Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-03-27
DEPEND ON VOLUNTEERS.

WASHINGTON, March 27.-An In
quiry was made as to why so large q
proportion Of the Volunteer troops was
thrown into the advance. 1t was an.
swered at the department that these
particular volunteers were actually
more veteranized than many of the
regulars. They have been in service
now nearly year, and in that time
have seen more fighting than any other
branch of the army. They have an ad-
vantage over the regulars who have
just arrived, in their knowledge of
jungle fighting, acquired through their
long stay at Manila Then it is said to
be the part of prudence to maintain a
strong reserve of the most reliable men
in such a movement as that now
going on.
MALINTA CAPTURED.
MANILA, March 27. = The United
States troops under Brigadier Generals
Hall and Lloyd Wheaton captured
Malinta, beyond Tuliahan river today,
after sharp fight, Col. Harry Q. Eg-
bart, of the Twenty-second regular in
fantry, was killed, and Prince Loewen-
stein, formerly aid-de-camp on the
staff of Brigadier General Miller, at
Iloilo, somehow got in front of the fir
ing line and was shot in the side, dying
almost instantly A German, who ac-
companied him, was wounded. The
American casualties today we're much
lighter than yesterday, the total losses
thus far reported since the engagement
commenced being
45 KILLED AND 145 WOUNDED.
The United States gunboat Helena and
other gunboats have been shelling NAL
abon about mile northwest of Caloo-
can for several hours. Evidently an
ticipating the
BoMBARDMENT BIZ THE FLEET
thousand rebels vacated Malabon last
night, leaving few to burn the town.
Wheaton's brigade, composed OF the
Second Oregon regiment and the Twen-
ty-second and Twenty-third infantry,
and stretched out along the railroad
from Oaloocan to Tuliahan river, were
powerless to prevent the withdrawal,
owing to natural obstacles and
STRONG OPPOSITION.
The Second Oregon regiment crossed
the river on the left and the Twenty
second on theright, four companies of
the Twenty-third infantry supporting
the latter. Wien the Americans were
within about 300 yards Of the intrench-
ments the Filipinos
SUDDENLY voLLEYED HEAVILY.
The Twenty-second, holding the cen
ter, suffered considerably, but with the
Oregons on the left and the Kansans on
the right In woods, fighting was kept
up for half an hour, the Twenty-sacond
infantry advancing up the slope
through q thick grass under
THE HOTTEST FIRE.
General Wheaton and staff were all
this time under rain of bullets. Col.
Egbart was shot in the abdomen. He
was placed on strstcher, bat died on
the way to the cars. General Wheaton,
bareing his head, said: "You have done
nobly." Egbart gasped, Il must die; l
am too old"
NOFILIPIN0s WERE FOUND
In the trenches. General McArthur's
advance guard, the Third artillery and
Twentieth Kansas regiment, Joined
Wheaton's brigade shortly after Malin-
ta was taken, approaching along the
Novaliches road westerly. Thesoldiers
were
MUCH EXHAUSTED.
After luncheon McArthur's division
advanced toward Polo. The Second
Oregon encountered a Thousand Fill
pinos west Of Malinta refreshing from
MalabOn. The enemy had taken up q
position behind four rows of intrench-
ments, but
go WAS DRIVEN OUT
after an hours heavy firing. One Ore
gonian was killed and five wounded,
the Third artillery acting as in
fantry. The Utah artillery and the
Kansans had
A SHARP FIGHT
east of Malinta. The Americans had
but slight losses. McArtbur's division
Is advancing upon Polo along the rail-
road. AS the bridge is destroyed and
the river cannot be forded, the adj
vance is
TEMPORARILY CHECKED
tonight. Surgeons upon the fleet and
British cruiser Powerful volunteered
assistance and we're indefatigable 10
their services at the front.
President Schurman, OF the Philip
pine commission, and Mr.. Nc Arthur,
United States secretary, were under
fire today with General Wheaton.
QUIET ON NEGRos ISLAND.
NEW YoRK, March pa dispatch
70 the Herald, from Hoilo, says: The
transport Indiana arrived here with re-
inforcements for Negros Island. where
che situation Is satisfactory. The ris-
ing of the hill tribes had no political
eiQnificahee. A committee of natives,
with Col. Smith, the American COVER
nor, proceeded with drafting consti-
tuition, taking
THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION
a ! basis. It has been formally pro-
oosed 70 raise the islands revenue eu-
.{lrely ffem experts, thus relieving the
labozInQ classes. tbs natives desire
the immediate introduction OF we