The San Francisco call., 1899-05-06

MANILA, May 5.-General Oven
shines brigade was made last night
the object of attack by the insurgents
south of this city. Apparently the
enemy hoped to break the American
line, but the Fourth Infantry, against
which the Filipinos directed their main
fire, held firm. The Americans were
under fire for several hours. The noise
of the musketry caused great fright in
Malate.
demonstration was made by the
natives beyond San Pedro Macate dur
ing the night. The Idaho and Califor-
MIA outposts were engaged.
This morning General Hale, with two
battalions Of the Fffty-first Iowa regi-
ment and a HOtchkisS gun, advanced
on San Fernando, his men flanking the
town on the right. The Americans
were compelled TO wade across two
shallow streams to reach the town.
When they approached San Fernando
they found that the main body Of the
enemy had deserted that place yester-
day, fleeing northWard. Only small
garrison was left to make a defense.
When our troops were in the middle
of the second stream which they had
to cross the Filipinos opened brisk fire
on them. If they thought to hold the
Americans in check they were wo-
fully disappointed, for the IOwans. with
cheers and shouts, scrambled up the
bank of the river nearest the town. and
then matters became lively for the
Filipnos.
Without a moments hesitation the
Americans rushed the position held
by the enemy and drove them out.
Then they chased them through the
town and a mile beyond. 1t was simply
a footraCe, in which the lightly equip
ped natives had the advantage, unless
they were halted by bullets, as many
of them were.
When our troops returned to the
town they found that the churches,
convent, railroad station and several
other buildings had been burned by the
Filipinos. The town was strongly forti-
fed, and if the rebels had not lost heart
they could have inflicted severe losses
on cur forces before the place was cap
tured. South of the town there was
a double line of loopholed, zigzag
trenches, the construction of which
showed good military knowledge. These
trenches could easily have been held
for a long time against superior force
If the defenders had been willing to
fight. The very fact that they were
abandoned by the main body of the in
surgents is proof of the decentralization
in the Filipino army. There were also
several Spanish blockhouses, which
could have been utilized for Defense
but, strangely enough, were put to no
use.
A Spanish prisoner, who was former
ly a principal official was left behind
when the enemy retreated. He stated
that General Antonio Luna, the rebel
commander, was wounded in the chest
in yesterdays fighting in front of San
Tomas. He added that the Filipino
troops were completely demoralized
and had retreated in great disorder.
Later in the day General Macarthur
moved the remainder of his division to
San Fernando. The greater part of
the residence portion of the town is
intact. Many of the inhabitants who
fed before or with the troops left all
their household goods behind them
General Lawton has established
headquarters at Balinag He has sent
Colonel Summers, with two battalions
each of the Oregon and Minnesota
regiments, beyond Maasand to capture