The Somerset reporter., 1899-05-18
War Notes.

Gen. Otis in dispatch to the War de-
partment, May 14th stated the situation
as follows: Lawton from Balnag has
Hide Fonso and San Miguel to North.
west, slight loss and driving consider
able force of enemy; gunboats and
canoes accompany 1900 men under
Kobbe up Rio Grande river from Calum-
pit, depart 10th; Macarthur remains at
san Fernando, covering country. Yes
terday messenger from Aguinaldo ex-
pressing wish to send commission to
Manila for conference with United
States commission to arrange terms of
peace directions given to pass body rep
resentative insurgents to Manila should
it present itself. 1t is reported that at
Zamboanga insurgents attacked Spanish
troops 18th inst, using quick fire guns
and arms captured from Npanish gun
boats Spanish general and two officers
wounded. Spanish garrison now be-
seiged. Water supply cut off and troops
calling for relief. Aguinaldo has issued
orders that all foreigners must leave in.
surgent territory within As hours
There are only few CONNER cial men
there, mostly English and Germans, but
Aguinado believes that by refusing
them the rights of non combatants he
can force their governments to recog
nize the beligerency of his so-called
government, in order that they may
treat for the safety of their subjects.
The tinclad gunboats Laguna de Bay
and Cavadonga and launch under
Capt. Grant, ran into nest of insur-
gents concealed in the bushes on both
sides of the Rio Granda river, and 3
miles above Calumpit, Sunday after
noon, and were received with heavy vol.
leys at short range. A sergeant belong
ing to the Utah Battery was killed and
one private was wounded Opening
with their rapid fire guns, the Ameri-
cans killed 20 of the natives and wound
ed several others and the enemy fled
The insurgent, General Gregorio Del
Pilas, believes that he has been deserted
by the Filipino government, and desires
to surrender, If he can secure what he
regards as honorable terms from the
Americans.
1t is now said that Aguinaldo has fled
into the province of Nueva Eci1a. On
April 20, he retreated by carriage from
Balinag through San Isidro, and nothing
has been heard from him in two weeks
since.
The 5000 Spanish prisoners who are
reported to be held by the insurgents
have been carried into a northern pro-
vince and scattered among small gar
risons. They are beyond American sue
cor, this season, unless a Filipino sur
render takes place within three weeks.
Gen. Lawtun's advance guard, under
Col Summers of the Oregon troops,
took San lsidro, the insmgent capital,
a. s 80 O'clock, Wednesday morning.
The enemy's loss was Ii men killed and
20 wounded Our troops also captured
three prisoners and many rifles. On the
American side. one soldier or the Oregon
Regiment and one of the Minnesota Reg
iment were slightly wounded. After
capturing the town, Col. Summers
troops continued their advance, pursuing
the retreating rebels for several miles.
The expedition under Major Kobbe OF
the third artillery consisting of the 18th
infantry, a battalion of the Ninth and
one battery Of the First artillery, left
Calumpit at daybreak Wednesday,
marching up the Rio Grande to join Gen.
Lawton's division at Arayat. Il flotilla
Of canoes loaded with supplies also pro-
ceeded up the river. Both forces were
conveyed by the "tinclad" army gun
boats, under Capt. Grant. Aguinaldo's
ex-secretary, Escamilla, who was arrest
ed here, Feb. %, is now employed as
official interpreter by the authorities.