The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-19

Washington, May 17-The following
~.iispatch has been received at the war
. department:
Manila, May II.
"Adjutant General, Washington:
Situation as follows: Lawton, with
tact and ability, has covered Bulacan
province with his column and driven
insurgents northward into San Isidro,
the second insurgent capital, which he
captured this morning; is now driving
enemy northward into mountains. He
has constant fighting, inflicting heavy
losses and suffering; few casualties;
appearance of his troops on fanks of
enemy behind entertainments thrown
up at every strategic point and town
very demoralizing to insurgents, and
has given them no opportunity to re-
concentrate scattered troops. Kobb 6
column with gunboats proceeding up
Rio Grande OTIS"
Portions Of the dispatch which have
not been made public relate to future
movements of the troops.
LAWTON CAPTURES SAN ISIDRO
Manila, May I-General Lawton S
advance guard under Colonel Summers,
of the Oregon troops, took San Isidro,
the insurgent capital, at $3.50 O'Clock
this morning. The expedition under Ma
jor Kobb, of the Third artillery, con-
Sisting of the Seventeenth infantry, a
battalion Of the Ninth and one battery
of the First artillery, left Calumpit at
daybreak today, marching up the Rio
Grande to join General LaWtons divi-
sion at Arayat. A fiotilla of cascOes
loaded with supplies also proceeded uI
the river Both forces were conveyed
by the gunbOats under Captain Grant
Colonel Summers command consist
ing of the Twenty infantry or
the left, the Minnesota regiment in
the centre and the Oregon and North
Dakota regiments on the right, pre-
ceded by scouts and accompanied by
Scott's battery of artillery, advanced
from Baluarte at daylight. The troops
first encountered the enemy two miles
from San Isidro, the rebels retiring
when our artillery opend fire. Just out
side the town a rebel force, estimated
TO number 1000 men, was entrenched
1t made a slight resistance, but evacu-
ated it's position when our troops turn
ed it's right flank.
The enemy's loss was fifteen mer
killed and twenty wounded. Our troops
also captured three prisoners and many
rifles. On the American side, one SOL
dier of the Oregon regiment and one
of the Minnesota regiment were slight
ly wounded.
After capturing the town, Captain
Summers troops continued their ad-
vance, pursuing the retreating rebels
for several miles.
Aguinaldo's ex-secretary, Escamilo
who was arrested here on February
23rd, is now employed as official inter.
prefer by the authorities.
PHILIPPINES RESUMING DOMES
TIC PURSUITS.
Although the rebels still threateI
San Fernando. in considerable force
large numbers Of natives, a majority
of them being families with theil
household goods, are returning daily
ITO the towns inside the American lines
at Apalite especially.
Many of the richer Philippines are
coming to Manila and farmers are re-
suming work in the rice fields. The lat
ter show their respect for American
sovereignty by removing their hats tt
the passing trains.
Owing to the bad condition of the
wagon roads, the work Of repairing the
railroad is being actively pushed. AL
the broken bridges have been trestlet
and only a few excavations remain tt
be filled up. Trains will undoubtedly
in a few days.
OUR TRENCHES AT PASIG AT
Tackled.
At daylight today Lieutenant Hill
who, with twenty-five men of the
Fourth infantry, was concealed in thu
trenches near Pasig, was attacked by
a force of rebels, who evidently imag
ined they could capture one of our out
posts, as only a few shots had beer
fired by the American force. A few
volleys put the enemy to flight, the reb
els losing five men killed and a numbe
of wounded.
The army gunboat Eapingdan ha:
returned here from the lake, having
been disabled by a cannon shot from
q rebel position, near Santa Cruz
which broke her rudder post.
INSURGENTS DEMORALIZED.
Washington, May T7.-That the in
surgents are disintegrated and de
moralized is perfectly manifest from
the press dispatches and the cable re
ceived from General Otis today.
General Lawton, who was puSh1n,
the line of the rebel retreat along tn
Rio Grande, has flung his advanc
which, at last advices, was resting a
San Miguel, northward about twelv
miles, has taken San 1sidro. the sec
-ond insurgent capital, and when Otis
-dtspatch was sent was still pressing tn
enemy northward. The fact that he /
sustaining few losses in his FORWARD
movement, although in almost contin
ual contact with the enemy, Is anOth
er proof Of their utter decentralization
According to General Otis cable the.
still continue to throw up intrench
ments, but General Lawton's strateg,
outfanks each position in turn, keep