The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-17
Filipino General Had Gathered
a Great Army.
EXPECTED TO ROUT AMERICANS
They Took to the Jungle After the First
Volley, Which Went Square Into
Their Ranks-Story of
Luna's Assassination

Manila, June 16.-After cutting the rail-
road and telegraph at Apalat, seven miles
south, for the purpose of severing connec-
tion, the rebels attacked General Mac
Arthur's lines at San Fernando at 4:3O this
morning They met with an unexpectedly
warm reception and were repulsed with
loss of seventy-flve killed. thirty prisoners
and many wounded.
The rebel force, estimated to have num-
bered 5000 men, advanced stealthily from
the Jungle north of the city and then di-
vided with the evident purpose of sur
rounding the Americans. The outposts of
the Iowa regiment discovered the enemy
and retired to their lines where the entire
division awaited in an entrenched posi-
ton.
FIRST yolley Hit Squarely
The Iowa regiment and the Kansas regi-
ment received the first shock Of the at
tack Reserving their fire until the enemy
was within 600 yards the first volley of the
Americans hit the rebels squarely who re-
turned the fire wildly, the rest of their
lin efailing to advance. The Rmericans,
who thoroughly enjoyed the novelty of the
situation, awaiting attack. sailed forth
and the insurgents thereupon turned and
fed into the jungle.
Our loss was fourteen men wounded and
the majority of them were only slightly
hurt General Funstons brigade, of Kan
IJa1a hrfU
the Seventeenth regiment, and the Iowa
regiment, constituted the force engaged.
Aguinaldo is reported to have personally
conducted the attack and preparations
were made for several days to bring for
ward troops from Candaba and others
from Dagupan were transported by rail.
Along the front of the Kansas regiment
thirty-nine rebel dead were counted. The
first news of the Filipino advance was re-
ported by O telegraph operator who was
sent to the bridge at Apalit to ascertain
the cause of the break in a wire. He was
compelled to beat hasty retreat under
fire.
Witnessed Luna's Assassination
A Spanish officer who has been a pris
oner in the hands of the rebels and who was
released by Agunaldo has come through
our lines to Manila. He claims to have
been witness of the assassination of Cen
eral Luna According to his story, the re-
lations between the two Filipino leaders
had been strained because of Luna's at
tempts to assume complete control of af-
fairs and the initial rupture was forced by
Aguinaldo issuing secret orders to the pro-
vincial governments. Luna thereupon no.
Of a
documents, and Aguanildo replied that
Luna was general of the army and the
civil government did not concern him.
Luna, upon opening the reply at his head
quarters, in the presence of his officers
exclaimed hotly:
'He will be dead tomorrow"
One officer, who was friendly to Aguin-
aldo, hastened to warn him, and Agunaldo
called together twenty trusted soldiers fell
low townsmen of his, and stationed them
around his house with instructions to kill
anyone attempting to enter, regardless of
rank. Luna appeared the next day and saw
Aguinaldo at his window. member of the
guard said, "Aguinaldo has gone to inspect
the troops"
Tried to Run the Guard
Luna then exclaimed, "You are liar!
Luna drew his revolver, struck the guard
and tried to force entrance into the
house. Before he could use his revolver
one of the guards bayonetted him, another
shot him in the back and others stabbed
him. In all he had twenty wounds. Luna's
aide-de-camp was killed in the same way.
The Spaniards story has not entirely dis
PEELED the doubts of Luna's death and bets
that he is alive are freely made Some peo-
pie think Aguinaldo has taken pains to
send the Spaniard here with this story in
furtherance of some diplomatic scheme,
while others suspect Aguinaldo has been
assassinated by Lunas men, Since the
Americans withdrew from Candaba recent
ly the rebels have returned and have wreak-
ed vengeance upon those who befriended
the Americans. They slaughtered the ma
tives who surrendered the town and dis
played their heads on polls in the public
square The hostile natives of Cebu are
more menacing.
Mail advices say hostilities against the
Americans have begun there. Colonel
Hamer, the American commander, has ask
ed for reinforcements and for companies of
S.gulars to be sent to him from Iloilo. The
Nebraska regiment has been ordered 10 sail
for home early next week.