Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-11

ccllent: sickness slight.
tSisneD OTIS.
Manila. April 10.
Adiutdnt General Washington:
Lawtons command captured Santa
Cruz. chief city of Laguna De Bay. this
morning: casualties six wounded; in
surgent troops driven. leaving SIS dead
on the field and a large number of
wounded; considerable number cap
tured. Lawton will pursue westward
tSigned OTIS.
Manila, April lO-G.JO p M.-Gcn
Lawton captured Santa cruz. at the
extreme end Of the lake. He drove the
rebels, who were commanded by n
Chinaman named Pac Wah. into the
men wounded. The rebels lost 6s men
killed and 40 men wounded.
1.10 +. M.-Santa Cruz was the Flip
mos stronghold on Lake LaSuna De
Bay and it fell into the hands Of Gen.
Lawton's expedition after some sharp.
quick fighting. forming one Of the most
interesting and important battles Of the
war.
u' pldllS Oh inc american COLI
mandcrs worked perfectly. with the ex-
ccption that the progress Of the expedi-
ton was delayed by difficult navigation
Of the river. About 1900 picked men
composed the expedition. which was
under the personal command of Gen.
LaWton. on account of illness of Gen.
King. These troops partly surrounded
the city while the gunboats Laguna De
Bay, Napindan and Oesto. under the
command of Capt. Grant of the Utah
Battery. shelled the city and outlying
trenches.
Gen. Lawton and his staff accompan-
led the troops. sometimes leading
charges in Indian fighting tactics.
which eventually resulted in the COM
plete routing of the rebels with the
smallest amount Of damage to the city
and slight loss TO the Americans.
The expedition started from san Pc
dro Maclti. al dusk on Saturday. in
tending To capture Santa Cruz by as
sault at daybreak. But. in navigating
the shallow tortuous Pasig river. per
hapS through the cunning Of the native
pilots. who We're not anxious to see the
Americans successful. several boats
grounded ana it was nearly dawn when
the troops reached the lake. The eXpe-
dition then steamed cautiously for
ward. the Napindan and the Oestn
mile ahead and the Lagunda De Bay
guarding the rear. Rebel signal fires.
however. were lighted on the mountain
tops. giving warning of the approach
Of the troops
1t was noon before the white church
towers of the city appeared in the shad-
ow of the great volcanic mountain on
marshy plain dotted with occasional
palm groves.
y casCO-d SQuare-ended. flat bottom
ed boat-with a force of poe picked sharp
shooters. under Major WeisenberSer,
mostly belonging to the LIST Washing
ton Regiment. were run into shallow
inlet about five miles south Of the city
Then few shells We're sent towards
the entertainments of the rebels at the
edge of the woods, sending the enemy
scattering inland.
Then number Of men jumped into
the water and wading for
about 100 yards crept forward
and formed in line covering
about 100 Yards, creDt forward and
formed in line covering the landing Of
the remainder. which finished about 8
O'Clock
The three troops Of the 4th Cavalry. |
Unmountcd, We're sent ashore on a |
dangerous marshy point, directly south !
Of the city, under fire from the enemy's |
trenches.
Meanwhile in the town ITSELF there
was utter silence and not q sign of life. |
Gen. Lawton. desiring to make an in |
spection and to give the inhabitants |
an opportunity to surrender. went on
board the Laguna dc Bay and. accom- |
pauied by The Associated Press
launch. steamed slowly to the dock the
whole fleet anxiOusly watching. When |
it was discovered by the glasses that
the trenches and stone buildings were
swarming with white clad soldiers. the
two boats withdrew, receiving vOlleys
from the trenches thrown IN on the
marshy plain north of the city. The
Hotilla anchored in compact forma-i
ton for the night, ready to resist any
surprises from the rebel gunboats sup
posed to be in the lake.
At sunset. today Monday). the as
sault commenced. The American line
south Of the city stretched two miles