The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-14

AtIer DeSperUte
ported Death of Gen. Luna.
4 MANILA June 13.-The most desperate
battle of the war in the Philippines is
now on. 1t has been raging for fully
twenty-four hours, and only by desperate
daring did the Americans gain an advan-
tage. The rebels sought to secure control
of the bridge that spans the rive Zapote
the key to Manila and Cavite. Once in
undisputed possession of the approach
the Filipinos might cause the Americans
serious embarrassment. The fighting, as
described in reports from the front, has
been the most sanguinary of the war.
The Filipinos seem to be making a final
effort to gain a foothold. Their defiance
of the warships in the bay was a surprise
to everybody. Never before have they
shown such desperate determination.
IN A HORNETS NEST.
Gen. Lawton Unexpectedly stirred up one
of the liveliest engagements of the war
south of Las Pinas this morning, upon
which occasion American field guns were
engaged in the first artillery duel against
Filipino battery, concealed in the
jungle.
infantry, were nearly surrounded by a
large body of insurgents, but the Ameri-
cans cut their way out with heavy loss.
The United States turret ship Monadnock
ana the gunboats Helena and Zafiri train
ed their batteries on Bakoor, and the
rebel trenches near Las Pinas all the
morning. Bakoor was once on fire but
the natives stopped the flames. The in
surgent cannon was fired three times at
Americans tha clyi 0f
Pinas. Gen. Lawton this morning took
battalion of the Fourteenth regiment
to locate the rebel battery, and then two
guns or the Sixth artillery and four noun
tain guns were planted against it at
6e0 yards distance. The rebels had a large
gun, from which they were firing home
made canister, loaded with nails, and
two smaller guns. Their shooting was
most accurate. The first canister burst
directly in front of SCOTS guns. and
another shattered the legs Of a private
In the Fourteenth infantry. Several shots
struck the edge of the town.
Inc country traVersed was as bad as
1t is possible to imagine, being covered
with lagoons, mud and water, fringed
with bamboos.
DESPERATE FIGHTING.
AS soon as the fighting opened the
Americans were attacked by Filipino rife
men on all sides, the Amigos (friendly ma
tNes) In the houses of the town shoot
Ing INTO their rear. The companies of the
TWenty-f1rst regiment, skirmishing along
the beach with Amigo guards. found an.
parentIy, a handful of rebels. who re-
treated. The men of the Twenty-first fol-
lowed, and suddenly the rebels opened a
tefflhc nre on the troops from both sides
and the rear. The soldiers withdrew TO
me. waters edge, finding what shelter
they could, and were picked off rapidlv.
AFTER their ammunition was nearly ex
hausted the companies of the TwantX.
hfst retTeated, but Gen Lawton dash
ed doWn and rallied the men A little
group made desperate stand Gen Law
Ioil' MAJ. starr and Lieuts. Donovan and
Dohhely taking guns from the wounded
men and firing at the enemy. bringing
ue"h some OF the rebel sharp-shooters
from tree. Finally their cartridges were
all gone, and they were forced to breaS
their way through the enemy's flank
Tearing their wounded to the main BODY
Oh troops Lieut.. Donovan, whose leg was
orOkeh' houndered for mile through
Dog after leading his men in the face
OF greatly superior force TX. -
ten. Lawton ceased fighting until rein
to[cements could be brought UP. Two
Dattalons Of the Fourteenth regiment
ana one battalion of the Ninth regiment
were hurried to the front and in the
afternoon the battle was resumed Tba
Mehadnock anchored up to the shore and
heF heaVy guns pounded the rebels CON
uhuously while the smaller warshins
Streaming along the shore, poured bull
lets from their rapid fire guns at the
enemy a. Inc
The Filipino force engaged annaarad N
nave oeen the largest and best organized
body of men which has met our +roo,e1
Ihe Americans were compelled to ad
vance along narrow roads and numerous
small bridges commanded BY earthworlxs
ten feet thick - No
Inc only means Of crossing the Seanote
was by a small bridge, which the Fiji
plhos commanded with trenches. spread
Is tiolh "hch they concentrated
thelr hre on the bridge They also had
the advantage of the trees and Jungle. a
The Americans could hardly see ahead
REsIsTLEss ADVANCE.
When the battle was resumed. at 10
UT4ocn, with the reir forcements, our ar
ulery having silenced the enemy's guns
the Americans, wading waist deem IN tbs
mud OF the salt fats, slowly, and pour
Ing steady volleys of mesketrv at tha
Feoe's, drove their opponents beyond the
river. Then the two armies Law facing
each other, across the deep stream. with
the enemy practically out of sight while
&c Aieh III plue and kahaiki lay In the
MAIN oushes' many Of them without shell
Ter, nor nearly three hours without q
moments cessation in the firing. pouring
bullets at the enemy as fast as thew
could shoot. The thousand rifles. blended
INTO continuous roar was vastly differ
eht from the intermittent slIirmish-lilSe
rattle of past engagements.
1he battalion after another, Gen. Law
ION summoned the reserves from Las
PlnnG INIT "
In the town to prevent the Filipinos from
attacking the Americans in the rear
winch was feared, as they were creeninp
AROUND our left through the woods. deliy-
ering Ranking fire, which put n great
strain upon the Americans, who were
houndering In the mud across the river
while on the right the Filipino sharp
shooters, hidden in the trees, were pen
perlng our men. But, thanks to the moor
Workmanship of the rebels, our loss was
not as great as II would have been If the
f1hpinos had shot straight An army
however, has seldom fought under q
greater handicap or more couraReouslv
than did our regulars majority of
whom were, comparatively speaking. re-
cruits who could have been pardoned for
retiring, In the face of such a fierce fire
from their exposed positions.
FIGHT FOR THE BRIDGE
The Fourteenth regiment lay Ito the
flght OF the bridge, and in front of them
was the Twelfth regiment, with the
Ninth on the right and the Twenty-f1rst
up the road racing the bridge, which was
the key to the situation. On the bridge
were the bodies of two Americans who
had attempted to rush across, and many
wounded men were carried from the open
ground before the bridge
After firing in volleys for short time