Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-05-13
MASSNG FOR 4 FIGHT.
Filipinos Strongly Entrenched
Behind Earthworks at
San Idefonzo.
in A A or SUSPENSE
Native Troops Attack American Lines
at San Fernando When Drunk
on Wine From Bacolor.

Repulsed by Our Fire-Luna Bringing
Up Forces by Trainloads in Sight of
Lines-County Around Calumpit Filling
= Up with Natives Who Profsss Friend
ship, But Are Suspected.
Manila, May 1.-THE strongest in
surgent position yet known in the
course of General Lawton's advance
was developed at San Idefonzo, nine
miles north of Balinag, by a recon
NOTHING party consisting of companies
of the Thirteenth Minnesota and Sec
nj Oregon regiments.
Heavy earthworks extend for a mile
from a swamp on the left along a high
ridge in front of the town. to the
right, with thanking trenches. COM
manding a vast open country given up
to rice fields.
If the enemy holds this position a
great battle may be expected soon.
All the indications sugge that every
mile of the forward movement of Gen
eral Lawton toward San Isidro will
be resisted.
Thousands of hungry Filipinos are
:Swarming into Lawton's lines. They
are being fed from the large insurg-
ents stores of rice captured at Ba-
linag.
General Lawton has established the
first native municipal government in
the Philippines at Balinag. A Filipino
Mayor. who Is authorized to select Il
Council. was elected yesterday at a
public meeting of the natives. The
Filipino Gen. Mascardo's Army. in
spired by wine taken from the store
houses of Bacolor and by the Gen
erals oratory. on Monday evening at
tackled San Fernando.
There was tremendous yelling and
a great expenditure of cartridges by
the rebels, but very little result. Gen.
Maseardo holds the outskirts of Ba-
color west of the railroad.
In front of his position are the Kan
sas and Montana Regiments. which
occupy trenches that the Filipinos
built in anticipation of an attack from
the direction of the sea.
During the afternoon of Monday
Gen. Mascardo. with a large retinue
of officers, rode along the lines. fire.
quently stopping to harangue his war
sriors. At dusk a detachment of rebels
rushed toward the outposts of the
Montana regiment. but were met by
a hot fire from the Montana regiments
line. The insurgents, from trenches
nearly three miles long. responded.
After an hours firing, during which
one private soldier of the Montana
regiment was wounded. the insurgents
subsidized, although they kept up a
scattering fire throughout the night.
Prisoners who were brought into the
American lines said that General Mas
cardo distributed barrels of wine
among his soldiers, telling them that
he expected to capture the city of San
Fernando. The trenches undoubtedly
saved the Americans from heavy loss,
the bullets falling thick about them
during the engagement.
General Luna is massing his army
east of the railway. bringing up troops
by trainloads in sight Of the Ameri-
can lines.
The country between San Fernando
and Calumpit is filing up with na-
lives. who profess great friendship TO-
ward the Americans. but who are sus-
pected by many of sympathy with the
lnsurrection.
A Filipino connected with the Ameri-
can Hospital Corps was killed, it is
supposed, by friendlies.