The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-17

Manila, March 15.-12:40 p. m.-Gen-
eral Wheatons brigade continues the
work Of clearing out the rebels around
Pasig The Washington volunteers
have captured and burned Pateros,
meeting with a sharp fire from the enc
my while crossing the river.
Today's fighting was like that of the
past week, the insurgents occasionally
making a stand, but eventually flee
ing. Their loss is supposed to have
been small, as the Americans were una
BILE 70 see the enemy in the thickets.
The progress of the American advance
is slow.
4:4O p. m.-GeneraI Wheaton, COM
mandng the United States flying col
umn, attacked and defeated a force of
1000 Philippines at Pasig this after
noon, inficting a heavy loss upon
them The American loss was slight.
The Americans captured $50 Philip
pinOs. Many bodies Of rebels killed in
the engagement are floating down the
river.
6:55 p. m.-Private Fernoff, of Com
pany L, Twentieth regiment, was killed.
The wounded are: Private Newman,
Company F, Twentieth regiment; Pri-
vate Carroll, Company A, Twenty-sec-
Ond regiment; Private Marshall, Com
pany b, Twenty-second regiment; Pri-
vate CoOmbs, Company G, Twenty
second regiment; Private Rogers, Com
pany L, Twenty-second regiment.
About $50 Philippines surrendered at
the town of Taguig to the Washing
ton regiment and IT'S Philippines were
captured at Pasig by the Twentieth
regiment. Our troops found LOG dead
Philippines and 100 new graves near
Pasig. The prisoners were unarmed
and, therefore, it is presumed they exi
ecuted their threat of throwing their
arms into the river.
London, March 15.-The Evening
News this afternoon publishes the fol-
lowing dispatch from Manila:
General Wheaton has completely
routed the Philippines and has occu
pied Pasig, Taguig and PateroS. Sew
eral hundred of the enemy were killed
and as many were captured General
Otis says this is the greatest victory
since February 5th. The Americans
will not press toward Aguinaldo's head
quarters
Washington, March 15.-The follow
ing dispatch was received this morn
ing from General Otis:
Manila, March IS, 1899.
"Adjutant General, Washington:
Three thousand insurgents moved
uONu last hight " LOW ilS VI l. ctSlS anu
PaterOs on the shore of Laguanda bay
fronting Wheaton's troops on the Pasig
river line. By heavy fighting Wheaton
has dislodged and driven them back,
taking 400 prisoners and inf1icting
heavy loss in killed and wounded. He
reports his loss as very moderate; he
now occupies these towns with suffi-
cient force TO hold them. OTIS"
Los Angeles, Cal, March 15.-A tele-
gram to The Times from Major General
Harrison Gray Otis, dated Manila,
March Is, says
THE Twentieth infantry had an all
day fight at Pasig. Three thousand
rebels were\encountered and defeated.
They were routed with heavy loss.
Our loss was small. Three hundred
and fifty rebel soldiers were made pris-
oners. Wheaton's brigade now holds
the towns of Pasig and Pateros. This
news is based upon official information.
Our river gunboats fought their way
into the lake"
THE SITUATION IN HAVANA.
Havana, March 15.-General Gomez
has decided to proceed with the plans
agreed upon for distributing the $3,-
600, 900 to the Cuban troops on disband-
did not exist He conferred for two
hours today with Governor General
Brooke regarding details.
General Brooke asked Washington
several days ago whether in case he
dissolved the assembly if his action
would be approved. The cabled reply
authorized him to dissolve that body,
if. in his judgment, such an act was
necessary. He hopes the assembly
will soon cease of its own accord to
hold it's sessions, but should sessions
disqueting to the public mind continue
he will intervene.
Havana is much more quiet today
and less excitement is noticeable. This
is partly due to the fact that the as
sembly held no meeting. Rumors are
current that it's self-dssolution is a
matter of the early future. At meet
ing this morning the Cuban Generals
Diaz Robau, Monteaguado, Nodarse,
Peraza and others decided to join with
General Pedro Betancourt, the COM
mander of the Cuban troops in Matan-
zas, in a public declaration of their
position.
La Discussion understands that they
will side with General Gomez. The pa
pers continue to print letters and tele-
grams from all points declaring adher-
ence to the veteran patriots cause.
The United States military authori-
ties publish the following statement:
I'VE are officially authorized that the
president of the United States will not
recognize any obligation incurred by
the body known as the Cuban assem-
bly,, and that all reports and assertions
to the contrary are absolutely untrue"
This is perhaps due to a story pub
lished in the newspaper Ell Reconcen-
trado to the effect that a representa-
tive of an American syndicate includ-
ing Senator Hanna is now here with a
view of making a loan to the assembly.
There have been six designations
from the assembly since Sunday-Gen-