The record-union., 1899-06-17
4 Force Of Five Thousand, Thought
to hs Led BY Aguinaldo,
Attack General MscArthur's Lines at San
Fernando |. the Early Morning.
They, However, Met With an Un-
expectedly Warm Reception,
and Were Repulsed With
Loss Of Seventy-6ve Killed,
Thirty Prisoners and Many
Wounded.


Wounded.
MANILA. June 16, 5:45 p. m.-After
cutting the railroad and telegraph at
Apalit, seven miles south, for the pur-
pose of severing connection, the rebels
attacked General MacArthur's lines at
San Fernando at 4:3O this morning.
They met with an unexpectedly warm
reception, and were repulsed with loss
of seventy five killed, thirty prisoners
and many wounded.
The rebel force, estimated to have
numbered 5000 men, advanced stealth
lily from the jungle north of the city.
and then divided with the evident pur-
pose of surrounding the Americans.
The outposts Of the Iowa Regiment
discovered the enemy and retired to
their lines, whre the entire division
awaited in an entrenched position.
The Kansas and Iowa Regiments re-
ceived the first shock of the attack
Reserving their fire until the enemy
was within six hundred yards, the hrst
volley of the Americans hit the rebels,
who returned the fire wildly, the Iest
of their line failing to advance. Inc
Americans, who thoroughly enjoyed the
novelty Of the situation awdting an al
tack, sailed forth, and the insurgents
turned and fled into the jungle. Our
loss was fourteen wounded, and the
majority of them are only slightly
hurt
General F'unston's brigade Of Kan
sans and Montanans and General
Hale's brigade, the Seventeenth Regi-
ment and the Iowa regiment, consti-
tuted the force engaged.
Aguinaldo is reported to have per-
sonally conducted the attack, and
preparations were made for several
days to bring forward troops from
Candaba, and others from Daguipan
were transported by rail.
Along the front of the Kansas regi-
ment thirty-nine rebels dead were
counted.
The arst news of the Filipino ad-
vance was reported by a telegraph OPP
orator, who was sent to the bridge at
Apalit to ascertain the cause of o
break in one of the wires. He was
compelled to beat hasty retreat ui-
der fire.
A Spanish officer who has been
prisoner in the hands of the rebels,
and who was released by Aguinaldo,
has come through our lines to Manila
He claims to have been witness Of
the assassination of General Luna. Ac-
cording to his story, the relations be-
tween the two Filipino leaders had
been strained to the breaking point
because of Luna's attempts to assume
control of affairs, and the final rupture
was forced by Aguinaldo Issuing se-
cret orders to the provincial govern
ments. Luna thereupon notified Aguin-
aldo, demanding copies of the docu-
ments. and Aguinaldo replied curtly
that Luna was a General of the army.
and that the civil government did not
concern him. Luna, on opening the
reply at his headquarters in the pres
ence of his officers, exclaimed hotly:
He will be dead tomorrow"
One officer, who was friendly to
Aguinaldo, hastened to warn him, and
Aguinaldo called in twenty trusted sol
diers, fellow -townsmen of his, and sta
toned them around his house, with
instructions to kill any one attempt
ing to enter, regardless of rank.
Luna appeared the next day and saw
Aguinaldo at the window. A member
-
to inspect the troops
Luna then exclaimed: You are a
liar drew his revolver, struck the
guard and tried to force an entrance
into the house. Before he could use his
revolver one of the guards bayoneted
him and shot him in the back, and
others stabbed him. In all he had
twenty wounds. Luna's aide de camp
was killed in the same way.
The Spaniard's story has not entirely
dispelled the doubts of Luna's death,
and bets that he is alive have been
made at the clubs. Some people think
Aguinaldo has taken pains to send this
Spaniard here with his story, in fur
therance of some diplomatic scheme,
while others suspect that Aguinaldo
has been assassinated by Luna's men
8 Since the Americans withdrew from
Candaba recently the rebels have re-
turned, and have wreaked vengeance
upon those who befriended the Ameri-
cans. They slaughtered the natives
who surrendered the town and dis
played their heads on poles in the
public square.
The hostile natives of Cebu are more
menacing. Mail advices say hostili-
ties against the Americans have begun
there Colonel Hammer, the American
commander, has asked for reinforce
ments. and four companies of the Ten
nessee regiment have been sent to him
from Iloilo.
The Nebraska regiment has been or
dered to sail for home early next week.
WAS UNDER PERSONAL DIREC-
TION OF AGUINALDO.
WASHINGTON, June 16.-The fol-
lowing cablegram has been received
from General Otis:
Manila, June 16.-Adjutant- General,
Washington: Northern insurgents con-
centrated in large force near San Fer
nando, and early this morning attacked
MacArthur's troops. TIE enemy was
uuickly repulsed and driven back, leav-
ing over fifty dead on the field and
large number of wounded. The enemy
is in retreat. Our casualties We're four
teen wounded. mostly very slight.
Preparations for the attack were in
progress for several days. 1t is be-
lieved to be under personal direction Of
A9slualo. OTIS