Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1899-06-08
not WORK FOR OUR TROOPS.
American Forces Moving on a
Stronghold Of Enemy
FORCED TO FIGHT EVERY STEP

MANILA, June b-The position OF
the American troops indicates that
they will sweep the peninsula OF Mo-
rong, the land projecting to tho south
into Laguna dc Bay, whore the insur-
gents are supposed to have q large
force, near the town OF Morong, as
we'll as tho battery on the western
shore OF the peninsula, which recently
smashed the propeller OF the gunboat
Napidan.
General Hall is marching from An
tlpolo, about six and one-half miles
northeast OF Morong, toward the
peninsula, with his forces spread out
to cover a large section,
Colonel Truman, with the First
North Dakota regiment, and the
Twelfth infantry, is advancing along
the coast Of the lake from Taytay, in
cidentally clearing several small
towns. Colonel Wholley, with the
First Washington regiment, has land
ed on tho peninsula above the town
OF Morong The army gunboats Nap
idan, Covadonga and Ceste are In a POI
sition to cooperate.
The original plan was TO surround
the forces OF General Pic del Pillar 80
that he must retreat TO tho Morong
peninsula, where capture would have
been inevitable.
This was not complete success be-
cause General Halls column found
the country full Of handicaps to
marching. There were several
streams to be bridged or forded, and
the troops frequently floundered
through morasses, waist deep In mud,
an experience which, under the ter.
rife sun, exhausted the Americans
quito beyond endurance, Most OF
General Pic del Pillars followers are
supposed to have escaped northward,
probably reaching Bosonloso, n strong
hold in the mountains,
Colonel Whollcy, having success
fully completed his share of the move
ment, brought the Washington reg
iment to the river Pasig, where last
night about midnight tho men en-
barked upon cascoes and started for
their destination under the convoy OF
gunboats,
They encountered repetition Of
the experience undergone by almost
every expedition on attempting to
enter Laguna dc Bay, as the boats
were aground in the shadows at the
mouth OF the river and were detained
there several hours
Major General Lawton, in the mean
time, was indefatigable, riding from
one force TO the other aud supervising
the loading OF the cascoes, without
sleep for two nights,
A running fight was in progress all
the afternoon. A Filipino outpost
first attacked few American scouts,
whereupon the Fourth cavalry formed
long slsirmish line and easily drove
tho insurgents into the hills. Then
the Oregon regiment moved across
wet, soggy rice field, in extended or
der, toward the hills, where 1t was
believed large force Of the enemy
had concentrated, When the oregoni-
ans were within about n mile Of the
position tho Fllipinos opened heavy
fire, the Americans replying and press
ing forward more rapidly.
After few volleys the insurgents
were seen scattering over the crest OF
the hills in every direction and their
panic was increased when the artillery
opened upon them and the shells be-
gan to explode all around them, UNI
doubtedly causing great loss Of life.
General Halls column, in the move
ment upon the Morong peninsula,
completed o circuit of twenty miles
over rough and mountainous country,
having two engagements with the
insurgents, one Of them severe, and
keeping up an almost constant fire
against scattered bands OF rebels for
nearly twenty-four hours, from
o'clock Saturday morning, when the
column left the pumping station.
The Filipinos were driven in every
direction aud the country through
which General Hall passed was pretty
thoroughly cleared
In this fight the American loss was
four killed, three Of the Fourth cav
airy and one oregonian, and about
fifteen wounded The Filipino loss
could not be ascertained.