Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-20
EXPEDITION TO cEHu is REFUSED.
Due to Descrtion of Native Allies
Ipon Whom Americans Depended.

lnon whom Americans Depended
MANILA, Nov. q, via San Francisco, Dec,
19.-Belated mail reports have reached
Manila of an expedition on the island Of
Cebu last month by a small force of Amer
lean soldiers of the Sixth infantry, which
was repulsed by the insurgents, mainly
through the desertion of native allies upon
whom the Americans depended. Two of the
Americans were killed and two wounded
and in the force of native police accom-
panying them one was killed and four
wounded. No official report of the affair has
reached General Otis, consequently the cen
eor refused to permit the incident to be
oabled, but the correspondent of the Asso-
Ciated Press has obtained an account from a
thoroughly reliable source.
The Sixth infantry men killed were Daniel
Il. Adams, Company A; Charles n. Coley,
Company A. The wounded were William
Stowell, Company A, through chest, and
Bert Hutchinson Company c, through hips.
The American commander at headquar-
ters in the town of Cebu received informa-
tion that force of insurgents had occupied
the village of Maulbaul on the west coast OF
the island, that they were levying heavy
taxes and taking food and horses and that
the villagers would be glad to have them
driven away
captain walker tOOk ueldCnLleHI vi ItIl
soldiers aboard the steam launch Powerful
on October II and proceeded along the
coast, stopping at the towns of Naga and
Carcai. where ten men were added to the
force from each garrison. At the latter
town a body of 160 native policemen who
were friendly to the Americans was mus
tered into the service by their captain,
Senior Malta. These natives were armed
with spears and bolos and had but few guns
among them.
On the evening of the 10th the Powerful
reached Maulbaul and it's passengers were
landed with difficulty through a rough sea.
The insurgents had retreated to the hills, so
the force camped for the night. Early in the
morning they were on the march. The Com
pany c detachment acted as advance guard
and the natives brought up the rear. For
three miles they advanced along a narrow
road with the sea on one side and high cliffs
on the other Finally they were compelled
to enter a rocky pass, approaching it across
a bridge so narrow that they were compelled
to march two abreast. Just as they entered
the pass there was a great explosion almost
in their faces and they were covered by
shower of soft earth. The insurgents had
prepared a gunpowder mine to annihilate the
party, but the soil and the rocks were 50
powdery that the Americans suffered no in
juries beyond bruises. The explosion was fol-
lowed by a brief but exciting experience.
Immediately after the report Flipinos hid
den in the cliffs opened fire. Two Americans
and five natives fell at the first volley,
which came from very short range. The
commander of the police was hit in the hand
and pair of field glasses which he carried
were shattered. The police were thrown into
confusion and after a moments hesitation
they fell back and began to run, leaving the
few Americans to bear the attack. This the
men of the Sixth did bravely. They rallied
in order, carrying their dead and wounded
and returning the insurgents fire with such
effect that eighteen of the enemy were killed
The party returned to Maulbau and re-em-
barked for Cebu, where they arrived the rol-
lowing day with their dead and wounded
The conduct of the native police found some
excuse in their poor equipment.
r. NJ. MCOLLINS.