The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-10
MISSION.
Capture Of the Town Of Santa Cruz Is
His Object,
WILL FIGHT INDIAN FASHION.
Troops VIII Be Divided Into Squads Of
a Dozen Men.
TwOHuNDRED PICKED SHARPSH0OTERS
An Effort to BE- Made to Capture or De.
stroy Rebel Shipping.
'vOHuNDRtD PICKED sHARpsHo0TERS
AN ATTACK BYINsupGENTs WAS REFUSED
Thought They Had Found Weak
SPOT iu the American Lines, hut
Found Ont Diffcrcntiy.

Manila, April ., $3.50 a. m.--The cxps-
dition OF 1900 men under Major General
Henry w. Lawton. who started last nighs
with the intention of crossing Lsguna De
bay. capturing the town OF Santa Cruz.
on the eastern shore OF The lake. and theu
sweeping the country to the south, CON
slsts OF coo picked sharpshooters, chosen
from tho various regiments, Hawthcrnels
mountain battery. three troops Of tho
Fourth cavalry unmounted with bronchos
and Tappan's battalions. Fourteenth In
fantry, Linck's battalion of the First Idaho
infantry and Fraluos' battalion OF the First
North Dakota infantry under General
King, The 1otllia OF twenty canoes. towed
by tugs aud conveyed by the guuboats La
guna de Bay, Clesta aud Rapidop. and
preceded by the launch containing General
Lawton and General King. started FROM
San Pedro Mloau on the river Pass.
moving toward the lake just as evening
was setting in. II was truly picturesque
rcenu. The men were all In high spirits
and carried ratlons for ten days with tho
lightest marching equipment
General Lawtons plan was TO reach
Santa Cruz this morning at dsybreak, 10
capture or destroy any rebel guubaats or
Shipping. to take the town aud then 10
scour the country to the south Of the lake,
distance not yet explored by the Ameri
cans. The tactics viii be those OF the old
time frontier lighting, and It is prohahle
that the command VIII be divided Into
squads OF twelve under non. commissioned
officers.
In General Lawton's absence the Sec
ond division is temporarily commanded By
General overshine, whose lines extend
from the beach near Malate. south 70 Ma
Mia 70 tho shore OF Laguna de Bay, ba-
yond PaEig. distance OF about seven
miles.
The withdrawal OF eighteen companies,
constituting the expeditionary force, made
& gap in the line from ,he beach to Gull
cui, Just southwest OF San Pedro Macatl.
which was subsequently filed by the
Fourth regular Infantry The rebels Oh
the extreme right had evidently hasn n
formed OF the withdrawal OF the troops
and they attempted TO sneak through after
nightlall but they met with a warm re-
ception and fell back in disorder on dis
covering that the line was still intact
Washington. April 9.-Tho war depart
ment authorities look for important news
from Manila tomorrow. probably ap-
nouncing he capture of Santa Cruz, a
leading town in country as yet untouched
by the American forces, and now IA The
hands Of the Filipino forces. No report
OF Lawton's movements has boon made 10
tho war der nrtment, but he Associated
Press announcement occasioned no sur
prise. for the move is looked upon a. Of
The natural steps Ia General Otis caro-
fully laid plans against the insurgents,
SANTA Cruz Is place OF considerable
a..Hl IL L. 4
capital OF the province OF laguns, aud
has population, according to the best
available Information here OF considera-
bly, more than 10000 persons II rs re-
garded as likely that General Lawt0n has
already gained possession OF this strong
hold for u u but short Journey ovcF
the Baya Lagoon, fresh water sua, which
comes almost up 10 Manila Itself which
IS forty-eght miles away from SANTA
Cruz.
The details Of the dispatch show General
Lawton by essayiug the formation Of
SQUADS OF twelve men each. VIII make a
thorough reconnaissance OF the ground
before making d definite attack on the
city and vicinity II Ia felt here that there
will be- only show OF resistance by the
natives, and whether they actually sur
render the town or abandon 1t 70 the
southwark the campaign against the place
VIII serve as an object Lesson OF the dc-
termination of our forces.
Santa Cruz is apparently an opening
wedge for the country beyond. From u
lead highways in all directions 70 Manila
By going around the shores OF Baya La
COON and to the important point Of ia
tangas and the well advanced province Of
Tayabas. whose capital city " located
ninety-one miles from Manila General
Lawton however, may not contemplate
ans material advance beyond santa CRY
at this time, as tho region TO the south y
! yarv broken country, covered with
mountains, and the rainy season y com
ing on. SO that this move may be merely
to gain an advantageous position for me
future.