Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-05-12
bold DEED OF F|L|P|NOS.
Rebels Run a Train and Tear Up
the Track Near the Amer
lean Outposts.
THE SITUATION IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Gen. Otis Sends a CabIegram About What
Is Being Done-PortiOns of the Dispatch
Omitted Because They Refer to Future
Movements of Our Troops-War Depart
ment Ohicials Much Encn<erg ed.

Manila, Nav 9.-The EiIip1nos sur
prised the United States forces at San
Fernando with daring trick yester-
day. A railway train, with an engine
at each end, was run almost to the
American outposts and in plain sight
of the town. Before they could be
reached a gang of natives sprang off
the train, tore up several lengths of the
railway track, boarded the train again
and steamed away SO quickly that there
was no opportunity to capture the
raiders.
The army's gunboats, Laguna de Bay
and Cavadonga, under command of
Capt. Grant, which started up the San
Fernando river for Guagua yesterday
to establish there base of supplies for
the troops engaged in the northern
campaign. returned to-day. Mai. Gen.
Macarthur having failed to connect
with the expedition. The gunboats
found rebels intrenched at Sosmoan
and Guagua, on the water fronts of the
towns. The vessels steamed past the
works, Smelling the occupants and
driving them out. Landing parties
from the boats entered both towns. At
Sosmoan a Spanish captain was cap
tured in uniform. He was ostensibly
d
and also native officer.
Arriving at Guagua, the town and a
small gunboat were found to be burn
ing, and the natives were evacuating
the place in consequence of the bonn
bardment. At SOsmoan the landing
party captured Filipino flags and arms,
chiefly bolos and bows and arrows, be-
sides a lot of band instruments, which
the Americans played as they marched
back to the boats.
The Situation in the Philippines.
Washington, May 9.-The war depart
ment has received from Gen. Otis the
dispatch giving the situation in the
Philippines. some parts of which have
been omitted by the war department in
making it public. The dispatch is az
follows:
Manila, May 8.-Adjutant General Washing
ton: Situation follows: Lawton at Maasin
and Balinag; scouting parties to the nCrth and
east Macarthur at San Fernando =
Population OF country between Manila and
northern points held by troops returning home;
appear cheerful and contented Army gunboats
operating in rivers. Have cleared country west
of Macarthur OF insurgents Signs of
Insurgents weakness more apparent daily
Otis.
The war department officials seem to
be even more encouraged over the con-
dition in Manila. The report of Gen.
Otis received to-day indicates that the
American troops are well disposed. 1t
has been evident that the insurgents
which were operating in the swamps
and jungles east of Gen. Macarthur
have been very annoying, but the army
gunboats have made it too hot for them
to remain. Gen. Lawton appears to be
pushing northward some Is miles to
the east of Macarthur. The Rio
Grande river lies between them and
their gunboats evidently are at work.
The portions of the dispatch which the
department has not made public per
haps refer to the future movements of
the two divisions of the army.