The San Francisco call., 1899-03-18
DROVE THE .1.
FILIPINOS
BEFORE THEM
Rapid Victories Of American
Forces at Manila and
Vicinity,

MANILA. Feb. 13.-The stirring
events of the past week have followed
each other in such rapid succession that
it is a difficult matter to arrange them
chronologically, much less relate them
in detail. The number of troops en-
gagged and the amount of territory COW
cred by the American forces as they
have swept everything before them
since the outbreak of hostilities with
the rebellious natives add to the dlftl-
Guilty very materially.
That trouble with Aguinaldo' S forces
encamped outside the city was lmml-
nent and inevitable had been apparent
ever since the rebel leader issued his
proclamation demanding independence,
but the American authorities had
averted it so often by the exercise OF
s1,ch rare discretion and illimitable pa
fence that until the first blood had
been shed no one really believed that
II had come. and that the breach was
irreparable.
All dey on the fatal 4th. of February
there had been rumors OF the rTcelPt ~ py
ton representative, Agonclllo, couhselI!s
action Immediately If he desired 70 aver
the ratification of the peace treaty ~ puC
no one paid much attention TO them,
since II was known that only Iorty-eIsn ni I
hours remained before the Senate would
ACT Other rumorS and the sudden dlSap-
nearance of native servants about the
same time were also discussed lnuiILeI-
entity, but 20 alarm was created theTe-
by and there was the usual SatuEaay .t
night hustle in the city up TO the time
the stores closed.
About 8 o'clock, however, bugles com
n1enced 10 sound the call ITO arms in
various directions mounted orderlies flew
along the streets, soldiers rushed out or
the theaters, saloons and various places
of amusement, and suddenly the unmis-
taxable rattle Of musketry, punctuated
occasionally by the boom of artillery,
startled the entire, city. Emergency or
ders having already been issued to the
commanding officers of the various regi-
ments. the main streets were soon echo
ing TO the march of thousands of Ameri-
can soldiers, who were overjoyed at the
idea Of going 10 the front, at last, while
squads Of others, told off for police duty,
were stationed on the side streets ready
for anything which might turn up.
Meantime the outposts miles away,
were busily engaged in holding their
friends, the enemy, in check. The trouble
commenced at S:45 q oclock, when three
Filipinos crossed the line at Santa Mesa
with the deliberate intention of drawing
our fire. Twice they had been warned
and as often fed back TO their own line;
but the third time they tried the expert
ment Nebraska corporal, to whom the
matter had been reported, fred upon the
trio dropping one and wounding another
Scarcely had the. echo of his shots died
away when the Filipinos, along their en-
tire line, from Santa Mesa to Caloocan
poured "a. fusiAade from their .intrench-
nents,at the Americans in front of them
Slowly at~frst. but withie eyer increasine
volume and speed, Gtlie Nebraska %Soutf
Dakota t9nd Colorado outpost Responded
without giving way single foot, unit
their supports arrived. Had the rebels
maintained their fuslllade much longer i
is probable that the American outpost:
might have been compelled to retire unit
their reinforeenents came ppi- but in
stead of following up tfeir adv Santage-i iln(
attaching the. oItposts they suddenly
ceased firing for almost an hour, appar
entity while their own reinfofcementi
weresa dyaneLng from the rear.
AS if by magic the streets, which ha'