The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-27
CAPTURE OF CALAMBA.
Details of the Fight = Troops
Swim and Wade.

Manila, July 27.-7:40 p. NAN ex-
petition comprised of troops from San
Pedro Macati, Pasig and Moronga, I'M
der Brig. Gen. R. H. Hill, yesterday
captured Calamba, an important trad
ing town of the south shore of Laguna
de Bay, after two hours sharp fighting,
during which four soldiers were killed
and twelve wounded. The trenches COM
manding the harbor were under water
but the swampiness of the land made
the work harder. The troops boarded
cascoes Tuesday night. The force COM
prised 400 of the Washington volunteers,
$50 of the Twenty-first infantry, $50 of
the Fourth cavalry and two guns of the
First artillery. These and the gunboats
Napidan and Costo assembled opposite
Calamba Wednesday afternoon. Crowds
of people in cars and on foot were seen
rushing to the hills. Natives escaping
from Calamba in canoes said a hundred
insurgents held the town.
A force under Capt. McGrath of the
2lst infantry and Captain Eltonherd
landed east of the town but found a
river intervening. Capt. McGrath and
Lieut. Batson swan the river under a
fire from twenty Mauser rifles. Having
crossed the stream the officers procured
a casco to ferry the troops over. The
insurgents retreated through the town
shooting from houses and bushes as thew
fled to the hills. The members of the
Washington regiment Waded from the
caScoeS through SWampS often shoulder
deep, while a group of Filipinos conceal
ed in hay stacks were shooting at them
until the Napidan focused her 6-pound-
ers and Calling guns on the stack for
a few minutes. Most of the work was
done before the Washington volunteers
could reach the town.
The Filipinos left three dead OF the
casualties on the American Side, two
of the killed and three of the wounded
were members of the Fourth cavalry
and two killed and eight wounded be-
longed to the Twenty-first infantry
There was much shooting by Amigos
who emerged from the bushes with
white flags. After the fight a dozen
men holding up their hands and shout
ing "CaStilinoS" met the American cav
airy. Even Spanish soldiers embraced
the Americans Historically. There were
80 Spanish prisoners at Calamba, of
whom some were civil officials and
some were soldiers.
They had been given the choice of
joining the Filipino army or becoming
servants to Filipinos, and chose the
army intending to surrender at the
first opportunity. Most of the civilians
reached the American lines during the
fighting, but the insurgents took others
away with them in their retreat.
Gen. Hall captured II Filipinos with
guns.
Maj. Gen Henry I.awton, Prof. Dean
c. Wooscester of the American Philip
pines commission; Mrs. Gen. Lawton
anu NreH LdWlOnS son accompanied the
expedition on board a launch and sat
cody in an unprotected boat close to
the shore during the fight, the bullets
splashing about them.
Today General Hall brought to Manila
the SpaniardS whom the expedition had
released from captivity of more than a
year.
Lieutenant Larson, commanding the
Napidan, today found a long-missing
Spanish gunboat which ad been so covered
with bushes and fishnets as not to resem-
BILE vessel
The FiHpinos, having met reinforce
ments and thinking that the Americans
had evacuated the town, descended from
the hills today, intending to reoccupy Ca
lamba. General Hall easily drove them
back. General Hall will leave a garri-
son at Calamba.