Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-05-11
THE AMERICAN TASK
The Capture Of Bacolor, a Filipino
Stronghold, Planned.
REBELS lNTRENCHIyC The PLACE.
A Significant Change In the Filipino Cab
inet-Our Army Enjoying Life at San
FernandO-Gen. King Leaves
Manila for Home.

| ManlIa Tor uO!ne'
Manila May s.-To clear the FiliI
nos out of Bacolor, about five mil
southwest of San Fernando, will be Il
next task of the Americans. The reb
general, Mascardo, has a force of go
men there, well armed and possess
OF plenty Of ammunition. His trool
have never met American soldiers ar
they think according to reports carrie
to San Fernando, that they can "wh
the whole lot" Bacolor is well il
trenched and thousands of natives al
working like beavers, digging trench'
and carrying the dirt in baskets. tt
enemy uses his rihemen for fghtin
only, but compels the Bolomen an
Chinese, and even the women, to labt
necessarily. The rebel outpost is abor
a mile beyond San Fernando with
trench that holds between 200 and 81
men. From that point several volley
were fired Saturday night upon tn
camp of the Twentieth Kansas reg
ment.
Neither Maj. Gen. Macarthur no
Maj. Gen. Lawton moved Sunday, a
though each reconnoitered the countr
in his vicinity for some miles fror
headquarters, developing the presenc
Of small forces of the enemy. In tn
vicinity Of LaGuna de Bay the rebel
are extremely active, but the lines 0
Gen. ovenshine and Col. Wholly, VIII
are commanding Gen. Kings brigad
during the latter's illness, have BEEF
materially strengthened and there /
no danger in that direction.
The armed steamer La Guna de Ba,
and Cavadonga, under Capt. Grant
have gone to Guagua, about five mile
southwest Of Bacolor, presumably t,
establish base of supplies for tn,
troops engaged in the northern cam
paign.
1t is rumored that Mabini, president
of the cabinet and minister of foreign
affairs in the so-called Filipino govern
ment, who is a radical, is to be sue
ceeded by Patreno, the Trainer Of the
Spanish treaty of 1896. This change l.
regarded as significant at the present
juncture. The entrance of the Ameri.
cans into San Fernando was virtually
unopposed. The t'ilipinos, who ex-
pected the invaders to approach from
the sea, had that side of the town
guarded, but there was only
one line OF trenches beyond San
Tomas. Two battalions of the Fifty
first Iowa regiment, which swan the
river north of the city, were smartly
while in the water, but the
rebels disappeared us soon as the Ameri-
cans reached the shore. In the mean
time the hospital squad had walked
across the bridge into the city, sup
posing the Americans were there.
They encountered no natives. The
few Spaniards and Filipinos who were
left there welcomed the Americans and
opened their houses to them, Gen.
Macarthur accepting entertainment at
The hands OF Senior llizon, "a sugar mag
nate.
II the inhabitants of the San Fer
nando region are to be believed, there
is little sympathy with the instruction
IN that quarter. Before evacuating
-he city the rebels burned the church
md the public buildings and looted the
yhinese quarters. They drove many
itch Filipinos, with their families, out
,f the city before them, as well as hun
lreds of Chinese, to prevent them help
ng the Americans. They cut the
,hroats of some. Many Chinese hid on
'oof tops or in cellars and some escaped
oy cutting off their queues. There are
10 fresh graves in the churchyard.
The country beyond Calumpit is fullof
vi sorts of ingenious trenches and pit
alls In the roads, with sharpened BAN
100. Fortunately the Americans es-
'aped the latter. In the swamps near
San Tomas, where Gen. Wheaton's
roops did their hardest fghting-+the
men sinking to their waists in mud
re many bodies Of Filipinos, smelling
horribly.
The army is really enjoying life at
IAN Fernando. which is the most pic
uresque and wealthiest town the Amer
cans have entered since the occupation
# Manila. 1t is mainly built of stone,
he river is close at hand and high hills
lmost surround it. Many sugar fac
cries indicate thriving industry in
hat respect and there are numerous
inc residences. Gen. MacArthur's per-
nanent headquarters is established in
he best house in town. The troops
re encamped around in the suburbs
nd are beginning to think they may
'e quartered there during the wet sea-
on.
After Bacolor has been cleared water
communication with Manila may be
established. Along the roads to Calum-
ut the fuel wagons and bull teams
provisions have to be ferried,
me by one, across two rivers, but the
'ilipinos have several launches in the
liver delta.
Brig Gen. Charles King has sailed
or the United States on board the
transport Pueblo.