The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-27
FIRST DAYS FIGHTING.
Graphic Story of the Attack Upon
the Lines of the Insurgents.


the Lines Of the Insurgents.
NEW YORK, March ga special ca
blegram from Manila describing the hfst
days fighting says:
At 3 o'clock this morning the darkness
was pierced by. the lights of many camp
fires that sprang up suddenly and silent
ly within the American lines. by
o'clock the troops had breakfasted ana
the advance began. The start was from
Laloma.
Gen. McArthur's division, composed OF
Gen. Harrison Gray Otis brigade on the
left, made up Of the Third artillery ana
the Twentieth Kansas and First Mon
tana regiments and Gen. Hale's brigade,
which included the First South Dakota,
Tenth Pennsylvania and First Nebraska
regiments led the advance. AS this force
moved forward beyond the trenches that
had been deserted by the Filip1nos, the
reserves occupied the trenches, prepared
to advance when their services might be
needed. The reserve force was made up
of Gen. Wheaton's command, composed
of the Second Oregon and the twenty
second and Twenty-third Infantry, ana
Gen. Halls brigade, which included the
Fourth infantry, two battalfons or the
Seventeenth infantry and the Thirteenth
Minnesota ana flTSl w iS5AiiASihes''
Cen Macarthur advanced to the east
ward encountering sharp and immediate
opposition from the Filiplnos, VINO were
massed in considerable force In that dl-
rection and poured heavy small-arm
fire upon the Americans. Gen. Hale
quickly extending his front, Otis artillery
rushed to the firing line, two guns OF the
Utah battery of light artillery under
Lieut. Naylor, two guns Of the Sixth ar
tillery under Lieut.. Flemming, and
Colt automatic field gun In command or
Ensign Davis.
While the artillery vigorously shelied
the village of Masambong, the infantry
charged across the level open t1elds IN
utter disregard of the terrible volleying
of the Insurgents and with a great cheer
carried the trenches, driving the enemy
from them in disorder The F1nplnos
gave ground stubbornly, but they could
not withstand the impetuous rushes or
the United States troops, which contlnu-
ally advanced in the face Of the most
CALLING fire They stood the assaults for
a time but the relentless oncom1ng or
the Americans was demoralizing; they
could not understand such deadly, earn
est work, and at last they fell back.
After carrying the trenches the Amer
leans swung to the northward capturing
In splendid style the fortified towns of
Balintoag. Baoza and Cathuhan, and
finally driving the enemy before them
through the swamps bordering the Tu-
liaha river toward the town OF Nova
liches The rough character of the coun-
try, with it's dense underground, and the
determined resistance of the enemy pre-
vented further advance in this direction,
the line swinging to the left along the
river.
Meanwhile Gen. Wheaton had begun
operations from Caloocan, which is seven
miles due north Of Manila. Re was met
Co.. fr0y, 4,No
| mile to the west, and slightly north of
| Caloocan, and from the trenches direct
| ly In front, where the enemy were sta
| toned In large numbers. At $50 o'clock
! the Twenty-second regulars advanced
with the purpose of forming connection
between Col. Egberts regiment on the
right and the Third artilley, which form
| ed the left of Gen. ,McArthur's division.
! The attempt was a daring one, and was
pluckily maintained under a CALLING fire,
but the end was failure, which left a gap
of a mile on the extreme left Of the
| American line
The Second Oregon regiment advanced
almost to the confines of the town of
| Malabon thus receiving the heaviest fire
of any of the United States troops en-
gagged. The natives fought like demons,
at times actually leaving their trenches,
and with the most reckless bravery,
charging the Oregon regiment. 1t was
the part of the latter and their utter dis
regard of the incessant volleying Of
Aguinaldo's followers that they were en-
abled to hold their ground. In this en-
gagement they lost eight killed and
| twenty-three wounded
The position Of the Oregon men was
| still a most trying one when they were
reinforced by a battalion of the Third
infantry In command Of Capt. Cook. With
the arrival of reinfcrcements the assault
| was renewed with spirit, and the enemy
| was soon compelled to yield. The F1lipi
| nos retreated upon Malabon helter-skel-
ter, the Americans pursuing them clear
into the streets of the town and inf1ict-
ing great loss.
A mile beyond Caloocan Gen. Wheaton
encountered the insurgents, strongly In
trenched upon tho north bank of the Tu-
liaha river They had erected a barrl-
cade along the line Of the railway and
were prepared, apparently. to make q
stubborn stand at this point But bat
terry of artillery was brought into action
and a shower Of shells was dropped into
their lines for two hours, when they were
| dislodged, and retired to Malinta.