The Portland daily press., 1899-04-14
First Night in the Amer
lean Trenches.
How Our Soldiers Drove the
Philippines Before Them.


ippine islands, has written an interest
Jag letter to his sister, Mrs, Frank Il
Moseley of this city which is as follows:
"In the Field before Caloocsn, Island
of Luzon, February 20, lso9f
"My Dear Sister--I have delayed writ
ing from day today but will now attempt
a few lines. Previous 10 February 4th,
Manila had been, for over two months,
practically in state of seige, with
troops constantly under arms, aid ex-
pecting an attack or demonstration OF
some kind from the Fiilpinos daily.
| These people had become very bold and
Troublesome, evidently having the idea
that they might do ss they wished and
that the U. :. government would treat
with them before resortiug to force, and
this has been the case SO far as possible.
The governments has certainly offered
them every inducement to lay down their
arms and await developments The sold
iers have used them kindly and traced
with them much, but the fight was on,
it had to be, we had realized the fact
for some time.
"On February 4th at about O'Clock p.
M, the Filipinos attempted to enter the
city, in force, from the east, but were
promptly met by the Idaho regiment, a
section of the Utah Light Artillery and
others composing the east end, of our
lines The enemy was forced to retire to
long range where they kept up steady
fire until they We're routed next morning.
The whole line of the enemy took
up the assault and within an hour from
the beginning OF hostilities our whole
line of outposts-seven miles in length
was under fire. In most sections of the
city q general alarm was sounded and
troops rushed from their quarters to the
outposts " here all nightIevery company
and every man was engaged. -Four bat
teries of the third artillery We're quar-
tered in the centre OF the city in what is
known as Quater de Maislc. Here also
were quartered four sections of the Utah
Light Artillery. No alarm was sounded
here. We heard the firing and every man
knew that the curtain was rung up ON
the first act. Hastily getting into equip
ments we formed companies in the court
in front of quarters and at the command
of 'fours right, march, were off for the
scene of action. We dashed through the
narrow streets and on, out through the
suburbs TO our outposts where the firing
was something terrific. Jumping behind
earthworks we proceeded to pump our
Krag Jorgensen's and threw lead at the
slreak of fire before us. The firing was
kept up with little interyale all night
and was something terrific. The continual
rat tat tat of the Mauser and Krag rifles
blending with the deeper tones of the
bennington and Springfield, the roar of
artillery and bursting of shells with the
crash of volley lring, filled the air with
a nj onst rous thunder which must be
heard to be appreciated We were we'll,
If not comfortably entrenched and could
not be moved in spite of the attempts Of
the enemy. The first gray streaks OF
dawn were welcomed by our troops most
heartily. by broad daylight the tring
had nearly ceased and we were allowed
the opportunity of breathing freely, and
giving our nerves rest. Reports of cas-
ualties were given and received all along
the line and so time passed until eleven
O'Clock, when, after thoroughly shelling
the advance our whole line moved for
ward spreading out like huge fan and
fairly burning the air with our volley
firing. The enemy could not stand this
sort of thing, 1t was not at all what they
had expected and they retreated firing
as best they might, our troops hot on
their trail The enemy were driven three
miles fl ON about the city, when, the dis
tanoe about the city becoming too great
for our troops TO cover, u halt was called
and camp prepared for the night. 1t is
our firm belief that had we troops enough
to have left the cityiproperly guarded and
kept right after the Indians we would, by
present writing, have had them well
rounded up.
"Tbis advance of February 5th, was Il
splendid dash through rice fields ana
BAN boo thickets persistently executed,
and with all the energy of the American
soldier The Indians must have lost three
or four thousand Of their number, witt
three times as many wounded. We at the
front hear rumors of how the fourth
cavalry and others cut them up on the
east. while we Of the center and west feel
well satisfied with our work. American
loss up TO February 9th, killed. "a;
wounded 2G0. The marksmanship OF the
Filippinos is something wIetche;, they
nearly always shooting wildly high
The morning of February III found onr
troops in good position all along the line
and it WAS understood we were tc hold
the position until the arrival Of expected
troops. We were about two miles from
Caloocan, small place the Fiiipinoes had
fortified. and which we learned after
taking was one of their strongholds