The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-06
SAN FERNANDO OCCUPIED.
The lnsul nts Fled After Making Il
Weak Fight

The lnsu nts Fled After Making IA
Weak Fight.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.
New York, May 6, 2 a. m.-The fol-
lowing dispatches We're received in
New York this morning relative to the
capture of San Fernando:
HARRINGTON.
Manila, May ), S:55 p. m.--General
Macarthur has occupied San Fernando,
where Aguinaldo established his capital
after his retreat from Calumpit The
charges made yesterday by the Kansas
regiment north of San Tomas We're
most gallantly executed under the lead
ership of General Wheaton and his staff
and Colonel (Brigadier GeneraD Fun
ston. Kansas was full of fight and they
drove the enemy almost to San Fer
nando. Our troops were then recalled
to San Tomas for the night to await
the arrival of the wagon train, which
had been delayed by the destruction of
the bridges by the rebels.
This morning General Hale, with two
battalions of the 51st Iowa and a Hotch-
kiss, advanced on San Fernando, his
men f1anking the town on the right
The Americans were compelled to wade
across two shallow streams to reach
the town. When they approached San
Fernando they found that the main
body OF the enemy had deserted the
place yesterday, fleeing northward.
Only small garrison was left to make
the defense. When our troops were in
the middle of the second stream which
they had to cross the Filpinos opened
brisk fire on them. If they thought
to hold the Americans in check they
We're woefully disappointed, for the
1owans, with cheers and shouts, scram-
bled up the bank of the river nearest
the town and then matters became live
ly for the Filpinos
Without a moments hesitation the
Americans rushed the positions held by
the enemy and drove them out. Then
they chased them through the town and
a mile beyond. 1t was simply a foot
race, in which the lightly equipped ma
tives had the advantage unless they
were halted by bullets, as many of them
were.
When our troops returned to town
| they found that the church. convent,
railroad station and several other build
ings had been burned by the Filipinos
yesterday and this morning. The town
was strongly fortified and if the rebels
| had not lost heart they could have in
f1icted severe losses on our forces before
the place was captured. South of the
/ town there was a double line of loop
| holed. zigzag trenches, the construc-
| ton of which showed good military
knOWleuSe. IHeSe lTenCneS cOulu eaSl-
! ly have been held for a long time
against superior forces if the defenders
had been willing to fight. The very fact
that they We're abandoned by the main
! body of insurgents is proof of the de-
| moralization in the Filipino army.
! There We're also several old Spanish
! blocllhouses which could have been
, utilized for defense, but strangely
| enough they We're put to no use.
A Spanish prisoner, who was former
| ly a provincial officer, was left behind
| when the enemy retreated. He said that
! Antonio Luna, the rebel commander,
was wounded in the chest during yes
! terdays fighting in front of San
| troops We're completely demoralized and
| had retreated in great disorder.
| Later in the day General Macarthur
| moved the remainder of his division to
| San Fernando. The greater part of the
! residence portion Of the town is intact.
| Many of the inhabitants fled and left
all their household goods behind them.
| American casualties yesterday Were:
| killed-Twentieth Kansas. one lieuten-
| ant and one private; LIST Montana, one
| private; first Nebraska, two privates.
| Wounded-TWentieth Kansas 13 men.
| including two officers; 1st Montana,
three, including one officer; 51st Iowa,
| three; 1st Nebraska. five; 1st South Da-
! l1Ota, one.
| General Lawton is now as Maasin,
five miles from San Miguel. He cap
| tured at Baling a number of store
| houses, which, it is estimated, contain a
| supply of rice sufficient to last an entire
| army six months.
San Fernando Taken.