The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1899-04-13
Capture OF SANTA CRUZ
Most Interesting Battle OF
the War.
NO AMERICANS WERE KILLED
Fiiipinos Driven From tho City with
Great Loss-General Lswton's Plane
Perfect Success.

mas captured santa CTuz, AT tIlc eA-
treme end of the lake. and driven the
rebels, who were commanded by a
Chinaman named Pc Wah, into the
Mountains. The American loss was
six wounded. The rebels lost 6S killed
and 40 wounded.
Santa Cruz was the Filipino strong
hold in Lake Laguna de Bay, and it
fell into the hands OF General Lawton's
expedition after some sharp, quick
fighting. forming one Of the most in
teresting and important battles OF the
war. The plans of the American COM
maniers worked perfectly, with the ex-
ception that the progress Of the expedi-
ton was delayed by the difficult navi-
CATION OF the river.
About ! 800 picked men. commanded
by General Lawton, on account of the
illness OF General King, partly sur
rounded the city while the gunboats
Laguns de Bay, Oeste and Napidan,
under the command Of Captain Grant,
of the Utah battery, shelled the city
and outlying trenches.
General Lawton and his staff accom-
panied the troops, sometimes leading
charges in Indian-fighting tactics,
which eventually resulted in the com.
plete rout of the rebels, with the
smallest amount of damage to the city
and slight loss to the Americans.
A casco, with force OF 400 picked
sharpshooteIs, under Major Weisen.
berger. mostly belonging to the First
Washington regiment. was run into q
shallow about five miles south of the
city. Then a few shells were sent
toward the entertainments of the rebels
at the edge Of the woods. sending the
enemy scampering inland. Then
mum Der Of Americans jumped into the
water, and. wadine for about 400 yards,
crept forward on the line. covering the
landing Of the remainder, which fin.
ished debaIking about 6 O'Clock.
Three troops OF the Fourth cavalry, I'M
mounted. we're sent ashore on dan.
gerous marshy point, directly south oil
the city, under fire from the enemy's
trenches. Meanwhile in the town it.
self there was utter silence, and there
was not sign OF life.
At sunrise the assault commenced.
The American outline south of the city
stretched two miles inland, and with
its left sweeping the shore, it moved
north, while the Fourth cavalrvmen,
on the point. advanced toward the city,
pouring volleys on the trenches.
simultaneously the gunboats hover.
ing along the shore shelled the woods
ahead Of the troops. and drove the Fill.
pinos inland. The gatlings cleared
several trenches.
The trenches that were not cleared
by the gunboats gave considerable re-
sstance when the line was nearing the
city, and the Laguna de Bay and Oeste
bombarded for an hour in the hope of
making them too warm for occupancy,
but did not succeed in clearing them
entirely.
General Lawton, with the Four
teenth infantry battaliOns, approached
a narrow iron bridge across creek on
the south border of the town. Here a
company OF Filipinos was intrenched
across the stream and behind stone
barricade at the entrance to the bridge.
The Americans rushed forward in
single file in the face OF CALLING fire.
demolishing the barricade with their
hands. and drove the enemy from the
trenches. killing a dozen.
The Filipino soldiers in the town,
secreted in various buildings and firing
from the windows, gave the invaders
an interesting hour. There was reg.
ular nest OF them in the stone Jail,
witch is hedged in by wall. This
was veritable peppeipot. The Amer.
leans. single or in pairs, entered the
houses, and many warriors were taken
prisoners.
General Lawton established head.
quarters at the elegant palace of the
governor. and a guard was Immediately
placed in the church. as sacred edifices
are always the first objective point OF
hooters. Within an hour the town was
patrolled. and all looting rigidly pre-.
vented.
Almost all the inhabitants had fed
during the two preceding nights, and
only few Chinese shopkeepers have
emerged from hiding and resumed bus.
mess.
On the march north of town were
found 40 dead Filipinos, some terribly
torn by shells. and many Others
wounded. to whom the Americans
offered their Canteens as though they
were comrades. A surgeon who ira.
versed the field counted 80 killed, and
General Lawton will report at least 6S.
Strategic Position.
Manila. April l2.-The capture by
Lawton OF Santa Cruz is OF immense
strategic importance. 1t is the key to
Laguna de Bay, and now cuts of Agui.