Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-10-05


No q. called BATTLES in tho Philip
;aos serve little purpose save the illus
r',nn Of the general fighting quail
\. 81 the American soldier, and the
srsnnaI courage of many of the mem
s,s Of the army. The battle' of San
Tattoo. on August 18th may be cited
hirly illustrative of the great ma
rity Of military engagements in the
hupines. 1t was larger affair than
me, a smaller affair than others. Tho
Inactive point. San Mateo, lies some
emilps TO the northeast of Manila. 1t
a. beep occupied and abandoned by
he Americans, perhaps moro than once.
anne points have been captured and
Hardened again and again, with re-
Wiling casualty list upon each occasion.
Eycept for its extension to San For
sndo along the railway, the Ameri-
an line northward and eastward of the
ty, describes, generally, the arc Of
rcle whose diameter would be about
n miles. 1t runs from Malabon, on
he bay, through Caloocan. La Iona,
md san Juan del Monte, with brigade
paduuarters at Deposito, not far from
be latter point.
Tile handful of troops to be employed
n the Sian Mateo trip were from Young's
ritade Of Lawton's division. The
movement was to be effected by the
dyance Of three separate columns.
Dne, under Capt Cronin. consisted of
. 20 men from the Twenty fifth (colored1
Infantry. Ii was to move eastward
rom Noyaliches, effecting junction
With Capt. Rivers, who. with 100 men
II the Fourth Cavalry, was to move
rom the southwest and join Cronin in
Il near San Mateo to intercept the re-
reat forced by Capt. Parker Of the
Fourth Calvary. Parker, who, by the
Nav, made an excellent record rs lieu
enant.cooncl of the Twelfth New
York, was to lead the main attacking
ody. That consisted of $50 men, in
TX companies, from the Fourth CAL
ary and Twenty first and Twenty
ourth toolored) Infantry. Four OF
hese companies were commanded by
econd leutenants.
Parker was to cross the river, near
laIiquina, and follow the road lead
lg northward upon its eastern bank.
The purpose was to drive the Filipinos.
Known to be in the vicinity, back upon
Ban Mateo, where they would encounter
be combination of the other two col
lmns. The general plan miscarried,
but parker's force found busy time
a some four miles. The enemy, we'll
Htrenched, was encountered near the
title river Nanca. Their dispersion
Involved the crossing of an unusually
,,f thns,, h., -, HI Il "a
ce fields which make military move.
leats here so arduous. The troops
luuge and founder about in mud and
buddy water from six to eighteen
inches in depth. IL the fire Of the
tlemy becomes too 'tgalling'' Il be
eye calling" is the proper and ac'
|spted term, it sometimes becomes
acesSary for the men to initiate thu
fNibao and lie down and wallow il
PIE stuff That soils the clothing, ruin'
The temper, and has tendency to caust
Fheumatism and fever. .l..
forty fight took place a
ibis point The command was com
osed largely Of recruits, but the,
bowed all the pluck and dash and cool
hess of well-seasoned troopers. They
fnanitested hut one desire, anc that wa
charge forward. The junior officer
Won and received the cordial approra
t their leader. Lieut.. Van Duyne
young fellow from NewarK, N. j
Just out of West Point, displayed |
NEST praiseworthy GOODNESS and cour
asH In the face Of such work as that
ae Filipino does nothing but run.
0ohot think their running to be q
much sign of fear or cowardice as
part Of their kind of warfare. Fear O
omething akin to it may we'll be
% face a line of brawny American
whose onrush IS attended by yells tina
Almost drown the rattle of their shots
lhe first dash of the SCRAP was tn
not one. 1t was made across the ope
md against trenches. 1t cost th
americans Is men in killed and wound
y The Filipino loss is not known
Under such circumstances, the loss I
zoe enemy is usually reported to be 400
FOR the next four miles 1T was rur
alng tight, with the Filipinos gainin
every jump. The lightly clad natiV
Nho knows every inch Of the running
laIner handicaps lis American pursue
A. mat kind of foot race. Parkt
Kept them moving at rate which ser
aem through the city before Cronin'
arrival. Some escaped to the NORTH
ulhcrs undoubtedly played the usui
game and got away around to the rigt
our line, and were amigos by til
Ime they reached the rear. 1t is b'
yold question that fair number
Ilelr opponents of the 18th, were see
Is Industrious agriculturists at work
llelr helds, and all very friendly, whe
ny ne troops returned day or two late
iGat Is quite way they have. 1t hi
d TO some misconception regardir
.ie attitude Of considerable numb
tilipinos toward the American
a'ter discussing the point with
sgoa many officers who spend the
IIH on the line, am disposed to
"gl'ei that such things as honest
rlienaly Filipinos belong to the RAJ
Cronin's march was without speci
Incident. Some three or four mil
outside of San Mateo, Capt. Rive
vtMe upon an entrenched outpost.
%,Iafp little engagement followed, wi
ao stereotyped result. The Filipin
ased few moments and then di
appeared. Their, fire cost one Amer
.an llte and a few wounds. What W
salhed by it all? / cannot say.
~Wn or two, which had been pr
sously captured and abandoned, W
Tfaln captured and again abandone
Luz ,ne filipinos were scattered from t
,tClnity, Just as flies are driven fro
Wy. "e susar-bo They are soon ba
ssaih' Our guard lines around Man
wy iairly strong, and could be quicl
o,Gi,,eniorced from the regiments in .
MY Beyond that guard line, it rea
s makes little difference whether I
'u gy be five miles away or so.
0apt. Parker's trip resulted in
. av,aeht or two worth recording. Q
SWinlpany was under command of Ca
%ilhnem of the Fourth Cavalry. /
NluHS his nnn1itsna Hnhfsnn w