The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-14
SIXTY AMERICANS KILLED
Regulars Lying in Mud Fired
Continuously Three Hours,
WITH NO MARK TO AIM AT
But the Slight Mist That Arose from
the Smokeless Powder Used By
the Enemy-Gen. Lawton
Hero of the Day.
WITH NO MARK TO AIM AT

Manila, June 13-General Lawton unex-
pectedly stirred up one of the liveliest en-
gagements of the war South of Las Pinas
this morning, on which occasion American
field guns were engaged in the first artillery
duel against Filipino battery concealed
in jungle.
Companies F and I, of the Twenty-frs
infantry were notably surrounded by a
large body of insurgents, but the Americans
cut teir way out with heavy loss
The United States turret ship Monadnock
and the gunboats Helena and Zafiro trained
their batteries on Bakoor and the rebel
trenches near Las Palmas all the morning.
Bakoor was once on fire but the natives
stopped the spread OF the flames.
During the night an insurgent cannon
was fired three times at the Americans on
the outskirts of Las Pinas.
General Lawton this morning took
battalion of the Fourteenth regi-
ment and two companies of the Twen-
ty-first regiment to locate the rebel battery
and then two guns of the Sixth artillery and
four mountain guns were planted against
1t at 600 yards distance The rebels had
large gun from which they were firing
home made canister loaded with nails and
two smaller guns.
Rebel Aim Was Accurate
Their shooting was most accurate The
first lot of canister bursted In front of
Scott's gun and another shattered the legs
of a private in the Fourteenth infantry.
Several shots struck the edge of the town.
The country traversed was as bad as is
possible to imagine, being mainly lagoons,
mud and water fringed with bamboos.
AS soon as the fight opened the Ameri-
cans were attacked by hidden rifiemen on
all sides, even the amigos or friendly"
natives in the houses of the town shooting
into their rear.
The companies of the Twenty-first regi-
ment, skirmiShing along the beach with
amigos found apparently handful of
rebels, who retreated. The men of the
Twenty-first followed, and suddenly the
rebels opened a terrific fire on the troops
from the sides and rear. The soldiers
withdrew to the waters edge, finding
what shelter they could, and were picked
off rapidly.
Ammunition Almost Exhausted
After their ammunition was nearly ex-
hausted, the companies of the Twenty
first retreated, but General Lawton dash
ed down and rallied the men. The little
group made desperate stand, General
Lawton, Major Starr and Lieutenants
Donovan and Sonnelly taking rifles from
the wounded men and firing at the enc
my, bringing down some of the rebel
sharpshooters from a tree. Finally their
cartridges were all gone and they were
forced to break through the enemy's flank
carrying the wounded to the main body of
the troops.
Lieutenant Donovan, whose leg was
broken, f1oundered for mile through
bog, after leading his men in the face of
generally superior force. General Lawton
ceased fighting until rednforcements could
be brought up Two battalions of the
Fourteenth regiment and one battalion of
the Ninth regiment were hurried to the
front and in the afternoon the battle was
resumed.
Monadnock's Heavy Fire
The Monadnock anchored close to the
shore and her heavy guns poured shot in
to the rebels continuously while the
smaller ships steaming along the shore
poured bullets from their rapid fire guns
at the enemy.
The Filipino force engaged appears to
have been the largest and best organized
body of men which has met our troops.
The Americans are compelled to advance
along narrow roads and over small bridges
commanded by earth works ten feet
thick.
The only means of crossing the Zapote
was by small bridge which the F'ilipinos
commanded with trenches spreading
shaped, whence they could concentrate
their fire on the bridge. They also had
the advantage of the trees and jungle, so
that the Americans could hardly see
ahead.
When the battle was resumed at l
o'clock with reinforcements, our batteries
having slenced the enemies guns, the
Americans waiding waist deep in the mud
slowly pouring steady volleys of musketry
at the rebels, drove their opponents be-
yond the river
Vigorous Firing for Three Hours
Then the two armies lay facing each
other across the deep stream, the enemy
practically out of sight, while the men in
blue and kahki lay in the main bushes,
many of them without any, shelter for
three hours, without a moments cessation
in the firing, pouring bullets at the enemy
as fast as they could load. The thousand
rifles blended into a continuous roar was
vastly different from the intermittent
skirmish-like rattle of most of the engage
ments
One battalion after another General Law
ton summoned the reserves from Las Pinas
until only a few troops were left In the
town to prevent the Fillpinos from attack
ing the Americans in the rear, which was
feared, as they were creeping around our
left through the woods, covering flank
ing fire, which put great strain upon the
endurance of the Americans who were