The times., 1899-06-04

for meritorious conduct with the land
forces in the Luzon campaign. The re-
ports ON which the recommendation was
based were made public also.
Ensign Davis participated in the opera
tions of MacArthur's division, in command
of Colt automatic gun. he was accom-
panied by the regular crew of the gun.
Corporal Thomas Francis Prendergast,
Private Howard Major Buckley. and Pri-
vate Joseph Melvin. all OF the marine
guard of the Helena. Ensign Davis report
contains favorable comments on the work.
ing of the automatic gun, which are OF par
ticular interest on account OF the failure
OF similar piece of ordnance to work in
Samoa during the engagement in which
Lieutenant Lansdale and Ensign Monaghan
were killed.
Admiral Dewey's Report.
In his report Almiral Dewey says:
Ensign Davis was volunteer for this
duty ashore with the army. He was en-
gagged in all actions against the Insurgents
that took place on the northern front OF
the army between February 81 and April
| 4, 1893 / therefore commend him to the
department, and recommend that he be
The crew Of the Colts gun consisted OF
Corporal Thomas Francis Prendergast and
Privates Howard Major Buckley and
Joseph Melvin. U. S. Marine Corps.
while this crew was not composed OF
| volunteers none being asked for. the men
| performed their duty under most trying
conditions of war in the most exemplary
manner and deserve high praise. l hope
the department Will reward in suitable
manner their services"
The report of Major Richard ". Young.
Utah Battery, chief of artillery of Mac
Arthur's second division. was submitted
also II is endorsed by General Macarthur
! as follows:
Il have personal knowledge of the mat
| ter referred 70 within by Major Young and
| take great pleasure in expressing strong
concurrence in all he says of the profess
sional skill and personal gallantry of En-
| sign Davis. which came repeatedly under
my personal observation"
| Ensign Davis services are thus describ-
ed by Major Young:
February 27, by General MacArthur's
direction he reported to me for assign
ment with q Colts automatic gun and
| detachment of three marines. From that
| date until March 20 he was stationed at
! Caloocan; where on several occasions he
| materially assisted in quieting the firing of
the insurgents. March 20. with his gun
and detachment, he accompanied the ar
tillery in the forward movement toward
the Tuliahan River. The gun was en-
ployed against the enemy about noon of
that day near Cabalahan, and toward even
ing a scouting party Of about twenty-five
| dismounted cavalry from the Fourth reg
! iment had developed the enemy in con-
siderable force strongly entrenched be-
hind very elaborate works on the right
! or west bank OF the Taliahan. The cavalry
| suffered severely, about 80 per cent of their
number being wounded or killed, when a
| Utah gun and Ensign Davis with the au-
tomato gun were ordered forward and
brought into position behind fence screen
within lbs yards of the insurgent trenches.
| During the approach to the position, the
time consumed in removing obstacles and
| in preparation to fire, the detachments
were under vicious fire, which was re-
doubled as soon as the guns opened The
enemy was, however, soon silenced, the
automatic gun having contributed largely
to the result.
March 81 Ensign Davis at his own re-
quest took position on the Marlas River
opposite an insurgent trench not more than
seventy live yards distant. Though under
a heavy fire, he poured in a well-directed
fire. which enabled the artillery to come
forward protected the advancing infantry,
and assisted materially in bringing about
the surrender of the insurgents in the
trenches.
March 90 he brought the gun in action
we'll to the front over the railway bridge