The Van Buren press., 1899-04-29
Details of the Fighting.


Manila, April 90, 6:10 p. m.-Agui-
naldo's army Is defending Calumpit
energetically, which is said to indicate
that the rebels are finally making that
place their last ditch, or stand, which
the Americans expected them to make
az Nalolos.
For the first time the Filipinos are
employing artillery They brought
two guns into action in the trenches
before Calumpit, firing modern shrap-
nel, which burst over the heads of
Gen. Wheaton's men without effect.
The Fighting Resumed.
The fighting was resumed at six
o'clock this morning. During the
night the American engineers repaired
the Bagbag bridge, thus enabling our
troops to cross the river.
Gen. Wheaton's brigade advanced in
extended order, with the Kansas regi-
ment to the west of the railroad, and
the Montana regiment to the east of
1t, and took up position covering
one and a half miles on the south
bank of the Rio Grande. On the OPP
posite bank were fortified trenches
from which few American soldiers
would have been able to defy thou
sands, so strongly were they CON
structed.
The Americans found the trenches
on the south bank of the river de-
serted, which furnished them with
cover from which they could pick off
Filipinos whenever one of them
showed his head. When the rebels
began firing, two puffs of smoke, sim
ultaneously, from the trenches on each
side of the railroad track, showed
they were using cannon, which was a
genuine surprise to the Americans.
Several Close Calls.
Several shells burst close to Gen.
Wheaton's staff, but 1t seemed that the
Filipinos failed to master the ma
chinery of modern shells, as they
were unable TO get the right range.
Young's Utah battery was ordered
into position in the center of the Kan
sas regiment, to silence the rebel
guns, and at II o'clock the rapid-fire
guns had been ferried across the riv-
er and came into line.
Keeping Up IA Heavy Fire.
At noon the rebels were still pouring
a heavy fire in the direction of the
Americans, who returned it spiritedly.
Two Americans were killed and
seven wounded.
At about this time Gen. Hale's bri-
gade was advancing east of the line,
apparently to cross the river and at
tack the rebel trenches in the flank,
rs the Americans did yesterday.
AguinaIdo's Instructions.
Gen. Macarthur has secured an or
der issued by Aguinaldo to the rebel
commanders, telling them to instruct
their men to economic their fire, save
the empty shells and not to fire at the
enemy when the latter is under cover.
The Filipinos are also instructed new
er to fire at longer range than $50
meters and, when they have river or
other obstruction in 'front.' to hold their
fire until within so meters.
This order was issued after the re-
ccns encounters between the Filipi-
nos and the Americans.
Obstacles In Lawton's Way.
Gen Lawton is meeting with the
greatest obstacles in the character OF
the country. His troops have only had
a few skirmishes thus far resulting in
five of his men being wounded. But
he has been forced to put his men at
work building roads and the trans
port service is giving much trouble,
bulloc<s dying of the heat and ex-
haustion, and Cinnamon having to be
employed in pulling some of the CARTS
Therefore, the general has been un-
able to cover the ground he hoped to
cover.
The Natives Fled.
The natives flee before the expedi-
ton. but they swarm back to their huts
as soon as the American troops have
passed.
A few Filipino sharpshooters are
barassing the American fanks.
The commissary department is pre-
naring TO send more rations, under
strong escort, to the front.