Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-06-05
AMERICAN VAL0R TRIUMPHS
TROOPS CHEERED AS THEY FIRED
DEADLY vOLLEYs.
Enemy Dispersed in Every Engage
ment With Heavy Loss-Penin-
suIa VIII BE Swept To-day
Plan TO Hem i'm Gen.
Pillar Failed.

insula of Morong the land projecting to
the south into Laguana de Bay, where the
insurgents are supposed TO have large
force, near the town of Morong as we'll.
as the battery on the western shore of the
peninsula, which recently smashed the pro-
peller of the gunboat Napidan.
General Hall is marching from Antipolo,
about six and half miles northeast of
Morong, toward the peninsula, with his
forces spread out TO cover large section
Colonel Truman, with the First North
Dakota regiment, and the Twelfth infantry
is advancing along the coast of the lake
from Taytay, incidentally clearing several
small towns. Colonel Wholley, with the
First Washington regiment, has landed on
the peninsula above the town of Morong
The army gunboats Napidan, Covadonga
and CeSte are in a position to co-oDerate
The original plan was to surround the
forces of General Pho del Pillar so that he
must retreat to the Morong peninsula.
where capture would have been inevitable
This was not complete success because
General Halls column found the country
full of handicaps to marching. There were
several streams to be bridged or forded.
and the troops frequently foundered
through morasses, waist deep in mud, an
experience, which, under the terrific sun
exhausted the Americans quite beyond en-
durance. Most of General Pho del Pilar's
followers are supposed to have escaped
northward, probably reaching Bosonloso, a
stronghold in the mountains.
colenl Wholley, having successfully COM
pleted his share of the movement, brought
the Washington regiment TO the river
Pasig, where last night about midnight the
. men embarked upon cascoes and started
Tor their destination under the convoy of
the gunboatS.
hoy arnd 80
perience undergone by almost every eXpe-
diuon on attempting to enter Laguna de
Bay. as the boats were aground in the
shadows at the mouth of the river and
were detained there several hours.
General Lawton's Good Work.
Major General Lawton, in the meantime,
was indefatigable. riding from one force to
the other and supervising the loading of
the cascoes. without sleep for two nights
General Halls column, which assembled
at the water works, pumping station,
late Friday night. under cover of the a
moonless sky, consists of the Second Ore
gon volunteers, who marched to the point
of rendezvous from the city barracks, 4
battalion of the Second Wyoming regiment,
four troops of the Fourth cayalry-pne
mounted on the big American horses which
so impressed the natives, the others un-
mounted-two battalions of the Fourth in
fantry, one battalion of the Ninth infantry,
the first six companies of the First Colo
RADIO regiment and two mountain guns
The men rolled themselves in their Dlan-
kets and lay upon the wet grass for a few
hours under a drizzling rain.
At o'clock yesterday morning (Satur-
dayl they began TO cross the San Mateo
river. and about noon easily repulsed a
large band of FilipinOs. about twelve miles
east of Manila, between Mariquina and
Antipoo
The Oregon regiment. the cavalry. the
artillery and the Fourth infantry accom-
plished this task, driving the insurgents
from the hills. the other troops being held
in reserve, but afterward joining the main
column in the pursuit toward the sea.
A running fight was in progress all the
afternoon. A Filipino outpost first at
tackled few American scouts, whereupon
the Fourth cavalry formed a long skirmish
the hills, Then the Oregon regiment
moved across a wet. soggy rice field in
extended order, toward the hills. where it
was believed a large force of the enemy
had concentrated. When the Oregonians
were within about a mile of the position
the Filipinos opened a heavy fire, the
more rapidly. 49,.
Insurgents Were Scattered.
After few volleys the Insurgents were
seen scattering over the crest of the hills
in every direction and their panic was in
creased when the artillery opened upon
them and the shells began to explode all
around them. undoubtedly causing great
loss Of life The bombardment by the bat
teries and the musketry was maintained
for nearly half an hour, after which not
a Filipino could be seen on the hills and
not a shot came from the position.
The heat was intense and the troops suf-
fered greatly, but they continued on the
trail taken by the fleeing enemy in the
hope of driving them toward the lake.
Colonel Wholley, with two battalions of
the First Washington regiment, battalion
OF the Twelfth infantry, two guns of Scotts
battery and party of scouts under Major
Jeisenberger, left San Pedro Macati yester-
day morning, and, after fording the river
Pasig advanced northeast upon Cainta
while General Hall approached the town
from the opposite direction, the gunboats
Napidan, Covadonga and Ceste co-operat-
This important movement was kept SO
secret that the public thought the plan was
TO send General Ovenshine's lines forward
against the insurgents who are intrenched
south of the city.
The signal corps displayed admirable en-
terprise in laying wires with the troops
but the native sympathizers cut them be-
hind the army, even within the American
lines.
Filipinos Were Scattered.
General Halls column, in the movement
upon the Morong peninsula, completed a
circuit of twenty miles over rough and
mountainous country, having two engage
ments with the insurgents, one of them
fire against scattered bands of rebels for
nearly twenty-four hours, from 4 o'clock
Saturday morning. when the column left
the pumping station.
The Filipinos were driven in every direc-
tion and the country through which Cen
cleared. At 10 o'clock this morning s7tiis the
column reached point few miles from
Taytay. where. General Hall was met by
General Lawton, who had already entered
the town and found it deserted
General Halls objective point was Anti
polo, ten miles off, and there was desul-
tory firing all along the line of march
The gunboats could he heard shelling the
hills In advance of the column
The column, after driving the rebels from
the foothills near Maria Chino about noon
yesterday. with a loss of but two or three
slightly wounded, proceeded with all pos
sible haste toward Laguua de Bay the
Fourth cavalry in the lead the Oregon
regiment next and the Fourth infantry
last. At : o'clock those three regiments
fought their second battle of the day and
It resulted. like the first, I'm the complete
rout of q large Filipino force located in
the mountains and having every advantage
of position. In this fight the American
loss was four killed. three of the Fourth
cavalry and one Oregonian, and about fif-
teen wounded. The Filipino loss could not
be ascertained, but the terrific fire which
the Americans poured into them for half
an hour must have inflicted severe punish
ment. In this engagement our troops made
one Of the most gallant charges OF the
war, and the enemy was forced to flee In
the greatest disorder.
II was the intention to press on to An
tpolo last night. but this was found i'm
possible. owing TO the two fights and the
constant marching for more than twelve
hours. with nothing TO eat since morning
and no supply train I'm sight. The troops,
moreover, suffered from the intense heat,
many being Frustrated and all greatly eX-
.hausted. Consequently they hivouacked for
the night on the second battlefield
Americans Make Gallant Charge.
The cavalry. the Orgonians and two COM
paaies OF the Fourth infantry had Just