The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-02-08
BLOODY WAR!

AO w
Manila, Feb. 5, SIS p m.-The
long expected rupture between the
Americans and the Filipiros has
come at last The former are row
engaged in solving the Philippine
problem with the utmost expedition
possible.
The clash came at $40 yesterday
evening, when three daring Filipinos
darted pas. the Nebraska regiments
pickets at Santa Mesa, but retired
when challenged.
They repeated the experiment
without drawing the sentries' fire.
But the last time Corporal Greedy
challenged the Filipinos and then
fired, killing one of them and wound,
ing another.
Almost Immediately afterward the
Filipino line, from Calcocan to Santa
Mesa, commenced a fusillade which
was Intellectual.
Manila, Feb. 6.-Careful estimates
place the Filipino loses up to date at
1000 dead; $500 wounded, and
5000 taken prisoners.
AN EARLIER ESTIMATE.
Hong Kong, Feb. s.-The latest
advices from Manila say that the
rebel forces have been driven back
ten miles and their losses + esti-
mated at 1900 killed or wounded.
During the fighting the United
States warsbips shelled a train load
ed with insurgents.
Col. VIM. G. Smith, of the First
Tennessee infantry was in thick of
the fight when attacked by Apo
plexy and fell from his horse.
Washington, Feb: 6. - Admiral
Dewey cables the navy department
today as follows:
Manila, Feb. 6.
Secretary Navy, Washington:
Insurgents have attacked Manila.
Boston leaves today for Ilolio to re-
lieve the Baltimore, which will return
to Manila. Two men wounded yes
terday on board Monadnock, one
seriously.
tSigned) Dewey.
As there is no mention Of rumored
hostilities in Gen. Otis cablegrams
giving casualties, it is assumed this
is a. belated cablegram from Admiral
Dewey and refers to the first engage
ment.
Manila, Feb. 6, IT'S p. m.-Owing
to the area embraced in tie scene of
Sundays engagement, a semi-circle
of fully II miles, details regarding
individual fighting have been ex-
tremely difficult to obtain. So far as
can be gathered, the brush commenc-
ed at s:45 on Saturday evening, by
the firing of Nebraska sentry at
Santa Mesa upon Filipinos who were
deliberately crossing the line, after
repeated warnings, with the evident
purpose Of drawing our fire.
The first shot from the American
sentry was evidently accepted as a
~prearranged signal, for it was fol.
lowed Immediately by a terrific fusil
lade along heentire Filipino line on
the north side of the Pssig river.
The American outposts returned
the fire with such .vigor that the
Filipino fire was checked until the
arrival Of reinforcements.
All the troops in the vicinity were
hurried out and the Filipinos ceased
firing for half an hour, while their
own reinforcements came up.
At 10 o'clock the fighting was re-
sumed, the American firing line con-
sistiDg of the Third artillery, the
Kansas and the Montana regiment,
the Minnesota regiment, the Pennsyl-
%vanians, the Nebraskans, the Utah
battery, the Idahos, the Washingtons,
the Californians, the Fourth cavalry,
the North Dakota volunteers, the
South Dakota and Colorado regi-
ments, the Sixth artillery and the
Fourteenth infantry.
The Fllipinos concentrated their
forces at three places, Csloocan, Santa
Mesa and Galingatan, and maintained
an intermittent fusillade for some
hours.
They brought artillery into action
at Galingatan at 1890, but only one
gun annoyed the Americans to any
appreciable extent, o howitzer, On
the road beyond Santa Mesa. The