The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-11-16
The Philippine War.

SAoopc ehN ihO navy WCiO
The gunboats maintained terrific bonn
bardment for an hour while the troops
rushed waist deep through the snrf
under heavy but badly aimed rifle fire
from the insurgent trenches and charged
right and left, pouring volley after
volley at the fleeing rebels. Forty
Filipinos were captured, mostly non.
com missioned officers. Several insur
gent dead and five wounded were found
in building which had suffered con-
siderably from the bombardment. The
town was well fortified. The sand
dunes were reveted with bamboo 20 feet
thick, which afforded fine cover.
When the transports arrived in the
gulf they found the gunboats Princeton,
Bennington and others waiting. After
consultation with Gen. Wheaton, Com
mander Knox of the Princeton, and
Commander Bennington, anchored on
the shallow two miles off shore. The
gunboats formed line inside the
Helena, tallao and Manila close inshore.
With the first gun of the bombardment
the small boats were filled rapidly with
out confusion by Major Cronites batta-
lion of the 33rd Infantry, and Capt.
Bucks battalion of the 18th Infantry.
While lines of boats moved shoreward
the gunboats poured the full force of
their batteries into trenches, soon fore
ing the insurgents to flee through the
burrows dug back of the trenches.
About 200 men held their places until
the kees of the boat grated on shore
when their Mausers commenced to ring
overhead.
The battalions formed in good order.
Captain Buck with pieces and Patton's
companies pursuing the insurgents on
the left into the bamboo thckets. On
the right was a frail foot bridge across
the river to the town. Gen Wheaton
personally commanding, ordered a
charge across the bridge and Capt. How
land of his staff led Coleman's and
Elliott's companies of the 18th and
shields company of the 33rd, who be-
haved splendidly under their first fire,
into the town, which was found to be
nearly deserted, except by the aged, and
some Spaniards who had hidden IN the
buffalo wallow and who came shouting
delightedly towards the Americans.
Two companies of the 33rd had a
skirmise along the Dagupan road with
the retreating Filipinos. Major Shields
of the staff, with his command, captured
several insurgents.
The troops camped in the rain, during
the night, and, in the morning, Gen.
Wheaton established his headquarters
in a church, quartered his men in the
houses and sent the captured Filipinos
beyond the outposts with orders not to
return.
Wednesday was devoted to reconnois
sances. Major Logan went northward
to Santo Tomas and burned the Filipino
barracks. Capt. Bucks 18th went to
San Jacinto and disposed of small bands
Marsh's 33d went toward Magdalen on
the Dagupan road and had several sharp
fights with small parties. They killed
eight men, brought in 20 prisoners and
have five men wounded.
Major Bell has been engaged in an
other dangerous exploit. While out
scouting with five officers and two men
of the Both Infantry and Lieut. Hawkins
and 10 men of the 4th avalry, he crept
behind trench containing 100 Filipinos,
rode them down and killed and wounded
20 men and captured six. He also
brought back 80 MauseIs
Gen. Young with his cavalry took San
Jose, Wednesday. A small insurgent
force stationed there retreated. The
troops were ferred across the river to
vi a IdlI' DuliIS lHO pas
sage private of the 22d Regiment was
drowned.
Another attack has been made by the
insurgents on Bainag, the rebels firing
into the town for three hours but doing
no damage.
Col. Bells regiment and small
force of cavalry entered Tarlac, Sunday
night, without opposition. Where
Aeuinaldo with his army and the so.
called government have fed was
mystery.
Gen. Macarthur took Bamban, Sun
day. This is supposed to be the strong
est position held by the Filipinos ex-
cept Tarac The brief accounts of
the engagement received indicate that
the rebels fought according to their
recent tactics, retreatng after firing a
few volleys One officer of the Both
Regiment is the only American report.
ed killed.
Col. Hayes captured Aguinado's
secretary, and Major Coleman is in
Carranglan, with an escort of 175 bo-
lomen, on his way to the province of
Nuega Vizaya. The son of General
Llaneras and his family are prisoners.
The general barely escaped.
The correspondent of The Associated
Press with Gen. Yong telegraphs from
San Jose that Aguinaldo did not escape
to the northeast. He and his army,
the correspondent stated were sur
rounded. His last orders to the Flip
inc commander at San Jose were to
hold san Jose and Carrangian at all
costs.
The recent encounters were too one
sided to be called fights. The insnrg
ents are MORALLY afraid of the Amer-
cars, however strong their position.
They make but brief and feeble re-
sistance and run when the terrible
American yell reaches their ears,
whereupon the Americans pursue
them and sIay many. The moral effect
of the news that 10000 troops are on
their way here has been unquestionably
great.
The 23d Infantry in one of the sharp
est two hours engagement of the war,
with an equal force of insurgents, five
miles from San Fabian, saturday, lost
one officer and six men killed and had |
one officer and II men wounded. The
Americans captured 20 Filipinos and 100 |
rifles and found 81 insurgent dead lying |
in the trenches and rice fields Many |
more Filipinos doubtless were killed or
wounded.
Cable dispatches received at the War |
Department announces that Major John |
A. logan, Jr., 33d volunteer infantry, |
has been killed in fight at Luzon. He
was leading his battalion In action. He |
10 ha Of lofa A