The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-05-12
Rebel Force There Mum berS
Six Thousand, Well Armed
and IntrenChed.
OUR TROOPS ARE EXHAUSTED
Show the Effects of Rapid ADJ
vance Under Most Trying
Circumstances.
Companies Average but Fifty
Men, All Having a Worn
Appearance.

MANILA, May 8.-To clear the Fill
pinos out of Bacolor, about seven miles
south of San Fernando, will be the next
task of the Americans. The rebel gen.
eral, Mascado, has force of 5000 men
there, we'll armed and possessed of
plenty of ammunition. His troops have
never met American soldiers and they
think, according to reports carried to
San Fernando, that they "can lick the
whole lot" Bacolor is we'll intrenched
and thousands of natives are working
like beavers digging trenches and carry
ing the dirt in baskets. The enemy
uses his rifemen for fighting only, but
compels the bolomen and Chinese and
even the women to labor necessarily.
In the vicinity of Laguna de Bay the
rebels are extremely active, but the
lines of General Ovenshine and Colonel
Wholly, who is commanding General
Kings brigade, have been materially
strengthened and there is no danger in
that direction.
Establishing Base of Supplies.
The armed steamers Laguna de Bay
and Cavadonga have gone to Jugua,
about five miles southeast of Bacolor,
presumably to establish base of sup
plies for the troops engaged on the
northern campaign.
1t is rumored that Mabini, president
of the cabinet and minister of foreign
affairs in the so-called Filipino govern
ment, who is radical, is to be succeed
ed by Patreno, the Trainer of the Span
ish treaty of 1896. This change is
regarded as significant at the present
juncture.
The entrance of the Americans into
San Fernando was virtually unopposed.
The Filipinos, who expected the invad-
ers to approach from the sea, had that
side of the town strongly guarded, but
there was only one line of trenches be-
yond San Tomas. Two battallons of
the Fifty-frst Iowa regiment, which
swan the river north of the city, were
smartly peppered while in the water,
but the rebels disappeared as soon as
the Americans reached the shore. In
the meantime the hospital squad had
walked across the bridge into the city
supposing the Americans were there.
They encountered no natives.
The Soldiers En- joying Life.
The army is greatly enjoying life at
San Fernando, which is the most pic
turesque and wealthy town the Ameri-
cans have entered since the occupation
of Manila. 1t is largely built of stone,
the river close at hand and high hills
almost surround it. Many sugar fac
tories indicate thriving industry in
that respect and there are numerous
fine residences. General MacArthur's
permanent headquarters is established
in the best house in town, which is
richly decorated with frescoes and
carved woods.
The troops are encamped around in
the suburbs and are beginning to think
they may be quartered there during
the wet season. After Bacolor has been
cleared water communication with
Manila may be established.
The American troops are much ex-
hausted by the campaign, except the
Iowa troops, which are comparatively
fresh. The regiments of the division
average less that 30 men to a company
and all have a weather-worn appear
ance.