The Topeka state journal., 1899-06-14
VICTORY AT LAST.
Filipinos Driven Back by Reg
ulars Under LaWtOn
After Fighting All Day In the
Mud and Jungle.
SWIMMING THE RIVER.
The Fourteenth Plunges In and
Carries the Trenches.
Filipinos Leave Sixty-tiVe Dead
on the Field.
FIGHT DESPERATELY.
Insurgents Contest Ground
Inch by Inch.
They Don't Seem to Know When
They're Whipped.
The Fourteenth Plunges In and
Carries the Trenches.
Filipinos Leave Sixty-fiVe Dead
on the Field.
FIGHT DESPERATELY.
Insurgents Contest Ground
Inch by Inch.
They Don't Seem to Know When
They're Whipped.

Manila. June 14-S:15 p. m.-Before
dark last night the Fourteenth infantry
swan the Zapote river, charged ana
carried the trenches. a heavy fusIllade
of artillery preparing the way and Gov
ering the crossing. The Insurgents
broke for the woods before the Four
teenth reached them Almost at the
same time the Ninth and the Twelfth
crossed q bar of the sea and came up on
their left flank at a point where body
of marines with Maxim guns landed
under protection of the ships batteries
and fired upon the enemy's left rear
with demoralizing effect. The Twenty
first crossed the river by bridge as
soon as it could be mended.
SIXTT-FIVE DEAD FILIPINOS-
Sixty-five dead Filipinos were found
in the trenches. most of them shot
through the head. Several 5-inch
smooth bore guns were captured with
ammunition marked u. S Navy Yard.
After crossing the river the troops were
Withdrawn With the exception of the
Ninth and Twenty-first, these regi-
1nents being left with four guns to
guard the bridge. AS they were be
ing formed into companies the insur-
gents commenced to fire Volleys from
the bamboo jungle 500 yards away. The
regiments formed into line rapidly and
coolly, though under fire, and, cheer
ing. rushed to the woods, driving the
enemy a mile away, the FilipinOs dis
putting every foot. The Fourteenth en-
camped on the river. the men caring
for many of the F'ilipinos wounded
Eight prisoners were captured. The
majority of the Filpinos wore red uni
forms.
CROSSING THE RIVER.
The only means of crossing the "a
pote was by a small bridge, which the
Filipinos commanded with trenches
spreading W shaped, whence they
could concentrate their fire on the
bridge. They also had the advantage
of the trees and jungle, so the Ameri-
cans could hardly see ahead.
When the battle was resumed at 1
O'Clock with the reinforcaments. our
battery having silenced the enemy's
guns. the Americans, wading waist
deep in the mud of the sand flats, slowly.
and pouring steady volleys of musketry
at the rebels. drove their opponents be-
yond the river. Then the two armies
lay facing each other across the deep
stream. the enemy practically out of
sight. while the men in blue and hahaki
lay in the main bushes. many of them
without any shelter, for three hours
without a moments cessation in the
firing, pouring bullets at the enemy as
fast as they cOuldWload.
The thousand rifles blended into
continuous roar. was vastly different
from the Intermittent slIirmish-like rat
tie of most of the engagements.
FIGHTING IN MUD.
One battalion after another General
Lawton summoned from Las Pinas un-
til only enough reserves were left in the
town to prevent the FilipinOs from at
tacking the Americans in the rear. which
was feared, as they were creeping
around our left through the weeds, de-
Hvering a 6anking fire which put a
in EDe Of
Americans, who were fioundering in the
mud across the river while on the right
the Filipino sharpshooters. hidden in
the trees, were peppering our men.
But. thanks to the poor craftsmanship
of the rebels. our loss was not so great
1t would have been if the FilipinOs
had shot straight. An army, however,
has seldom fought under a greater han
dicap or more coura geously than did
our regulars, a majority of whom were
comparatively speaking, recruits. who
could have been pardOned for retire
ment in the face of such a fierce fire
from their exposed positions
The Fourteenth regiment lay to the
right of the bridge and in front of them
was the Twelfth regiment, with the
Ninth on the right and the Twenty
first up the road facing the bridge,
which was the critical 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 DrldSe.
GO AS YOU PLEASE.
After firing in volleys for a short
time. the Americans We're ordered to fire
when and where they could see the
enemy. 1t was every man for himself
and the best our men could do was to
aim al the faint mists arising from the
rebels smokeless powder.
General LawtOn. though exhausted by
the mornings fight, rallied by sheer
will power, and was the commanding
figure in the battle. He went along
the lines directing and encouraging the
troops.
General Wheaton and General Oven
shine were equally cOurageO In fact
the generals were among the few men
on the battlefield who refused to take
shelter under the hottest fire. The only
approach to the fighting ground was by
a narrow, winding road where the rebel
bullets dropped thickly around our men
At O'Clock there was an hours lull
in the fighting and an artillery sergeant
galIoped back to where two guns of
the mountain battery were waiting in
reserve and shouted: Bring up those
guns.
The sergeant then tumbled exhausted
from his horse
Twenty wounded men were carried to
o casco (native boat) waiting on the