The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-15
DESPERATE fighting
With Insurgents About
San Fei nandO.
INTER-lSLAND TRAFFIC

fppinos Had Only by Running the
Fernando lombard.
ed-Rushing Army supplies TO Ma.
uiia-A SOLDIER. Description OF the
Recent Battle.
Manila. August 10.-Oficial reports
received here from the scene of the re-
cent Gghting with the Philippines say
the day was spent in reconnaissances,
during which the American troops found
a few of the enemy; but there were no
engagements of Importance. A battal-
ion Of the Seventeenth infantry, under
Major O'Brien, advanced very close to
Angeles. The major reports there are
about $50 insurgents there. A battalion
of the Twelfth infantry made a recon-
Nuisance in the direction Of Porac, but
the enemy there scattered. The main
body of the Americans is at Calulum.
The line has been immaterially changed
since the advance was stopped yester-
day and now Includes the towns OF
Guagua and amt Arita.
Major General Otis today issued an
order closing the ports III the hands OF
the insurgents to inter-island traffic.
Aguinaldo issued a decree July 9th dat
ed from Tarlac, closing the insurgent
ports to vessels flying the American
flag and inviting vessels nde other
flags to visit them. Vessels under for
eign flags cannot traffic with these
ports without running the blockade.
The gunboats Concord, Yorktown,
Callao and Pampanga bombarded San
Fernando Tuesday. The Philippines re-
piled width cannon and musketry for an
hour, then fled to the hills, the gunboats
firing on them with their machine guns
until the rebels disappeared. The bOm-
bardment was continued for some time
afterwards and many houses were rid
died and destroyed, but the town was
not set on fire. The gunboats did not
land men. The rebel losses are not
known.
The United States transport Sheridan
sailed for home today with 667 men of
the South Dakota regiment, 1896 of the
Minnesota and 207 men discharged from
various organizations.
CABLEGRAM FROM OTIS.
Washington, August 1O.-General Otis
today cabled the war department the
following report Of yesterdays engage
ment:
Manila, August 10.
"Adjutant General, Washington:
"MacArthur's movements yesterday
very successful, serves ITO clear the
country rear and left and right of in
~surgents; has north to Calu-
let, six miles from San Fernando, whence
he is now accommodating; his casualties
are five killed, Twenty-Five
Officers wounded: Major Braden, Cap
tain Abernethy, Thirty-siXth volun-
teers, leg and arm, moderate; Lieuten-
ant Williams, Fifty-first Iowa, thigh,
moderate.
These troops operated to the left and
rear toward Santarita. MacArthur's
advance under Wheaton and Lisomb,
consists of Ninth, Twelfth, Seventeenth
and part of Twenty-second regiments
and portion of Fifty-first Iowa. Move
ment very difficult on account of mud
and surface water. Macarthur reports
in%surgent loss 100 killed. some SEQ
wounded; they were rapidly driven
northWard and last evening apparently
abandoned Porac line where they blew
up powder works. OTIS
TO DESTROY INTER-ISLAND
TRAFFIC.
Mail reports received at the navy de-
partment show that Admiral Watson is
using every means to break up the in
surgent traffic between the stands of
the Philippine group. Commander
Sperry, of the Yorktown, at Iloilo, re-
ported to Admiral Watson early in
June that, in his opinion, the insur-
gents were throwing troops into Ne
gros and Leyte from Luzon and the is
land of Panay. Commander Sperry
sent the %gunboat Samar, under COM
mand Of Ensign H. C. Mcfarland to
break up this traffic. In four days he
destroyed thirteen schooners along the
a of Panay, each one of these YES
sells having a full cargo. In each case
tho natives Uara Spt ashore with their
personal effects.
A cable dispatch has been received
from General Otis saying that the losses
of General Macarthur in the recent
battle were five killed n twenty-five
wounded.
The new volunteer regiment under
Colonel Bell participated in the fight
and had three officers wounded.
DESPERATE RESOURCE OF INSUR-
GENTS.
The following cable has been receiv-
ed from General Otis:
Manila, August 10.
''Adjutant General, Washington:
Captured letters, high insurgent au-
thority, eXhorting inhabitants to hold
out a little longer; that European rec
Ognition will be granted by August 31St
and hat the present United States ad-
ministration will be overthrown.
OTIS
RUSHING SPPLIES TO MANILA.
: Chattanooga. Tenn, August 10.-Cap-
a j Mccarthy, QuartermaSter at Chick
amauga park, received orders today to
rush ten car loads of government sup
plies to Manila Harness, tools and
tentage will be sent. They will go in a
special train.
HARD FIGHTING.
Des Moines, Iowa, August 1O.-The
Des Moines News has received the fol-
lowing cablegram from Colonel j. c..
Lopez, commanding the ~Fifty-first Iowa
regiment, in reference to Wednesdays
battle:
Manila, August 10.
THE Fifty-first Iowa same some Of
the hardest fighting it has encountered
during the present campaign. Our
forces advanced several miles from San
Fernando, wading through deep mud
and fighting almost constantly, the
philippines retiring in considerable con-
fusion, but maintaining a steady fire.
Inc engagement was general, 5000 OF
me 4nPmV hnirr urhj1n nn-