The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1899-03-31
DESERT RALAB0N
THEY FIRE THE CITY AND FLEE
TO MALALOs.
AMERICANS HAVE A HARD TASK.
Rebels Arc strongly Entrenehed and ATueia
DimsuIty l. Experienced In Dis-
lodging Theirs.

A Manila special says; The Ameri-
cans Sunday morning found the inn
Portant town Of Polo and a number Of
small village west Of the railroad de-
serted and burning. They were adj
vancing along the railroad.
During the day the Washington vol
unteers, who held Pasig Saturday, had
an engagement with a band of insur-
gents, who drove in their outposts. In
the fight the Filipinos lost several.
At $3.50 o'clock a. m. the Filipinos
began burning their stronghold at
Malabon, and their forces fled from
the city in the direction of Malalos.
The insurgents will make their last
stand probably at Malalos.
The Americans have advanced along
the line of the Dagupan railroad, driv-
ing the Filipinos from Malinta and
Newcanayan, where there were 8, 1000
Inhabitants.
Saturday night the brigades Of Cen
eral Harrison Gray Otis and General
Hale encamped in the enemy's trenches
at Newcanayan and that of General
Wheaton at Malinta.
General Wheaton's brigade formed
junction with the remainder Of Gen
eral McArthur's division at Malfnta,
and the two, leaving General Wheaton
there, marched along the railroad to
Newcanayan. This place was fortified
and for 300 yards from it there were
trenches on each side of the track.
These were taken possession of by the
American troops. The movement Of
the Americans will be pushed in this
direction.
The Filiplnos realizing that the rail
road is the crucial line, have construct
ed row after row of trenches, running
diagonally on both sides Of the track
at distace of few hundred yards
apart.
This work was designed most intel
igently, and has evidently been done
under the direction of experts. It rep
resents an enormous amount of labor.
Most of the rebel positions are pro-
tected by thick earchworks, a majority
of them topped with stones and pro-
vided with loopholes. Some have sheet
iron roofs.
The days work of the United States
troops consisted of storming three sue
cessive trenches. The Filipinos oecu-
plying them were completely hidden.
The enemy poured a strong fire
from every trench until they were dis
turbed by a fanking volley, when
they would disappear into the woods
and jungle, only to make stand at
the next line.
The American loss was remarkably
small, seven being reported killed and
twenty-five wounded. It is known
that the Filipinos were so protected
that they suffered little. No dead in
surgents were found in the trenches.
Forty prisoners were taken by the
Americans, and it is estimated that the
rebel casualties numbered twenty.
American Loss Heavy.
Further particulars of Saturdays
fighting show that twenty-six dead and
one hundred and fifty wounded in the
hospital is the latest statement of the
American losses in the engagement
with the Filipinos. The days fighting
furnished specimen of the difficulties
with which the Americans have to con-
tend.
The Filipinos never, except opposite
Malabon, permitted their opponents to
get within several hundred yards of
them.
They would fire a few volleys from
their cover and then scuttle back to
another cover, repeating these tactics
for miles.
Many of the trenches had gullies and
connecting paths through the cane and
brush, enabling them TO retreat IN
seen.
The problem the Americans have to
face is to drive or lure the insurgents
to fight in force The trenches seem
thinly manned except in the vicinity OIL
Malabon.
The Americans, fighting a hidden
foe, suffered greater loss in proportion
than did the enemy.
MUST FUMTGATE BAGGAGE.