Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-20
SHELL THE TRENCHES
Active Rebels at Manila Driven Further
Inland by Bufalo's Fire,
GENERAL oVENSHlNE'S LINE REINFORCED
Enemy Concentrates Saturday Night and
Attack is Anticipated,
FEW INTELLECTUAL V0LLEYS RETURNED
No Further Demonstration and All is Quiet
Along the Line,
" INTELLECTUAL VoLLEYS RETURNED
INTENSE HEAT Wits THE AMERICANS
InsurEcnt Commander Directs His
Men with His Arm In siing--Gen-
crni MontcncSro's Movements in
Front of Kings brigade.

MANILA Feb. 19.--The California volun-
teers abandoned Guadalupe church at
o'clock this morning, which has since been
set on fire, and retired to San Pedro Macati.
The rebels still hold the country in the vi
cinity of Guadalupe, Pasig and Patero de-
spite the efforts OF the gunboats to dslodge
them from the jungle on both sides of the
river.
The heat is intense and is increasing per-
ceptibly daily. Under present conditions
it is impossible to provide shade for the
troops in certain parts of the line partic-
ularly MacArthur's division. Kings brig
ade is also exposed from San Pedro Macati
to Culiculi, where it joins Ovenshnes brig
ade.
Mr.. Higgins, the manager OF the Manila
Daguapan railroad is believed to be safe
at Bayambang, although no communication
has been received from him since Febru-
ary .. He was then housed at Mr., Clark's
place with his wife and family and about
six other Englshmen, some of whom are
| accompanied by their wives.
Prepare Tor Attack.
While it is unlikely that the natives of tho
locality will harm them 1t is feared that
others from distant provinces might wreak
vengeance at their expense. In view of the
fact that the enemy were concentrating on
| the American right flank, preparations were
made last night to give them a warm recep-
tion in the event of an attack. General
| Ovenshnes line, consisting originally OF
the North Dakota volunteers, Fourteenth
infantry and two troops of the Fourth cav
airy, stretching from the beach to Camp
Dewey to General Kings right, was rein
| forced by two battalions of Oregon volun-
! teers and three troops of the Fourth cavalry
as infantry
The Bufalo's searchlieht discovering the
rebels unusually active about 10 o'clock in
the evening, sgnalled the flagship for per-
mission to fire upon them, and this being
granted, bombarded sthe enemy's trenches
tza.R ~ xtsss s1ntse suEis
| fire was apparently to drive the rebels fur
| ther inland.
| Beyond n few Intellectual voleys from the
| trenches, which were returned with interest,
the enemy made demonstration and all
| is quiet along the rest of the line
Scouts claim to have seen General Pho
del Pillar, who commanded the rebels at
| Paco, with his arm in a sling directing the
| troops.
General Montenegro, the insurgent COM
| manderin- chief, is reported to be person.
ally conducting the movements in front of
General Kings line at San Pedro Macati.
| The signal corps is arranging signals
| Nllu IHe navy LOT luluTe operations on the
! left. With the exception of the port of
Iloilo, trade with Philippine ports is still
! bockaded.
Rebels HnrassinE the Town.
MANILA, Feb. 2O.-1O1O a. m-The en-
emy have apparently realized the hopeless
ness of attacking the American position and
are occupied chiefly by occasional sharp
shooting from the jungle whenever feasi-
| BILE Fortunately their ignorance of the
use of sights minimzes the results.
The night attack of General Kings forces
on San Pedro Maoati has evidently been
| construed by the rebels as a sign of weak
ness, as they pressed forward on both sides
cf the river persistently harassing the
occupants of the town.
Last night the rebels poured volley after
| voley into San Pedro Macat from the
! brush on the adjacent ridges, but without
| effect.
General Kings headquarters in the CEN
! ter of the town was the target for scores
of Remington and Mauser bullets. The
! rebels are using smokeless powder and it Is
/ extremely difficult to locate individual
! marksmen.