The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-03-29
Fierce Fighting in
the Philippines.
AMERICAN TROOPS AD-
VANCE SLOWLY.

| vANCE SLO w IL L.
Every Victory Dearly Pur-
chased.
Manila, March 25 The great bat
tie of the Philippines, for which Gen
Otis has been preparing for several
weeks past, is now in progress.
1t began at daylight this morning,
with the entire American line around
Manila and $4,000 Fliipinos engaged
The fighting is terrific on both sides
and the death rate of the enemy is
enormous The Americans are losing
heavily, too, but are driving Aguina.
do's army before them with compare
tive ease, leaving the lines of battle
strewn with dead and wounded.
Gen. McArtbur's division. consist
ing of the brigades of Gen. 81. G
Otis, Gen. Hale and Hall, supple.
mented by Gen. Wbeaton's brigade,
advanced at daylight and cut the
enemy's forces in two. They captur-
ed the towns of Pelo and Navalechs
on the left and San Francisco del
Monte and Mariguina, on the right,
clearing the rebel trenches in front
of the line north from the river to
Caloocan. They also secured posses
sion of the railroad, practically cor
nering the flower of Aguinsldo's
army al Malabon and in the foot hills
at Singalon, twenty miles apart.
The movements of the American
troops swept the ingurgents back to-
ward Malabon
Gen. Harrison Gray OTIS brigade
is in front of la Lomsx, where there
is stretch of mile of rough, open
country. The insurgents trenches
in the edges Of the wood are four
feet deep and furnish good head
cover. The American troops ad-
vanced on the double quick, yelling
fercely, and occasional dropping in
the grass and firipg by yolleys
The American loss reported up to
5 IS o'clock this afternoon was
sixteen killed and 40 wounded The
ICES of the enemy was heavier than
during any previous engagement
Washington. March 26.-The fol
lowing dispatch has been received at
the war department this evening:
Manila, March 26.
Adiutant General, Washington
MacArthur's advance beyond
Newcanayan. two miles beyond Polo,
nine miles from Manila and Is miles
from Malolos !; railroad will be repair
ed to advance points to morrow, and
troops supplied by cars. Macarthur
will press on to morrow, is now in
open country Insurgents stoutly
resisted behind succeeding lines of
entertainments from which troops
continually drive them City perfect
ly quiet and native inhabitants appear
to be relieved OF anxiety and fear of
insurgents Capt. Krayenbuh, COM
missary lieutenant, Third artillery
mortaliy wounded.
Gen Otis dispatch, received at 10
o'clock to night, recording MacAr
thnr's advance to Newcanayan, mark.
ed distinct aud important step by
the American troops in the opinion Of
Acting Secretary Meiklejohn aud
Adiutant Gen. CoIbin Both ex
pressed their satisfaction that it
would be accomplished The former
dispatches regarding this branch of
the operations had not been so
promising. inasmuch as they had
| stated that Gen Macarthur, although
he had driven the enemy, could
not gain a point north of Polo
on account of the. roughness of the
country. With easy railroad COM
municatiop to the advanced point the
difficulty in forwarding commissary
supplies will be conelderably lessen.
ed Every step forward is regarded
as so much ground gained aud an
| approach nearer to the insurgent
headquarters at MaIolos, now stated
to be but Is miles from the vanguard
of the American army. The tenacity
of the Filipinos in the past few days
fighting had somewhat surprised the
war officials here, who did not believe
them capable of putting up and main
tanning the contest they have,
Manila. March 27 -9:l5 a. o.
The Filipioos are burning their s,roag
hold at Maabon, and their forces are
fleeing from the city 10 the direction of
Maiolos
Gen. MacArsbur's division is push
ing toward Malabon.
The insurgents will make their last
~