The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-11
LAWTON DRIVES ITS DEFENDERS
INTO THE MOUNTAINS.
The Oceanic Espanola, Once Bitterly Opposed
to American Rue, Having Studied the
Proclamation, Urges the Ma
tives to Disarm.

Manila, April 10.-6:o0 p. M.-Gen-
eral Lawton has captured Santa Cruz,
at the extreme end of the lake. He
drove tho rebels, who were commanded
by a ChinaInan named Pao Wah into
the mountains. The Americans had six
men wounded The rebels lost sixty
eight men killed and had forty men
wounded.
An expedition consisting of about l.
500 men commanded by General Law
ton left San Pedro Macati. ON the River
Pasig. ON Saturday night, with the pur-
pose of crossing Laguna de Bay, and
capturing the town of Santa Cruz. ON
the eastern shore on the lake. The
American troops were then. as planned,
to sweep the country to the south, The
force consisted of 300 picked sharp
shooters from the various regiments,
Hawthorne's mountain battery, Gales
squadron and three troops of the Fourth
cavalry, unmounted Bronke's and Tap
pens battalions of the Fourteenth infan-
try: Iinck's battalion of the First Idaho
infantry and FRAMES battalion of the
First North Dakota infantry under
General King.
The fotilla Of twenty canoes, towed
by tugs and vonvoyed by the gunboats
14aguna de Bay Oeste and Nappidan.
and preceded by the launch containing
General Lawton and General King.
moved toward the lake just as evening
was setting in. 1t was a truly pictures
que scene.
The men carried rations for ten days
with the lightest marching equipment
General Iawtons plan was to reach
Santa Cruz on Sunday morning at day
break. to capture OF destroy any rebel
gunboats or shipping, to take the town
and then to scUurge the country to the
south of the lake, a distance not vet ex-
plored by the Americans.
ITS COUNSELS DISARMAMENT.
Manila. April 10.-4:55 p. M.-The
rebels along the railroad fired at a
scouting party near Malolos to-day.
wounding two members of the Kansas
regiment.
The United States gilnboat Benning-
ton has gone to Baler on the east coast,
in order to relieve a Spanish garrison
Of forty-seyen men which has been be-
leaguered there since May.
1t is considered significant that the
Oceanic Espanola. formerly rabidly in
favor of the Filipino Government. is
now counselling disarmament, advising
the Filipinos to accept the inevitable. 1t
has carefully analyzed the proclamation
of the United States Philippine commits
sion, pointing out the advantages of the
definite policy determined upon.
Manila, April 10.-1 Il. M.-Santa
Cruz was the Filipinos stronghold on
Lake Laguna de Bay, and il fell into the
hands of General Lawton's expedition
after some sharp. quick fighting, form
ing one of the most Interesting and inn
portalnt battles of the war.
The plans Of the American command
ers worked perfectly, with tlhe exception
that the progress Of the expedition was
delayed by the difficult navigation of the
river. About fifteen hundred picked
men composed the expedition, which was
under the personal command of General
Lawton. on account eff the illness OF
General King. These troops partly sur
rounded the city while the gunboats
I4aguna de Bay, Nepidau and Oeste, un-
der the command Of Captain Grant, OF
the Utah battery shelled the city and
outlying trenches.
General Iawton and his staff accom-
panied the troops, sometimes leading
Charges in Indian fighting tactics. which
eventually resulted in the complete rout
OF the rebels. with the smallest amount
Of damage TO the city and slight Toss
TO the Americans.
The expedition started from San Pedro
Macati at dusk on Saturday. intending
10 capture Santa Cruz by assault at
daybreak. But in navigating the shall
low, tortuous Pasig River. perhaps
through the cunning of the native pilots
VINO Wtre not anxious to see the Ameri-
cans succeed. the boats grounded and
II was nearly dawn when the troops
reached the lake. The expedition then
steamed cautiously forward. the Napidan
and Osste mile ahead and the Iaguna
de Bay guarding the rear
Rebel signal fires. however. were
lighted on the mountain tops. giving
warming of the approach of the troops.
III was noon before the white church
foWsrs OF the city appeared in the sllad-
CIV OF the great volcanic mountain on
a marshy plain dotted with occasional
palm groves.
A casco with a force of two hundred
picked sharpshooters. under Major
Weisenberger, mostly belonging TO the
First Washington regiment. was run
into a shallow inlet about fiva miles
south of the city
\ few shells We're then sent toward
the entrenchments Of the rebels at tbe
edge Of the woods, sending the enemy
scampeIing inland
Then a number of Americans iumped
into the water and wading for about
IA hundred yards, crept forward and
formed in line, covering the landing oil
the remainder. which was finished ;ibou
five o'clock. The three troops of tht
Fourth cavalry, unmounted, were sen