The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-11

NduId, Aplil ~, { u. santa
Cruz, the Filipino stronghold on Lake
Laguna de Bay, fell into the hands of
Gen. Lawton's expedition, after some
sharp, quick fighting, forming one of
the most Interesting and important
battles of the war. The plans of the
American commanders worked perfect
ly with the exception that the progress
of the expedition was delayed by diff
cult navigation of the river.
About 1900 picked men composed the
party which was under the personal
command of Gen. Lawton, on account
of illness of Gen. King. These troops
partly surrounded the city while the
gunboats Laguna de Bay, Napidan
and Oesto, under command of Capt.
Grant of the Utah battery shelled the
city and outlying trenches.
Gen. Lawton and his staff, accom-
panied the troops, sometimes leading
charges in Indian fighting tactics,
which eventually resulted in the COM
plete rout of the rebels, with the
smallest possible amount of damage to
the city and slight loss to the Amer
leans.
The expedition started from San Pc
dro Macau at dusk Saturday, intending
to capture Santa Cruz by assault at
daybreak But, in navigating the
shallow, tortuous Pasig river, perhaps
through the cunning of the native Pill
OTIS who were not anxious to see the
Americans succeed several poats
grounded, and it was nearly dawn
when the troops reached the lake
The expedition then steamed eau
tiously forward, the Napidan and the
nd "A
Bay guarding the rear. Rebel slgnal
fires were lighted on the mountain tops
giving warning of the approach or the
troops. It was noon before the WIlte
church towers of the city appeared Ill
the shadow of the great volcano noun
tain on a marshy PLAIN, dofaeu Win W
casional palm groves. g.4 hot
A casco, a square-ended, HaI-Dol
toned boat, with a force of 700 plckeo
sharpshooters under Major WessenDef-
ger. mostly belonging to the flrst
Washington regiment, was run nv
shallow inlet about five miles SCUM VI
the city. ...-,.o,.7,
Then a few shells were sent TOWARDS
the rebel entertainments at the euSe u
tbe woods sending the enemy scamp
ering inland. A number Of Americans
I'd into the water and WadlnS AoI
9hour a hundred yards, crept 1orWd[d
and formed in line, covering the ldiu-
ing of the remainder. when was M
ished about o'clock. The three Lroops
of the Fourth cavalry unmounteu WEE
sent ashore on a dangerous lnarsuy
noint directly south of the city, unoer
fire of the enemy's trenches. 4t,ora
Meanwhile. in the town ltseiI tHSi
80 inter silence and not sign VI
fife Gen. Lawton, desiring 10 Lldhe
an inspection and to give the iHi I',i4
tants an opportunity to SURRENDER, en-
on board the Laguna de bay any %
COMMANDED by the AssoclaleN 80
launch steamed slowly to the dock tdc
Whole fleet watching anXiously. W. Ileu
II vas discovered by the glasses th1I
the trenches and stone buildings We" az
swarming with white clad soldleIs; ..g
two boats Withdrew, receiving NoHeSs
from the trenches thrown up oH |4is
marshy plain north Oh the - for
Tbe flotilla anchored in compact lol
marion for the night, ready TO res!S'
anv surprises from the rebel guhpoaV9'
sunDosed to be in the lake. AT sunrise
TODAY CMonday). the assault
menced The American line south Oh Ihe
city stretched two miles manu-, "i'G2
with its left sweeping the sllol {,
moved north, while the FOuTlh ca - -,
men on the point advanced LoWdIu m
citv. mourning volleys upon the tfenches
simultaneously the gunboats hONel Gu
along the shore, Smelling the "ooHe
ahead of the troops and driving tns
Filipinos inland. The Cuttings cleareu
several trenches The whole brlsau55
was divided into squads of tWelye' anu
fighting was carried on in the Ola IlIile
frontier fashion, from behind re-,
crawling through bushes or iusIl"e
across the open
The trenches not cleared by the gun
boats gave considerable resistance
when the line was nearing the CITY, anu
the Laguna de Bay and Oesto pom
barded for an hour in the hope OF max
ing them too warm for occupancy, ou'
did not succeed in clearing them entire
~.
Gen. Lawton, with the Fourteenth
infantry battalions, approached a mar
row iron bridge across q creek on the
south border of the town. Here com
pany of FilipinoS was intrenched across
the stream and behind a stone barIl'
cade at the entrance to the bridge. L ne
Americans rushed forward in singl'
file, in the face of a CALLING fire, 1e
molishing the barricade with theA
hands and drove the enemy from III
trenches, killing a dozen.
The Filipino soldiers in the town, Sc
GREETED in various buildings and hlln5
from the windows. gave the invaders
an interesting hour. There was "a res
ular nest of them in the stone 1ail
which is wedged in by a wall. This Wa'
Veritable pepper-pot. the American
singly and in pairs entered the houses
ana many warriors were taken prison
ers. considerable body Of Fiipinc'
fled northwaTd, crossing the opeI
marshes. but the Gatliugs poured upOl