The Denison review., 1899-06-16

llV i lull j II i sV1l FIIuS
Insurgents South of Mania Of
fer Desperate Resistance. 9'
HARDEST WORK OF THE CAMPAIGN.
Rebels Try 70 Turn Lawton's Flank
I, Americans Gain Only Five, Hundred
Yards During the Day-Our Loss In the
Engagement Placed at Sixty. srs'na
MANILA June 14.-The fighting at
Las Pinas continued hotly all day long.
General Lawton called out the, whole
force OF 5000 men, and at o'clock he
was only able to push the insurgents
back 500 yards to the Zapote river,
where they are intrenched. The insur-
gents resisted desperately and aggress-
lively. They attempted to turn the left
flank of the American troops. The
American loss is conservatively esti-
mated at 60. The battle continues.
After firing in volleys for short time
the Americans were 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 at
the faint misrs arising from the enemy's
smokeless powder. General Lawton,
though exhausted by the mornings
fight, rallied by sheer will power and
was the commanding figure in the bat
tie. He went along the lines directing
and encouraging the troops.
General Wheaton and General Oven
shine were equally courageous. 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,
wounding several of our men. s.a,
Before dark last night the Fourteenth
infantry swan the Zapote river, charged
and carried the trenches, The insur-
gents broke for the woods before the
Fourteenth reached them. Almost at
the same time the Ninth and the
Twelfth crossed bar of the sea and
came up on their left flank at point
where body Of marines with Maxim
guns, landed under protection of the
ships batteries, and fired upon the
enemy's left rear with a demoralizing
effect. The Twenty-first crossed the
river by q bridge as soon as it, could be
mended. 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 i''H'' e f'f' 'sf3''a
After crossing the river the troops
were withdrawn with the exception Of
the Ninth and Twenty first, these regi-
ments being left with four. guns to
guard the bridge. AS they We're being
formed into companies the insurgents
commenced to fire volleys from the
bamboo jungle 300 yards away. The
regiments formed into line rapidly and
coolly, though under fire, and cheering,
rushed to the woods, driving the enemy
mile away, the Filipinos disputing
every foot. The Fourteenth encamped
across the river, the men, caring for
many of the Filipino wounded. ~
At daylight yesterday the rebels at
Cavite 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 Moquito
then proceeded to dismount the, gun.
After breakfast the rebels opened fire
along the beach to Bacoor. pl
After silencing the big gun at Cavite
Viejo the gunboats ran close along the
shore, bombarding the rebel position.
The rebels replied with rifle Hire and
with the fire of some small pieces Of ar
tillery. So vigorous was the enemy s
fire that at 9:2O a. M. the gunboatI Hell
ena joined the small gunboats already
named and the Princeton, Monterey
and Monadnock, from their anchorages,
dropped occasional big shells among the
rebels. This, apparently, only served
to incite the rebels, as they kept up an
incessant fire Of muskettiy and artillery
near the mouth of the Zapote. river, two
miles north of Bacoor. The fire, of all
seven Warshlps was concentrated on
this point shortly after noon, when the
upper bay presented the appearance of
being these of great naval battle.
The insurgents were eventually forced
to abandon their guns after holding out
for about four hours, only to be con.
fronted by General Lawtond'.s force On
land and in their rear, where there was
heavy fighting. mn : ic Dsf
Report From General Otis.
WASHINGTON, June 14.-The, follow
ing has been received from General Otis
MANILA, June 13.-Adjutant General,
Washington: Lawton 's,p troops had Sc
we're engagement today with enemy in
strong intrenchments at crossing OF
Zapote river, near Bacoor, Cavite prov
ince. Has driven enemy with heavy
loss; our casualties some thirty. Insur-
gents in this southern section not mo-
Tested until they threatened an, attack
in strong, force ON Manila. They are
now scattered and in retreat. Doubtful