The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-14
Special Cash DtIpatch to THE Sun.

Sutcial Cass DtIpdtch to THE SuS.
MANILA. June 13-7:5O P. Mater an ar
tillerv battle and some lively infantry skir-
mishes this morning tho advance In the
direction OF Bacoor was resumed soon after
noon. and 1t developed into the hardest fight
since the outbreak OF hostilities with the Fi-
pinos.
As told to Gen. Otis by Gen. Pic del Pillars
secretary. who deserted from the insurgents q
few days ago. the bridge across the Xapote
River was selected by the rebels rs the point
at which they would attempt to prevent any
further advance Of the American forces It
was here that the natives during the rebellion
against Spain. destroyed an entire Spanish
battalion Of 800 men. and this afternoon they
made most determined stand but were not
able to hold tho position.
Our troops went forward with rushes, cheer
ing as they went ahead under a heavy fire.
The mornings reconnaissance had determined
accurately the enemy's position. and conse-
Quently the American troops were employed
to the best advantage.
Early in the afternoon q battalion Of the
Ninth Regular Infantry attempted to reinforce
the two companies of tho Twcnty-nrst Infan-
try who were holding their own against a
largely superior numerical force between the
road from Las Pinas to Bacoor and Manila
Bay. The attempt was rendered frutless.
flooded the mud fats and swamps that 1t was
impossible for the men OF the Ninth to cross
them.
The main work was the direct attack on the
bridge. Kenlcy's battery OF four mountain
! guns and two 3-inch guns. with Company Z Of
| the Fourteenth Infantry as supports. advanced
| straight along the road to the bridge. The
other companies OF the Fourteenth ReGi-
ment moved forward to the right and left Of
| the road
The rebels had dug enormous trenches along
| the Bacoor side OF the river. and had burned
the rlanking in the middle OF the bridge to
| prevent the Americans from charging across
| and taking their positions.
| The Americans pushed steadily forward I'M
| til they reached the bank of the river. Then
| Henley took his mountain guns right up to the
| approach of the bridge and poured heavy
| fire into the trenches but they were so well
| constructed that it was impossible to damage
| them greatly. Our men were so close to the
enemy that they could see their heads above
| the earthworks.
| The Americans kept up tremendous fire
| in spite Of the CALLING return. few minutes
after the Americans had reached the bridge
| approach several OF them were wounded some
mortally.
II was not long before tho rebels began to
grow FESTIVE under the hail Of bullets that was
|
| and ran. The Americans then ran along the
bank of the river. and. standing upright.
! directed a terrible fire upon the fugtives. The
| Filipinos we're compelled to cross either the
open raod or an open field, and thus presented
excellent targets for tho regulars. Few OF the
insurgents succeeded in getting away unhurt.
In n few minutes all was over. The Ameri-
cans swarmed across the river and found
many dead and dying Filiplnos in the trenches
at d. l. 4. a
found in the Immediate vicinity Of the bridge.
Tho rebels had second line of trenches
| half a mile away Half an hour after the re-
| treat from the first line firing was reopened
| from this second line. Fresh troops were hur-
ried forward TO relieve the tired men who had
captured the first line. and a heavy fire was
opened on the enemy. who responded for
only short time and then fled.
After the fighting was over Cen Lawton said
that it WAS more like war than anything he
had seen since he had been in the Philippines.
The American troops will rest to- night along
the river line and will probably advance on
| BacoOr tomorrow.
The casualties on our side to-day were five
killed or MORALLY wounded and about twenty
five wounded. including three officers, Gen.
Wheaton was slightly hurt by falling from his
horse.
Gen. Ovcnshine commanded tho attack on
the bridge. Gen. Lawton personally directed
tho movement. Tho latter was "A conspicuous
mark for the enemy. He Is zig man. and his
uniform and white helmet could be easily dis
tiuguished for "A great distance. but he went up
and down the line unscathcd.
All the afternoon tho guns OF the monitor
Monalnock and Eunboat Helena kept up .
hcnyy -helling OF the woods ahead OF the Amer
lean troops, the position Of the enemy being
-ignalcd TO the warshipS from the beach.
Ensign Davis. Of the Helena. came ashore
with Colt rapil-nrc gun and saw lively serv-
leo Hc captured n Filipino cannon which had
been placed below III" bridge. md found a sup
ply II canister shot and brown h"XaGonal pow
der