Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-06-14

L
GALLANT WORK OF THE
AMERICANS THE NAVAL YES
Sells TOOK PART-GEN. LUNA
ASSAsSINATED.
MANILA, June 10, sos p. m.-Gen.
I,awton unexpectedly stirred up one OF
the Iiyeiiest engagements OF the war
soutb Of Las Pinas this morning upon
which occasion American field guns
were engaged in the first artiiiery
duel against Filipino battery con-
cealed in the jungle. Companies + ana
/ of the Twenty-frst infantry were
nearly surrounded by a large BODY OF
insurgents but the Americans cut
their way out with heavy loss.
The United States turret ship Mon
adnock and the gunboats Helena anu
Zafiro trained their batteries on Bakoor
and the rebel trenches near Las Plnas
all the morning. Bakoor was once on
fire but the natives stopped the spread
of the flames.
During the night an insurgent can
non was fred three times at the Amer
leans on the outskirts of Las Plnas.
Gen. Lawton this morning took
battalion of the Fourteenth regiment
and two companies of the Twenty
first regiment to locate the rebel pat
terry and then two guns OF the Sixth
artillery and four mountain guns were
planted against it at 500 ylrds dis
lance. The rebels had large gun
from which they were firing home
made canister, loaded with nails, and
two smaller guns. Their shooting
was most accurate The first lot OF
canister burst directly in front OF
SCOTS guns and another shattered the
legs of a private in the Fourteenth in
fantry Several shots struck the edge
of the town. The country traversed
was bad place, being mainly lagoons,
mud and water, fringed with bamboo!.
AS soon as the fighting opened the
Americans were attacked by hidden
riflemen on all sides, even the Amigos,
or friendly" natives, in the houses
of the town shooting into their rear.
The companies of the Twenty first
regiment skirmishing along the beach
with Amigo guides, found, apparently,
a handful of rebels, who retreated.
The men of the Twenty-first followed,
and, suddenly, the rebels opened
terrific fire on the troops from the
sides and read. The soldiers withdrew
to the waters edge, finding what
shelter they could and were picked off
rapidly. After their ammunition was
nearly exhausted the companies of the
Twenty-frst retreated, but General
Lawton dashed down and rallied the
men.
A little group made a stand, Gen.
Lawton, Major and Lieutenants Dono-
van and Sonnell taking rifles from the
wounded men and firing at the enemy,
bringing down some of the rebel
sharpshooters from a tree. Finally
their cartridges were all gone and they
were forced to break through the
enemys flank, carrying the wounded to
the main body of the troops.
Lieut.. Donovan, whose leg was brok-
en-, f1oundered for a mile through a
bog, after leading his men in the face
OF a greatly superior force.
Gen. Lawton ceased fighting until re-
Inducements could be brought up
Two battalions of the 18th regiment
and one battalion of the 9Th regiment
were hurried to the front and in the
afternoon the battle was resumed.
The Monadnock anchored close to
the shore and her heavy guns pounded
the rebels continuously, while the
smaller warships, steaming along the
shore, poured bullets from their rapid
fire guns at the enemy.
The Filipino force engaged appears
to have been the largest and best or
ganized body of men which has met
our troops.
The Americans were compelled to adj
vance along narrow roads and over
small bridges commanded by earth
works ten feet thick.
The only means of crossing the
Zapote was by a small bridge which
the Filipinos commanded with
trenches spreading V-shaped, whence
they could concentrate their fire on the
bridge. They also had the advantage
OF the trees and jungle so the Ameri-
cans could hardly see ahead.
When the battle was resumed at 1
O'Clock with the achievements, our
battery having silenced the enemy's
guns, the Americans wading waist deep
In the mud of the salt flats slowly,
ana pouring steady volleys of musketry
at the rebels, drove their opponents
beyond the river. Then the two ar
mics lay facing each other across the
deep stream, the enemy practically out
OF sight, while the men in blue and
Khaki lay in the mud and bushes.
many OF them without any shelter for
three hours, without moments ceas-
Ing in the fight, firing bullets at the
enemy as fast as they could load. The
rifles blended into a continuous roar
but vastly different from the inter.
mlttent s6irmish-like rattle of most of
the engagements.
Une battalion after another General
Lawton summoned the reserves from
Las Pinas until only enough troops
were left in the town to prevent the
fliplnos from attacking the Ameri-
cans in the rear. which was feared. as
they were creeping around our left
through the woods, delivering a flank
ing nre which put q great strain upon
Ihe endurance of the Americans. who
were Wondering in the mud across
rne river. while on the right the Fill
pino snarpshooters, hidden in the trees.
were pepperlng our men. But. thanks
70 the poor craftsmanship of the reb-
els, our loss was not an great as it
would have been if tho EriIin;poS h,d