the shells of the Hele-
ma, Caloa, Ningdapan and La Guna de
Bay.
In the meantime Gen. Wheaton's 8
pri gade held the railroad to che river. but
was unable either to repair the bridge,
which had been destroyed by the enemy,
or to advance owing to the opposition
and the hills on the other side
The calculations of both Gen. Hale and
Gen. Harrison Gray Otis, whose brigades
constituted Gen. Macarthur 8 division,
acter of tho country in front of both and
the enemy was able to take advantage
of this so that the operations against
Nova liches aud Polo were delayed, though
the right wing of the division swung out,
sweeping the enemy In northwesterly
direction.
Gen. Wheaton's headquarters last night
was half mile south of the river on the
railroad. Tho opposite bank was pro-
tected by blockhouse and intrenchments.
Occasionally the artillery and infantry
fred across the stream. Finally the en-
Cineers moved a construction train up to
the bridge, the. iron framework of which
remained and began to replace the floor.
While this was going on, the second
Oregon crossed the river on the left and
the ed on the right, with four companies
of the 23d infantry, supporting the latter
regiment. : A rising. clear ground
stretched away distance Of half mile
to Malinta. situated on its crest.
In front Of the village were strong Fill
pino intrenchments, but no FilipiDos
we're to be seen. Apparently they had
fled. The 22d regiment approached diago-
nally, with Gen. Wheaton and his staff
close behind and scouts closely observin g
the ground.
When the American were within about
800 yards of the intrenchments, the Fill
pinos suddenly volleyed heavily. The
s2d, which was holding the centre,
suffered considerably; but with the Ore
gons on the left and the Kansas on the
right, in the woods, the lighting was
kept up for half an hour, the ED infan'
try advancing up the slope. through the
thick grass, under the hottest fire.
Gen. Wheaton and his staff were oil the
time under rain Of bullets. Col. Eg-
bert, who was in the thickest of the fight
ing was shot in the abdomen. He was
placed upon stretcher. and an attempt
was made to carry him to the cars, but
he died on the way.
1t was a most affecting scene. Gen.
Wheaton, barring his head. said: "You
have done nobly," Col. Egbert said in
reply: 81 must die: am too o.d."
No Filipinos were found In the trenches.
Though apparently their force was much
smaller than that of the Americans, they
had an immense advantage in position,
and in opportunity.
Gen. MacArthur's advance guard, the
Third artillery, and the Goth Kansas regi-
- ,Ja