Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-02-08
WAR IN THE PHILIPPINES.
The Work OF SubjugatinS the Natives Seem
to Have Commenced.

WAR In THE PHILIPPINES.
The Work of subjugating the Natives Seem
to Have Commenced.
Condensed From Daily Dispatches.
The war for the subjugation of the
Filipinos has commenced. The first
battle was fought during last Saturday
night and Sunday, and it was an urus'
ually bloody one. The Americans lost
81 officers and men killed and more
than 200 wounded. The Fllipinos lost
several hundred killed and probably a
thousand wounded. This is an estimate
only, based on first reports. More ac-
curate information is likely to increase
the number of Americans killed and
decrease the losses of the Filippinos.
The fighting was all in the immedi,
ate vicinity of the city of Manila and
extended over lines about six miles in
length. The American and Filipino
armies had been lying facing each
other for weeks. The Americans oc.
cupied the trenches from which the
Spaniards had been driven some
months before, and the Filipinos forced
them from the works that they had
previously used in fighting the Span,
iards. The relations between the op-
posing forces had been considerably
strained for some time, and all looked
forward to an inevitable breaking out
of hostilities at almost any hour. Con-
sequently, the Americans were thor
oughly prepared, not only with their
army, but Admiral Dewey's ships had
taken positions from which they could
rake the Filipinos defenses.
According to reports 80 far received,
the Filipinos were the aggessors. Two
Filipinos advanced into the lines of
the Nebraska regiment, stationed to
the northwest of Manila. They were
ordered back and returned; but on
coming again, refused to 20 back, and
the sentry fired on them. The shot Of
the sentry was answered by PHILIPPINE
signal gun from blockhouse, and
within a few minutes an attack was
commenced on the Nebraska regiment.
Fighting soon spread to all the out
posts around the city, and continued
at intervals all night. The Filipinos
we're met with heavy volleys and were
held in check.
At daybreak, Sunday morning, the
warships Charleston and Callao began
shelling the portions of the Filipinos
on the northern side Of the city, and
the Monadnock opened on the south
ern side. The Americans began ad-
vancing, driving the Filipinos slowly
befose them and taking the villages OF
San Juan del Monte, Santa Ona, San
Pedro, Macati, San Mesa and Lomin.
There was no outbreak in the city of
Manila. This was kept down by the
police. Many of the Filiipnos were
driven into the Pasta river and drown
ed. and several hundred were taken
prisoners. The Filipino forces were
concentrated at Calcacou, Santa Mesa
and Gallingtor, where supported by
a number of pieces of artillery, they
fought all Saturday night and until 10
o'clock Sunday morning, when they
were routed by the fire from the war
ships.
During Sunday, a body of Filipinos
occupied church at Paco and poured
an annoying fire against the Ameri-
cans. Colonel Duboce, of the Cali
fornia regiment, accompanied by few
volunteers, went forward to the
church, regardless of the rattle of
rifles, entered and set the building
on fire. -Sharpshooters stationed on
the outside picked the Filipinos off as
they attempted to escape into the
woods. About 20 Filipinos were kill
ed at this place, some got away and
about so were captured. When Sun
day closed, the Filipinos surrounded
the city in large numbers, but were
not disposed to be especially aggres-
sive. The Americans were in COM
plete control of the situation.
The American forces in the Philip.
pines. under command of General Otis,
numbered, on December 10, last, 21,-
649 men, and of these 19, 156 men were
available for duty. There are now on
the way to join General Otis about
5000 men, in three different expedi-
tions; but they cannot reach Manila
for some three weeks yet. The real
strength of the Filipino army is not
definitely known. 1t is estimated at
about 10000; but is poorly armed.
Some of the Filipinos have Mausers
and Remingtons, and within the past
few months several field pieces have
been added; but for the most part the
army of the natives consist of swords,
machetes, spears, bows and arrows and
other weapons that are not effective at
long range.
MANILA, February 6.-Careful esti-
mates place the Fiipinos losses up to
date at 1000 dead /; 5000 wounded
and 5000 prisoners.