The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1899-06-22
BIG BATTLE NEAR MANILA.
American Gunboats Shell the T IL
ipino Insurgents Position
at Cavite Viejo.
LAYTON HAS A LIVELY ENGAGEMENT.
The Rebels Open "A Terrific Fire the
Twenty-Ffrst Infantry-A Desperate
Stand Made by the Americans-Re-
ported Assassination of Gen. Luna
Gen. Otis CabIegram.

Gen. OTIS tablegram
Manila, June 13.-At daylight to-day
the rebels at Cavitc Viejo dropped two
shells from a big smooth bore gun
mounted in front of the church in the
| navy yard. The only damage done was
splintering the top of the huge shears
on the Mole. The gunboats Callao,
Manila and Mosquito then proceeded
to dismount the gun. After breakfast
the rebels opened fire along the beach
to Balxoor After silcncing the big
gun at Cavite Viejo the gun
boats ran close along the shore,
bombarding the rebel position. The
rebels replied with rifle fire and with
the fire of some small pieces of artil-
lery So vigorous was the enemy's fire
that at 9:20 a. m. the gunbOat Helena
joined the small gunboats already
named and the Princeton, Monterey
and Monadnoclx, from their anchor
ages, dropped occasional big shells
among the rebels. This, apparently,
only served to incite the rebels, as they
kept up an incesSant fire of musket-
ry and artillery near the mouth of the
Zapote river, two miles north of Bakoor.
The fire of all seven warships was con-
centrated on this point shortly after
noon, when the upper bay presented
the appearance of being the scene of "A
great naval battle. The insurgents
were eventually forced to abandon
their guns after holding out for about
four hours, only to be confronted by
Gen. Lawton's force on land and in
their rear, where there was heavy
fighting. Beyond the destruction
of several buildings along he water
front, the effect of the bonn bardment Is
not known.
Lively Engagement.
Manila, June 13.-Gen. LawtOn I'M
eXpcctedly stirred up one of the nveli-
est engagements of the war south of
Las Pinas this morning upon which
occasion American field guns were en-
gagged In the first artillery duel against
a Filipino battery, concealed i'll the
jungle. Companies L and l, of the
Twenty-first infantry, were nearly sur
rounded by Il large body of insurgents,
but the Americans cut their way out
with heavy loss. During the night an
insurgent cannon was fred three times
at the Americans ON the outskirts of
Las Pinas. Gen. Lawton this morning
took a battalion. of the Fourteenth
regiment and two companies of
the Twcnty-frst regiment to locate
the rcbUl battery, and then two guns
of the Sixth artillery and four
mountain guns were planted against it
at 600 yards distance. The rebels had
a large gun from which they were fir
ing homemade canister loaded with
nails and also two smaller guns. Their
ha
pantes of the Twenty-first regiment,
diminishing along the beach, with
amigo guides, found, apparently, a
handful of rebels, who retreated. The
men of the Twenty-first followed and
suddenly the rebels opened a terrific fire
on the troops from the sides and
rear. The soldiers withdrew to the
waters edge, finding what shelter they
could, and were picked off rapidly.
After their ammunition was nearly eX-
hausted. the companies of the Twenty
first reiterated, but Gen. Lawton dashed
down and rallied the men. A little
group made desperate stand. Gen.
Lawton, Maj. Starr and Lieuts. Dono-
van and Connolly taking rifles from the
wounded men, fired at the enemy,
bringing down some of the rebel sharp
shooters from tree. Finally their
cartridges were all gone and they were
forced to break through the enemy's
flank, carrying the wounded to the
main body of the troops.
Battle with the Insurgents
Manila, June lathe fighting at
Las Pinas continued hotly all day long.
Gen. Lawton called out the whole force
of 5000 men and at five O'Clock he was
only able to push the insurgents back
500 yards to the Zapote river where
they are intrenched. The Insurgents
resisted desperately and aggressively.
They attempted to turn the left flank
of the American troops The American
loss Is conservatively estimated at 60.
Reported Assassination of Gen. Luna
Manila, June 13.-Information, be-
heved to be reliable, has reached here
of the assassination of Gen. Luna and
his aide-de-camp. Lieut. Pasco Ramon,
June 5, by Aguinaldo's guard at the
headquarters of Aguinaldo. Luna and
Ramon, It appears, went to the Filipino
headquarters to confer with Aguinaldo,
got into an alteration with the cap
tain of the guard and one of them drew
revolver. The guard then killed
Luna and Ramon with their bavonets.
Gen. Otis Cablegram-
Washington, June 13.-The follow
Ing cablegram was received from Gen.
Otis:
Manila, June t3.-AdJutant General Wash
tugton: Lawtons troops had severe engage
meut to-day with enemy in strong fntreuch-
mcnts at crossing Zapote river, near BakOOT
Cayite province; has driven enemy with heavy
loss; our casualties some 81 Insurgents IN this
southern section not moleStcd until threatened
attack in strong force on Manila: now scattered
and IL retreat doubtful II they make further
stand.-Otis.
HiIlmon Cases Again Postponed
Leavenworth. Kan. June 13.-The
cases of Sallie E. Hillmon against the
Mutual Life Insurance company, of
New York. and the Connecticut Mu-