Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-17
NAVY AIDEp THE ARMY
Captain Barkerst Report on Operations
Before Baooor.
Effective Work of q Landing Party
Assistance Acknowledged by
General Lawton.

Captain A. 8. Barker, who was tempo
rarily in command of the Asiatic squad
ron after the departure OF Admiral Dewey
for home has made report to the Navy
Department showing the brilliant and sue
cessful part taken by the navy in the
movements against the Filipino insurgents,
which resulted in the capture by the troops
| under General Lawton of the important
city of Bacoor. The report is dated Flag
ship Baltimore. Cavite. P. l., June 10,
1884, and is in part as follows:
"On the 10th instant, as already reported,
occurred the combined movement resulting
in the capture Of Paranaque and Las
Pinas. On the 18th instant the United
States steamer Helena took General Law
ton and General Wheaton on a tour Of
observation along the shore of the bay
from Las Pinas to Old Cavite. Flag Lieu
tenant Eberle was with the party view
ing the country from the upper fighting
top. After the reconnaissance was finish
ed I asked General Lawton what assist
ance he would like from us. He said there
would probably be no general advance for
a day or two, but he would like to have
us fire occasionally into the insurgent In
trenchments to keep the enemy on the qui
vive and make them lose sleep. L then told
Commodore Swinburne, who was standing
near. to carry out the generals wishes
Captain Forsyth, Flag Lieutenant Eberie
and I then returned to the Baltimore off
Manila in the steam launch.
ION the morning of the 18th, as there was
considerable firing by our ships off the
arsenal and in Bakor hay, more than
simple stirring up of the insurgents WoulC
warrant. AM as the morning was too calm
to read signals from where the Baltimor'
was lying. got into large steam launch
and, accompanied by Capt. Forsyth and
Flag Lieut.. Eberle, steamed over toward
Cavite and ran alongside the Monterey,
which then In action Commander
LeutZe informed me that the insurgents
had fired at the navy yard with six-incn
gun and that the shot had reached the
yard. also that the Callao had been fired on.
From the Monterey we steamed to the
Princeton, which was also Smelling intrench-
ments, AMI from the Princeton to the
Helena much further in shore. Mauser
bullets were flying about and striking tho
water near US.
Running alongside the Helena Com
mander Swinburne ceased firing short
time to let us know the condition of affairs
as he understood it. Gen. Lawton had
started on a reconnaissance and Com
mander Swinburne had been steaming along
the shore keel ping just ahead of tits force
until the Monterey signaled about the firing
from the sX-inch gun, when he steamed
faster ahead to assist in silencing the gun.
He WIS then returning to his old position.
While we were talking the Mauser bullets
Increased in number and fire was again
opened by the Helena. The army's advance
guard was seen returning to the beach. and
signal was being sent to the Helena when
left that vessel for the Monterey. Upon
arriving a,ol gside the latter ship th.,
Helena signaled The army wants support.
Assisting the Army.
''Tha Manila and the small gunboat In
daneta We're Immediately sent close in
shore and Commander Swinburne landed
ninety men with a Colt gun from the He
lena and MonadnoCk, which We're abreast
the party, to reinforce the army's advanced
position. Armed launches also rendered
sistance and the Ships shelled the trenches
Water and provisions were sent from the
Helena with the landing party. Thus
inforced by our men and supported by tn"
ships, the advanced position was held
against very heavy fire from the inSur-
gent trenches until a general advance of
the main army was ordered, when our men
accompanied the army along the beach as
far as the Zapote river. Just before dark
the landing party returned to the ships
without casualty, and the following signal
received from Gen. Lawton: Carried
the bridge; crossed the river; enemy com
pletely routed; | appreciate assistance of
the navy, which / will with pleasure &C
knowledge officially:
The following vessels took part In the
engagement which extended from Las Pi-
mas to Old Cavite, viz: The Helena, Monte
rey. Princeton. Manila, Monadnock, Callao
and the small gunboat Basco and Crdaneta
Shoal water rendered 1t Impossible Tor the
flagship to be of service. hence, in order
to keep in touch with affairs and provide
for emergencies, l visited the ships in the
steam launch.
Nearly Out Of Ammunition.
ct appears that the accommodating party
had met with greater resistance than mad
been expected, and when they signaled for
support their ammunition was well nigh
exhausted, and they had no drinking water
or food Reinforced by our landing party,
this detachment kept a thousand insurgents
;.1;,1 a.lir M nf
which was opposing our army, thus insur-
ing an overwhelming victory.
ION the morning Of the Nth instant our
troops occupied Bacoor. and no insurgents
could be seen from Bacoor to linus river,
and even to old Cavite. All the villages
along the shore displayed the white flag.
Men, women and children returned to their
homes seeming to be oVerjoyed that our
troops were in possession. The demoraliZa-
ton of the insurgents was so great that a
large number of Spanish prisoners escaped.
reporting that the enemy had incurred
heavy loss in killed and wounded. A con-
sentative estimate puts the number of in
surgents killed at 900.
Worthy of Mention.
THE character of the fighting on the
part of the navy may not have been such
as to bring out the maximum heroic quail
ties as there were no ships opposed to our
vessels, but all deserve credit for their eX-
cellent work. l would especially mention
those who landed under a heavy fire to
support their comrades of the army. Lieut..
Edward Mole, Ensign F. r. Payne and
Assistant Surgeon D. G. Beebe were with
the landing party, Lieut.. G. B. Bradshaw
had command Of the armed launch which
escorted the party to the beach, and En-
sign Cleland Davis made trip to the beach
to gain information before the sailors
started from the ship.
Il am pleased to add that as soon as
Commander Swnburne the senior COM
handing officer nearest the advance guard
or the army was aware of it's need for aid
ne did not hesitate a moment but sent the
landing party ashore under the general in
structions which have endeavored to i'm
press upon all. viz: that the navy will do
an IN It's power to assist the army in put
ting an end to the war"
CONDENSED LOCALS.
George Sturges, who is serving a term in