The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-05-09

Americana Resting at San Fernando Ere.
Paratory to Advancing on the Town.
Iowans Stand Campaign Well-Rumors
of Change to be Made In Filipino Cab
inet-Natives are Hospisable.
MANILA, May s.-To clear the Fill
pinos out of Bacolor, about five miles
southwest of San Fernando, will be the
next task of the Americans The rebel
general, Mascardo, has force of 5000
men there, we'll armed and possessed of
plenty of ammunition. His troops have
never met American soldiers and they
think, according to reports received at
San Fernando, that they can "whip the
whole lot"
Bacolor is we'll entrenched and thous-
ands of natives. are working like beavers
digging trenches and carrying the dirt
in baskets. The enemy uses his rifle
men for fighting only, but compels the
bolo men and Chinese, and even the
women, to labor necessarily. The
troops have an outpost mile beyond
San Fernando, with trench that holds
between 200 and 300 men. From that
point several volleys were fired last
night upon the camp Of the Twentieth
Kansas regiment. Neither Major Cen
eral Macarthur nor Major General
Lawton moved Sunday, although each
reconnoitered the country in his vicinity
for some miles from headquarters, de-
veloping the presence OF small forces of
the enemy.
In the vicinity of Laguna de Bay the
rebels are extremely active, but the lines
of General Ovenshine and Colonel
Wholly, who is commanding General
Kings brigade during the latter's ILL
ness, have been materially strengthened
and there is no danger in that direc-
ton.
The armed steamers Laguna de Bay
and Cavadonga, under Captain Grant,
have gone to Guagua, about five miles
southwest of Bacolor, presumably tc
establish base of supplies for the
troops engaged on the northern cam
paign.
1t is rumored that Mabini, president
| of the cabinet and minister of foreign
affairs in the so-called Filipino govern.
ment. who is radical, is to be sue
Il
Spanish treaty of 1896. This change is
regarded as significant at the present
| juncture.
The entrance of the Americans into
San Fernando was virtually unopposed.
The Filipinos. who expected the invad-
ers to approach from the sea, had that
side Of the town strongly guarded, but
there was only one line Of trenches
beyond San Tomas. Two battalions of
the Fifty first Iowa regiment, which
swan the river north of the city, were
smartly peppered while in the water,
but the rebels disappeared as soon as
the Americans reached the shore. In
the meantime the hospital SQUAD had
got across the bridge into the city, sup
posing the Americans were there.
They encountered no natives.
The few Spaniards and Filipinos who
were left welcomed the Americans and
opened their houses to them, General
Macarthur accepting entertainment at
the hands of Senior Hizon, a sugar mag
nate.
If the inhabitants of San Fernando
region are to be believed, there is little
sympathy with the Instruction in that
quarter. Before evacuating the city
the rebels burned the church and the
quarter. They drove many rich Fill
pinos, with their families, out of the
city before them, as we'll as hundreds of
Chinese, to prevent them helping the
Americans. They cut the throats of
some. Many Chinese hid on roofs or in
cellars, and some escaped by cutting off
| their queues. There are so fresh graves
in the church yard.
The country beyond Calumpit is full
of all sorts of ingenious trenches and
pitfalls in the roads, with sharpened
bamboo. Fortunately the Americans
escaped the latter.
In the swamps near San Tomas,
where General Wheaton's troops did
their hardest fighting, the men sinking
to their waists in mud. are many bodies
of Filipinos, smelling horribly.
The army is really enjoying life at
San Fernando. which is the most
picturesque and wealthy town the Amer
leans have entered since the occupation
of Manila. 1t is largely built of stone,
the river is close at hand and high hills
almost surround it. Many sugar fact
cries indicate thriving industry in
that respect, and there are numerous
fine residences. General MacArthur's
permanent headquarters is established
in the best house in town. The troops
are encamped around in the suburbs
and are beginning to think they may be
quartered there during the wet season.
After Bacolor has been cleared, water
communication with Manila may be es-
tablished.
The American troops are much ex-
hausted by the campaign, except the
Iowa troops, which are comparatively
fresh. The regiments of the division