The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-25

Correspondence of the Associated Presss
ILOILO, Nov. 13.--The island Of PanAys
sister island to Negros and others Of the
visayan group. has for months past been
in the insurgents hands, Today tho
American forces are taking the aggress-
i've for the first time and are moving out
to cover and hold more territory. Up to
the present we have possessed the half
burned town of Iloilo. and nothing more.
The Twenty-sixth regiment. under Col.
Rice, arrived here two weeks ago from
the United States.
Belief at Home.
1--WE at home,' said officers Of this regi-
ment, knew that our troops were on
Panay, but we had the impression that
they occupied the island; that the Inn
portant coast towns were at least ours;
that our possession was more than nomi-
nal, Hence. we are surprised to see the
American forces actually besieged by the
insurgents upon three miles OF land im-
mediatcly surrounding lloilo.
1.-THE people of the United States may
have the same ideas as had the omcers
OF the Twenty-sixth regiment. ana 70
them 1t would be welf 70 say that our
lines, up to the present. embrace the
suburbs of Jaro and Moio. both within
three miles of this port. and nothing
more. The insurgent trenches face US
on the north and west. and outpost mr.
ing is to be heard at any time.
Reinforcements Have Come.
"with the coming OF reinforcements, =
battalion of the Nineteenth and tho
Twenty sixth regiment entire. Gen
Hughes in the midst of typhoon that
swept the country with driving rain.
flooded rice fields and made quagmires Of
the roads. an expedition composed Of the
Eighteenth regulars. un0er Col Carpen-
ter: the Second battalion OF the Twenty
sixth regiment; two battalions OF the
Nineteenth; Light Battery g, Of the Sixth
artillery. under Capt. Bridgeman. and
Cant. Gordon's mounted scouts from the
Eighteenth regiment. advanced into the
enemy's country. The battalion Of the
Twenty-sixth and the two pattaiions Of
the Twenty-ninth constituted provision
al regiment under Col. Rice, while the
First and Third battaiions Of the TWEEN
ty-sixth garrisoned Iloilo and Jaro.
santa barbara the objective.
.The objective point of the expedition
was the supposed insurgent stronghold -
Santa Barbara, eight miles north of jaro,
but, as the direct road between these Two
points had been strongly intrenched. the
American forces made a detour to the west
in order to approach Santa Barbara on
its unprotected side. Yesterday Gen-
Hughes had occupied successfully the VII
lagos Of Often. Tigbaun and Gnrmal. on
the coast, and west OF Iloilo; likewise, Cor
doba, four miles north of Tigbaun.
one Company Has n Brush.
aCompany C, Of the Twenty-sixth regi-
ment, had the only contact with the IN
surgents on the first night out. One OF
the men of the company, which was un-
der command OF Lieut. Fales. was serious-
" wounded, two of the enemy were found
dead when the trenches were captured.
and much ammunition fell into our hands
as result of the brush. Today Gen.
Hughes column Is resting In the four
towns mentioned, waiting for ammunition
and provisions to be conveyed to It. and
also for the rains to stop and the country
to dry.
IIotlo Looks Dismantled.
.sThe town Of San Miguel. within sight
of Iloilo, was partially fired by the rebels
when they thought cur troops were about
to enter 1t.
"The town Of Iloilo today presents wos-
begone and dismantled appearance A third
OF the place is in ruins and the partial re-
construction Of business houses and the
humble dwellings az the poor, with debris
from the coniagPation of February IL, re-
minds one of the wreck after Western
cyclone