Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-06-13

proceeded TO dismount the guns. After
breakfast the rebels opened fire along
| the beach to Bakoor. After silencing
the big guns at Cavite Viejo, the gun
| boats ran close along shore, lombard
| ing the rebel position. The rebels replied
with rifles and small pieces of artillery
So vigorous was the enemy's fire that
at 9:20 a. m. the gunboat Helena joined
the small gunboats already named, and
the Princeton, Monterey and Monad-
mock, from their anchorages, dropped
an occasional big shell among the reb-
els. This apparently only served to in
cite the rebels, as they kept up an in
cessant fire of musketry and artillery
near the mouth of Seapote river, two
miles north of Bakoor. The fire of sew
en- war-ships was concentrated on this
point shortly after noon, when the up
per bay presented the appearance of be-
ing the scene of a great naval battle.
The insurgents were eventually forced
to abandon their guns, after holding out
about four hours, only to be confronted
by General Lawton's force on land in
the rear, where there was heavy fight
ing. Beyond the destruction of several
buildings along the water front the eff
feet of the bombardment is not known.
BOMBS LOADED WITH NAILS.
Manila, June 13-General Lawton un-
expectedly stirred up one Of the liveliest
engagements Of the war south of Las
Pinas this mornin", upon which occa
sion American field guns engaged in
the first artillery duel against the Fill
Companies F and I of the 21st infantry
We're nearly surrounded by large body
of insurgents, but the Americans cut
their way out with heavy loss. The
United States double turreted monitor
Monadnock and the gunboats Helena
and Zafiro trained their batteries on
Bakoor, and the rebel trenches near Las
Pinas all morning. Bakoor was once
on fire, but the natives stopped the
spread of flames. During the night an
insurgent cannon was fired three times
at Americans on the outskirts Of Las
Pinas. General Lawton this morning
took battalion to locate the rebel bat
terry, and then two guns Of the 9Th artil-
planted against it at 600 yards distance.
The rebels had large gun from which
they We're firing home made canister
and bombs loaded with nails.
Their shooting was most accurate
The first lot of canister burst directly in |
front of Scotts guns, and another shat
tered the leg OF a private in the 14th
infantry Several shots struck the edge |
of town. The country traversed was as
bad as it is possible to imagine, being |
mainly lagoons of mud and water |
fringed with bamboos. AS soon as the
fighting opened the Americans We're at
tackled by hidden rfiemen on all sides, |
even amigos" or friendly natives in |
houses of the town shooting in their
rear.
Companies Of the 21st regiment, skir-
mishing along the beach with amigo
guides, found apparently handful of
rebels, who retreated. The men of the
21st followed, and suddenly the rebels
opened terrific fire on the troops from
the sides and rear. The soldiers with
drew to the waters edge, finding what
shelter they could, and were picked off |
rapidly. After ammunition was nearly |
exhausted the companies of the 21st re-
treated, but General Lawton dashed |
down and rallied the men. The little |
group made a desperate stand
General Lawton, Major Starr and |
taking rifles from the wounded men, |
fired at the enemy, bringing down some
of the rebel sharpshooters from a tree.
Finally, their cartridges all gone, they
We're forced to break through the enc
my's flank, carrying the wounded, to
the main body of troops. Lieutenant
Donovan, whose leg was broken, floun-
dered for a mile through a bog, after
leading his men in the face of a greatly
superior force. General Lawton ceased
fighting until e-enforcements could be
brought. Two battalions of the 14th
regiment and one battalion Of the 9th
regiment were hurried to the front, and
in the afternoon the battle was re-
sumed.
The Monadnock anchored close to
shore, and her heavy guns pounded the
rebels continuously, while smaller war;
ships strung along the shore poured
bullets from rapid-fire guns at the en-
emy.
The Filipino force engaged appears
to have been the largest and best or
ganized body of men which has met our
troops. The Americans are compelled
to advance along narrow roads and over
small bridges commanded by earth
works 10 feet thick.