Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-08-16

We're round wounded and were dIter-
ward taken up to the freighthouse for
treatment Less than ten Americans
were wounded, and only two were kill
ed. That action ended the advance
for the day.
One Of the most important and nee
essary components Of an invading
army is the corps Of scouts. Major
Bell is the chief of the scouts in Gen.
eral MacArthur's division. The part
he plays in the great military machine
Is to go on ahead Of the army until he
is shot at or until he sees the enemy
established in their defenses. Then he
returns with his report and Is gener-
ally sent with the advancing troops to
point out where caution is to be OBJ
served and where the men must expect
the fighting to begin.
San Fernando was supposed to be
very strongly defended. The meager
information that could be obtained led
General Macarthur to expect a stiff
fight before it could be taken. There
were rumOrs of artillery being placed
to command the roads leading to it
and others to the effect that several
thousand rifemen were to make des-
perate stand to prevent the Americans
taking the city. 1t was the largest and
finest city north Of Manila, the seat Of
the Filipino government, and the nat
ural assumption was that the insur-
gents could not afford to lose it on ac-
count of it's sentimental significance.
On the night Of May it was an
nOunced at the general headquarters
that no movement would be made on
the city until the morning Of May 6.
General Macarthur ordered Major Bell
to take a small scouting party the fol-
lowing morning, the 9TH, and, if pos
sible, determine how great force was
In San Fernando and what disposition
was made of it. At 6 o'clock the start
was made Major Bell, Lieutenant
Mead, 10 soldiers and 3 correspond
ents, Bass, Keen and myself, compos-
ed the party. The major, the lieuten-
ant and an orderly were mounted, but
the remaining members were on foot
When the party, numbering 20, Is
armed with Krag-Jorgensens and the
rest with revolvers. got as far as the
American outposts, halt was made.
Thenceforth extreme caution was nee
essary. First, the leaders directed half
the soldiers to move slowly forward in
the shelter of the trees, along one side
Of the road and the other half to take
a similar position on the other side.
"Now, you men must understand me.
l don't want a shot fired. If they fire
on us get In what protection you can,
and don't, under any circumstances,
fire unless you simply have to. l don't
want the insurgents to see us, either.
Keep in the shadow Of those trees, and
If you have to get into the road be
careful to keep out Of the center. Now,
Pm going forward. Well leave these
three horses with you," indicating the
correspondents, ''for we must go on
ahead. You bring them on about 200
yards to our rear; for If anybody is
wounded Wen have to use a he Sc to
get him to the rear You must observe
the strictest caution and keep as close
into the trees as you can"
After these businesslike preparations
the men disappeared in the trees lin
ing the road and moved on ahead. A
slight bend presently revealed long,
straight stretch into the city of San
Fernando. About three-quarters of a
mile down this stretch was a very
heavy breastwork crossing the road,
and behind it were some nipa houses.
Part Of the distance was well lined with
scrubby trees, which concealed the
members of our party from view. Oc-
casionally Major Bell was observed q
short distance ahead peering through
the leaves and fixing his fieldglasses
on the breastwork ahead. There was
no sign of life about it.
Our party would advance hundred
yards, then pause for nearly Is min
utes with glasses studying every clump
Of bushes and everything ahead that
could conceal man. BY degrees the
scouts worked their way up to with
in 300 yards Of the breastworks, where
an open field was reached, and conse-
quently no further advance could be
made undiscovered. The horses were
tied In a clump of bushes, and we
edged up to the limit Of the trees. At
this time an insurgent officer was seen
riding down the road leading from San
Fernando to the breastworks, the ex-
tension of which we were on. He
seemed unconscious of the nearness
Of our party and made no attempt at
concealment AS he reached the breast
works he paused, and several figures
were seen talking to him. Then he de-
liberately rode back toward San Fer
nando. After some minutes Major
Bell showed himself in the road, feel
ing that at such short range the insur-
gents would be tempted to fire. But
there wasn't sound, and, aside from
our party. not human being could be
seen.
The city of San Fernando, scarcely
one-third Of mile away. was peaceful
and quiet. Once more Major Bell
walked across the road in full view.
and Mead leisurely followed him. Sew
eral times this was repeated. but 1t
drew no hostile shot from the for
tresslike warehouses or the heavy
breastwork just ahead. Little by lit
tie the scouts edged down the side Of
the road Presently we We're all out