New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1899-02-11
Serious Fighting Between Americans
and FilipinOs.

Manila, Feb. 5.-Defeated in
desperate effort to break through
the American lines and enter tn,
city of Manila, the insurgent force.
after fourteen hours of continuous
fighting, have been driven from
the villages of Santa Anna, Poco
and Santa Mesa.
They have been compelled to re
treat to position quite a distance
further out in the suburbs than the
one they held before attacking the
city.
Although it has been impossible
thus far to accurately estimate the
number of Americans who fell, il
is believed that few of our men were
killed and upward of fifty have been
wounded.
The losses of the insurgents are
heavy, the American troops having
gone into the engagement with
great enthusiasm and determine
ton.
They made the streets of the city
ring with cheers when they were
notified Of the attack last night and
were ordered to advance.
Several Of the vessels in Admiral
Dewey's squadron participated in
the fight, firing on the natives in
Malate and Coloacan, and succeed
ed in driving them inland from
both those places.
This engagement was brought
about by three native scouts, who,
advancing close to the American
lines near Santa Mesa, made a feint
to go through. They retreated up
on being challenged, but returned
again in a short time. Once again
they retreated.
When they returned third time
and attempted to make their way
past the Outposts of the Nebraska
troops corporal challenged them
and fred. One Of the natives was
killed and another wounded.
This affair was followed at 9
o'clock by general attack on the
American outposts. The insur-
gents advanced all along the lines
from Coloacan to Santa Mesa.
Our troops lost no time in re-
plying to the attack.
Members of the North Dakota,
and Montana regiments
returned the insurgent fire with
great vigor and succeeded in hold
ing the natives in check until the
main body of the Americn troops
arrived on the scene.
There was lull in the fighting
after the first reply of our troops,
put the firing continued for five
hours with much regularity.
During the early hours of the
morning the firing became more
'risk, and at daylight the Ameri-
'an troops made firm advance.
In the daylight it was found that
he insurgents had massed them
elves about Santa Mesa and Col
'acan, and that they had consider
bile force about Gagalingin.
Our troops directed their move
nents primarily against the natives
'etween the first-named places and
Ultimately drove them out Of the
wo villages. Il
Telling work was being done at
he same time against the insur-
'ents about Gagalingin, and when
he fighting ceased our troops were
n possession of Santa Anna, in
which village the natives have rem
ezvoused for weeks prior to the
ght.
While the American troops were
Ding such effective work in re-
elling the attack, news of the
ght was received on board the
essels Of the American squadron,
nd the monitor Monadnock, which
'as lying off Malate, Joined, with I
ne gunboat Concord and the crui-
er Charleston, lying off Maabon,
4 firing on the insurgents.
The American losses were about !
0 killed 25O wound. The Filipino q
,ss is said to be 1000 killed, $500 q
ounded and 5000 taken prisoners.
Even the Americans are astonish- ?
at the terrific losses inflicted on q
le rebels. So thick were the dead q
! the rice field that it looked like s
sleeping camp at daybreak. One 4
nndred and sixty were buried in a .
ngle field on Monday ,and nearly a
in another field between
ace aud Santa Ana. The closeI