The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
ENSIGN DAVIS IN BATTLE.
GALLANT CONDUCT NTH MACARTHUR
~ TIE LUZON CIMPIIGN

"
matte Gun from Feb. 81 to April 49,
wAsH1NG7oN. Juno 3.-The Navy Department
to-day made public the letter OF Admiral
Dewey recommending that Ensign Cleland
Davis OF the gunboat Helena he advanced ten
numbers for meritorious conduct with the
land forces in the Iu2on campaign. The re-
ports on which the recommendation was based
were made uubli" also Ensign Davis par
tIcjpa,cl in the operations of.MacArthur's
diyisi in command OF Colt automatic gun.
II, was accompanied by the regular crew OF
the gun Ensign Daviss report contains
favorable comments on the working OF the
omatic gun which are OF particular interest
on account Of the failure OF n similar piece OF
ordnance TO work in Samoa during the en-
elvrluent In which Lieut.. Lansdale and In.
si;n Monahan were killed. In his report Adj
uiral Dewey says:
"lnsIgn Davis was u volunteer for this duty
ashore with the army. lie was engaged In all
actions against the insurgents that took place
on the north front oi the army between Feb.
~ and April L. 1888 performed valiant ser
vice and rendered valuable aid to our troops.
| therefore commend him to the department
and recommend that he be advanced ten num-
bers in his grade. The crew for the Colts gun
consist OF Corporal Thomas Francis Prem
dergast and Privates Howard Major Buckley
Corps While this crew was not composed OF
volunteers. none being ask oil FOR. tho men per-
formal their duty under IN ost trying condi-
tions Of war IN the most exem pury manner
and deserve high praise hope the depart
ment will reward in suitable manner their
services
The report Of Major Richard W. Young.
Utah battery. Chief Of Artillery OF MacAr-
thurs second Division. was submitted also.
1t is Endorsed by Gen. Macarthur az follows:
Il have a personal knowledge OF the mat
tors referred to within by Major Young and
tnEe great pleasure in expressing strong con-
currcnre in all he saws of the professional skill
and personal Gallantry Of Ensign Davis. which
came repeatedly under my personal observa-
ton d"
Major Young describes Ensign Davis's scr
vr"s with the Colt gun and says:
Ensign Davis usually fired the gun himself
and always with accurate aim and unlinchinR
courage. We're he an army officer | should
uuhesita .ingly recommend him for a brevet
for gallant and meretorious services AS II 10.
l can only make the commendation and ex-
press the earnest hope that he may receive
Advancement a proper number OF files. or such
other recognition "a his services might appro-
priately receive a. the hands OF the naval au-
thorites. His detachment served faithfully
and bravely."
The report OF Ensign Davis ia addressed to
Commander W I. Swlnburne OF tho Helena
He reported to Gen. Macarthur under orders
received Feb. - and remained in the firing line
at Caloocan until March %. when. with the
army's artillery he went to La Iona Church.
His description OF the camuaign and COM
ments on tho Colt gun follow:
"On March - one rations commenced. The
general plan of advance was as follows Gen.
H. lI,st.I
sisted of the First Brigade. Brig. Gen. OTIS on
H., lo,, ,or,nos.d o,th. Thtrd Irt,llorv K,n-
the Ieit. cohiposeu OF the lh'ru Artliiery nan.
sas aud Montana regiments. and the Second
Brigade. Brig. Gen. Halls, on the right. com
r,,s.d ~ Pho pspnsv,yani, south D,knto and
p'seu Oh Tue iehnsy''"m MIA, nou'h pako.a anu
Nebraska regiments. The divisional artillery
was in tho centre. which rested at La Lona
church rms general formation was main
tanned until Malinta was reached. the centre
advancing along the cnloooan- NoyaIches road
to Cabalahan. thence aons inc Ma!lnta-Nova-
liches road to Malinta. tho right wing swing
Ing so as to preserve the front At Malinta I ne
divi.io, ,as ,oined nv Drig Gan Whenton,.
a,'s'on vas 'o'net " aiS., ,n noa Th"ls
and Twenty second lnfentry. the Oregon and
part o! the Minnesota reHiment. which mad
FROM there SU on this briEade was in reserve
guarding the railroad communications.
The front was now contracted and the ad-
road track. The character Of the country
was extremely favorable for defensive war
fare. Tho fields were rice land. covered with
numerous copses OF dense bamboo thicket.
There WIS network OF tidewater rivers. most:
ly unfordabls In addition the enemy had
built strong intren chments. from ten to TWEEN
y-nve feet thick. at snort Intervals along the
roads. on the river banks, and especially along
the railroad. These trenches were OF the
most modern TIVE. The advance OF the army
was so rapid that the enemy had no time to
destroy the iron railroad bridges and the I'M
fordable streams were crossed on these with
little delay. the mules and horses swimming.
The detachment under my command went
into action in tho following engagements:
Near Cabalahan on March %. covering with
the artillery the advance OF the Montana and
Pennsylvania regiments against strong in
trenehments on the Malinta- Noyelicbes read:
In the afternoon Of the same day a platoon OF
thirty men from tho Fourth Cavalry found tho
OF the Tulihan River aud engaged with heavy
loss to them selves. The Colt gun. with ono
piece OF artillery. went into action under
heavy fro on the lett Of the road and the
enemy strongly fortified on the opposite side
Of the road. and tho enemy shortly fled from
their intrenchments. Al the Mariao River.
March -. the detachment advanced under
cover to within seventy. live yards OF the
enemys trenches, strongly thrown uD on the
bank across the river. and by sweeping fire
covering the trench. which was about 100 feet
long. silenced the enemy's fire and enao led
the artillery to come W on the open road to
VII