The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-06-23

from Heavy Losses-A Field OFT
Drenched in Hood.
Manila. June 1i.-American field
guns we're engaged, yesterday. in the
first artillery duel against a Filipino
battery, concealed in the Jungle.
During the night an insurcent can
non was fired three times az the Amer
leans on the outskirts Of Las pinas.
Advanced "a the Attack.
Gen. Lawton, in the morning. took a
battalion of the Fourteenth regiment
and two companies of the Twenty-irst
regiment TO locate the rebel battery,
and then two guns of the Sixth artil-
lery and four mountain guns were
planted against il at 500 yards dir
lance. The rebels had a large gun,
from which they were firing home
made canister, loaded with nails, and
two smaller guns.
Rebels Learning to shoot.
Their shooting was most accurate
The first lot of canister burst directly
in front Of Scott's guns, and another
shattered the leg of a priyate in the
Fourteenth infantry. Severed shots
struck the edge of the town.
Attacked by Hidden Rinemen.
As soon as the fighting opened. the
Americans were attacked by hidden
rifemen on all sides. even the ami
gos.' or friendly natives, in the
houses of the town. shooting in their
rear.
Deluded by "a Decoy.
The companies of the T~wenty-hrsr
regiment. diminishing along the beach.
with amigo" guides. found, apparent.
". a handful of rebels. wh) retreated.
The men OF the Twenty-frst scllowed,
and suddenly the rebels opened a ter
rife fire on the troops from the sides
and rear. The soldiers withdrew 10
the waters edge. finding what shelter
they could. and were picked of rapid
ly. After their ammunition was near
" exhausted the companies OF the
Twenty-first retreated.
officers Fought with Rifles.
Gen. Lawton dashed down and raj
lied the men. The little group maze a
desperate stand. Gen. Lawton, Maj.
Starr. and ~Lieutenants Donovan and
NOnlOiN ldhihE Alht0 lOhA NOAAANtI
men, fired at the enemy. bringina
down some Of the rebel sharpshooters
from a tree. Finally. their cartridges
were all gone. and they were forced
TO break through the enemy's flank,
cat wing the wounded 10 the main
body Of the troops.
The Fighting Resumed.
Two batialions Of the Fourteenth
regiment and one battalion Of the
Ninth regiment were hurried to the
front, and in the afternoon the battle
was resumed.
Against nm Unseen Foe.
The only means Of crossing the Zeo-
pote was 10y a small bridge. which the
Filipinos commanded with trenches
spread in "V' shape. whence they
could concentrate their fire on the
bridge. They also had the advantage
Of the trees and Jungle. so the Ameri-
cans could hardly see ahead.
Fighting Wnist-Deep in Mud.
When the battle was resumed at one
o'clock, with the endorsements, our
battery having silenced the enemy's
guns, the Americans, wading waist
deep in the mud of the salt flats, slow
~ and steadily pouring volleys Of mus
kerry at the rebels, drove their op
ponents beyond the river. Then the
two armies lay facing each other
across the deep stream, the enemy
practically out Of sight, while the men
in blue and Khaki lay in the
bushes. many Of them without any
shelter, for three hours, without a
moments cessation in the firing. pour
ing bullets ut the enemy as fast as
they could load.
The thousand rifles. blended into a
continuous roar, was vastly different
from the intermittent skirmish-like
rattle Of most Of the engagements.
All Available Reinforcrmcnts.
one battalion after another Gen.
Lawton summoned from Las Pinas UNI
iii only enough troops Of reserves were
left in the town TO prevent the Fill
pinos from attacking the Americans IN
the rear. which was feared. as they
were creeping around our left through
the woods. delivering a thanking fire
which put a great strain upon the en-
durance Of the Americans. who were
foundcring in the mud across the
river. while on the right the Filipino
sharpshootcrs. hidden in the trees,
were peppering our men. But, thanks
10 the poor craftsmanship of the rcb-
els. our loss was no as great as il
would have been if the Filipinos had
hot straight.
Tried TO the Limit and True.
An army, however, has seldom
fought under a greater handicap or
more c~ouragcously than did our rcgu-
lars. n majority Of whom were. com
paratiyely speaking. recruits. who
could have been ~pardoned for retiring
in the face Of such "A fierce fire, from
their exposed positions.
Disposition Of the Troops.
The Fourteenth regiment lay TO the
right Of the bridge. and in front OF
them was the Twelfth regiment. with
the Ninth on the right and the Tween
ty-first up the road. facing the bridge
which was the key 10 the situation.