Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-29
MAKE A STAND IN THE OPEN
General Luna of the Filipino Forces
Succeeds in Brncing Up His
Followers.

MANILA, April 2S.-1l:45 a. m.-Yes-
terday furnished added proof that
the United States troops have a fear OF
bushwhacking that is above their fear OF
battles. The Washington regiment, which
is holding Taguig with three companies OF
the Twelfth regulars, engaged a large force
OF insurgents in a fight in the jungle. The
Americans lost two killed and ten wounded.
The Filipinos have been maksing at the
mouth of the Pasig river, and it IL estimated
that there are 1000 of them now there. They
have mounted two guns-one a three inch
Krupp--and have thrown a number Of shells
into the American lines. The gunboat
Napidan, which is guarding the entrance
to the river, shelled a launch which was car
rying supplies.
Yesterday a large force OF rebels APP
preached the town, seemingly bent on Turing
the Americans from Calumpit. Three COM
panies of the Washington troops sailed
forth and attacked the natives and found
that they had their hands full. Two other
companies of the Washingtons and three of
the Twelfth regulars reinforced them and
drove back the enemy, who removed their
deaSto a wounded as they retired, as usual.
500 a. NAT Calumpit for the first time
4 large body Of FiIipinos attempted to face
the Americans in open ground. The Fill
pinos in the trenches were dispersed after
making a ~ridiculously feeble resistance, but
General Luna's brigade came upon the field
from Macabeles on the doublequick and two
regiments preserving a perfect formation.
The Americans from the south bank of the
river, which is higher than the north bank,
could see General Luna mounted on a black
horse, galloping frantically along the lines
and apparently eXhorting his followers to
make a stand. He finally succeeded in get
ting them spread in an extended line OF
battle, which would have done credit to a
civilized army. But when the American
bullets showered thickly among them, STIR
ring clouds of dust from the sandy soil, the
Filipinos again showed that no amount OF
drilling could fortify them sufficiently to
make them face the American rifles and
their train puffed up the track with its loao
OF dead and wounded in plain sight of the
Americans, who were entering the town so
closely that the rebels barely slipped out OF
their victors' hands. The Montana regiment
made a rush to capture the train, running
up the track, yelling shrilly, and even drop
ping their guns in the pursuit, but the en-
gine backed off hastily, leaving the bodies
Of six warriors to their enemy.
Three Filipinos who came to meet the
ronquerors bearing a white flag de-
clared heartily that they were sick of
fighting, adding that food was very short
In their camps. They ate the army
rations given to them with an
eagerness that testified to the truth of the
latter statement. One who had been
severely wounded dragged himself after his
comrades, showing remarkable nerve.
Fifty Americans were overcome By tho
heat and Colonel Funston dropped utterly
exhausted after the battle. The men Of tho
Kansas regiment cheered him orally when
he went among them. Last night me flames
OF burning villages and scattered huts gave
the horizon a glow as of sunset and the
cracking OF the bamboos as they caught
fire sounded like musketry in battle.
II the American troops were not fighting
the heat as well as the rebels they might