The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-28
GOOD SERVICE WITH GUNS.
MAI. YOUNG TELLS OF THE WORK
OF THE UTAH BATTERY.


Dangerous service Performed Tn
der Lieut.. Seaman-WOrk of F1em-
ing's Platoon in the Advance ON
CalOOcRn-Wedgew Battery
Paved the Way for the Infantry
Advance-Fearless Work of the
ArtiIIerymen Commended.
Washington. May 27-Next in the series
of reports of operations near Manila
which the war department is making pub
lie in connection with that of Maj. Gen.
Macarthur, is that of Maj. Richard w.
Young of the famous Utah Light Artil-
lery.
Maj. Youngs report is accompanied by
a report from his subordinate officers,
Capt. and Brevet Major F. a. Grant.
Capt. E. A. Wedg, " y0d. First Lieutenant
George A. Glbbes and Second Lieutenants
George \. Seaman. A. 5. Fleming and W.
c. Webb All of these are in a large part
purely technical and give detailed ac-
counts of the various movements made
by the component parts Of this organiza-
ton, which appears to have participated
at an important point in every engage
ment which has taken place in Luzon. In
his report, which tells the story of the
operations from Feb. 4 to Feb. To- Maj.
Young, after describing the advance on
Caloocan, says: tfh
Il am satisfied that no troops during
this advance have performed more dan
gerouS service than the detachment under
Lieut. Seaman in their perilous progress
up the Caloocan road; too much, there
fore, in my Judgment, cannot be said In
praise of their intrepidity and efficiency"
Maj. Young also mentions the good work
of two guns of the Sixth Artillery under
Lieut.. A. S. Fleming, who were assigned
to his division in this action. He says
During the advance on Caloocan this
platoon did very accura te and effective
work under "a heavy small arm fire from
the enemy"
Accurate Work Was Done.
He also speaks of Grants and Critch-
lows guns, which took part in the move
ment, as follows
Extremely accurate work was done;
one of the best shots1lof- The Campaign
was at q party throwing up earthworks
at the cemetery gate, the left side of the
gate being destroyed at an estimated range
of 1900 yards by the first shell. Shrapnel
fire proved to be very efficacious at
range of 1900 yards in driving a party,
which advanced fearlessly from The right
to take thanking party under command
of Mai Ben, U. S. ", engineers"
compliment is also paid to Wedge
woods battery, the men Of which dragged
their guns, on the night of Feb t. for
three miles without assistance, and driv-
ing the enemy back in great numbers,
paved the way for the Infantry advance
These guns were served under heavy
cross fire, the cannoneers having little
or no protection. Webb's two guns ore
described as silencing the enemy's fire in
almost every instance over an arc of
nearly $50 degrees The two Nordenfelts.
under Lieut. Gibbes, are said to have been
handled with skill and efficiency. In one
case the guns were brought down at dou-
bic time on a 500-yard Slope In the face of
a heavy fire. This was N open view Of
the enemy, under close range, and was
one of the boldest and most commendable
acts of The campaign, says Maj Young
In conclusion, he says:
COmmends All the Men.
'I desire to commend most heartily and
without distinction the officers and men
in the organization under my command.
The amount of labor done by them in
dragging guns and constructing earth
wins mas pSeh PloulS4Ous, anu IL mas al
ways been done cheerfully. All have been
fearless. Compelled TO advance along
open roads usually in plain view OF the
enemy, without the opportunity of con-
ceaiment, they have unchrinkingly served
their guns.
1T has, too. been a feature OF these OPP
erations that in every advance the guns
have gone forward practically on the line
of skirmishers. Their Willingness TO work
and their intrepidity, have not been more
conspicous than the skill with which ihey
have handled their guns and their accu-
racy of aim