The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-04-11
DETAILS OF THE CAPTURE.
Tho Plans u the American Commando,
Worked Perfectly.

The Plans u the American Commanders
Worked Perfectly.
MANILA. April 10 p. m.-sania cruz
was a Filipino stronghold In lake Laguna
de Bay and It fell into the hands Of Gen
erai Lhwton's expedition after some
sharp, quick hgh,lng forming one Of the
most Interesting and important battles
OF the war The plans Of the American
commanders worked perfectly. With the
exception that the progress Of the ex-
pedltlon was delayed BY the dlfhcuk navi-
CATION OF the river. About 1900 picked
men. commanded by General Lawton. on
account OF the Ilnese OF General King.
partly surrounded the city. while the
guuboass LaEuna de Bay. Oeste and Nap
idan under command OF Captain Grant.
Of the Utah battery shclicd the city and
outiaying trenches. General Lawton and
his stan accompanied the troops, some
times leading charges 10 Indian fgntlng
tactics. which eventually resulted Ia the
complete ruut OF the rebels. with the
smallest amount OF damage TO the city
and slight loss 20 the Americans.
The expedition started from San Pedro
Macati at dusk on Saturday, intending To-
capture Santa Cruz by assault. at day.
break: but in navigating the shadows In
the Pasig river, perhaps through the
cunning OF the native pilots, who were not
anxious TO see the Americans successful,
several boats grounded and 1t was nearly
dawn when the troops reached the lake.
The expedition then steamed cautiously
toward the Napldan and the Oeste. a.
mile ahead Of the Laguna de Bay, which
guarded the rear. Rebel signal fires,
however, were lighted on a mountain,
giving the alarm OF the approach OF the
troops. 1t was noon before the white
church towers Of the city appeared in the
shadow OF a volcanic mountain on al
marshy plain, dotted with additional palm
groves A canoe with a force Of 200
picked shapshooters under Major Wells
cnberger. mostly belonging 10 the First
Washington regiment was run into q
shallow about five miles south OF the
city. Then a few shells were sent toward
the entertainments OF the rebels at the
edge OF the woods, sending the enemy
scamperinS Inland Then a number OF
Americans jumped into the water and,
wadlng Tor about 400 yards, crep, for
ward. the line covering the landing Of
the remainder, which finished debarklng
about o'clock. Three troops OF the
Fourth cavalry, unmounted, were sent
ashore on dangerous, marshy point
directly south of the city under fire
from the euemy's trenches.
Meanwhile. In the town kselt there was
utter silence and not sign of lfe Gen.
eral Lawton, desiring to make an in
spectlon and to give the Inhabitants an
opportunity 10 surrender went on board
the La Guna de Bay and accompanied
by the Associated Press launch, steamed
slowly TO the dock, the whole fleet wat, h
ing anxlously. When It was discovered
nv glasses that the trenches and stone
buildings were swarming with white clad
soldiers. the two boats withdrew. recelv-
ing volleys from the trenches thrown up
on a marshy plain north OF the city. Iae
flotllla anchored in compact formation for
the night ready to resist any surprises
from the rebel gunboats supposed to be in
the lake
At sunrise today (Monday) the assault |
commenced. The American outlines south
OF the city stretched two miles inland
and, with Its left sweeping the shore, I'll
moved north, while the Fourth cavalry
men on the point advanced toward the
city, pouring volleys on the trenches.
simultaneously the gunboats lowering
along the shore shelled The woods ahead
OF the troops and drove the Filipinos in
land. The Gatllngs cleared several
trenches. The whole brigade was divided
into squads OF 12 and everything was car
ried on In frontier fashion. behind trees,
crawling through bushes or running
across the open The trenches that were
not cleared by the gunboats gave consid-
cradle resistance when the line was near
ing the city, and the La Guna de Bay and
oeste bombarded for an hour in the hope
of making them TOO warm for occupancy,
but did not succeed in clearing them en-
tlrely.
General Lawton, with the Fourteenth
infantry battalions, approached a narrow
iron bridge across the creek on the south
border of the town. Here q company OF
Fillpnos was entrenched across the
stream and behind a stone barricade at
the entrance to the bridge. The Amerl-
cans rushed forward in single file In
the face Of a CALLING fire, demolshing the