Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-06-15
4 FIERCE BATTLE.
Gen. Lawton's Troops Apparently
Led into an Ambush.
AMERICANS MAKE A HEROIC STAND.
United States GunbOats Bernhard the Rebel
POsition-Gen. Luna Assassinated at
Aguinaldo's Headquarters Ca
blegram Received from Otis.

Manila, June l4.-Gen. LawtOn UNI
expectedly stirred up one Of the liveli-
, est engagements Of the war south Of
Las Pinas yesterday upon which oc-
casion American field guns were en-
Gagged in the first artillery duel against
u Filipino battery, concealed in the
luaale. Companies + and |, of the
Twenty-irst infantry, were nearly SUR
rounded by a large body of insurgents,
hut he Americans cut their way out
win heavy loss. During the night an
insurgent cannon was fred three times
at the Americans on the outskirts of
Las Pinas. Gen. Lawton yesterday
90: a battalion of the Fourteenth
regiment and two companies of
the Twenty-frst regiment TO locate
the rebel battery, and then two guns
q the Sixth artillery and four
mountain guns were planted against it
1t 800 yards distance. The rebels had
a large gun from which they were fir
ing homemade canister loaded with
nails and also two smaller guns. Their
shooting wa, most accurate. The COM
panies of the Twenty-frst regiment,
diminishing along the beach, with
amigo guides, found, apparently, a
handful of rebels, who retreated The
men of the Twenty-frst followed and
suddenly the rebels opened terrific fire
on the troops from the sides and
rear. The soldiers withdrew to the
waters edge, finding what shelter they
could, and were picked off rapidly.
After their ammunition was nearly ex-
hausted, the companies of the Twenty
first retreated, but Gen, Lawton dashed
down and rallied the men. A little
group made desperate stand. Gen.
Lawton, Maj Starr and Lieuts. Dono-
van and Connolly taking rifles from the
wounded men, fred at the enemy,
bringing down some Of the rebel sharp
shooters from a tree. Finally their
cartridges were all gone and they were
forced to break through the enemy's
flank, carrying the wounded to the
main body Of the troops.
The fighting continued all day long.
Gen. Lawton called out the whole force
of 5000 men and at five o'clock he was
only able to push the insurgents back
500 yards to the zapote river where
they are intrenched. The insurgents
resisted desperately and aggressively.
They attempted to turn the left flank
of the American troops. The American
loss is conservatively estimated at 80.
GUNBoATs lombard REBEL POSITION.
Manila, June 14.-At daylight Tues
day the rebels at Cavite Viejo dropped
two shells from a big smooth bore gun
mounted in front of the church in the
navy yard. The only damage done was
splintering the top of the huge shears
on the Mole. The gunboats Callao,
Manila and Mosquito then proceeded
to dismount the gun. After breakfast
the rebels opened fire along the beach
to Bakoor. After silencing the big
gun at Cavite Viejo the gun
boats ran close along the shore,
bombarding the rebel position. The
rebels were eventually forced to aban-
don their guns after holding out for
four hours, only to be confronted by
Gen. Lawton's force on land and in
their rear, where there was heavy |
fighting.
GEN. LUNA AssAssINATED.
Manila, June 14.-Information, be-
lieved to be reliable, has reached here
of the assassination of Gen. Luna and
his aide-de-camp, Lieut.. Pasco Ramon,
June 5, by Aguinaldo's guard at the
headquarters of Aguinaldo. Luna and
Ramon, it appears, went to the Filipino
headquarters to confer with Aguinaldo,
got into an alteration with the cap
tain of the guard and one of them drew
a revolver. The guard then killed
Luna and Ramon with their bayonets.
CABLEGRAM FROM GEN. OTIS.
Washington, June 1.-THE follow
ing cablegram was received from Gen.
Otis:
Manila, June l3-Adjutant General, Wash |
ington: Lawton's troops had severe engage
ment to-day with enemy in strong intreneh-
ments at crossing zapote river, near Bakoor,
Cavite province; has driven enemy with heavy |
loss; our casualties some 80 Insurgents in this
southern section not molested until threatened |
attack in strong force on Manila; now scattered
and in retreat doubtful II they make further
-AtiS