The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-07

made Saturday, and every precautiOn
was taken to guard against the con-
tingency.
The plot of the natives was carried
out with secrecy, but Otis had enough
information of the plans to enable him
to block any move they might attempt
against our forces. 1t was not known
from what direction the blow would
be dealt, and consequently measures
were adopted to make secure each and
every part of the American lines. These
measures were carried out in such a
quiet and transformations manner that
Aguinaldo's spies, of whom he had
many within the American lines, were
completely deceived as TO the real
strength of the American positions, and
reports TO the chief led him to make
the most serious mistake of his life.
The enemy was totally unprepyed
for the vigorous punishment admins
tered to them. The moral effect of the
drubbing given to them will be great.
The Filipinos apparently thought they
could massacre the Americans in the
night attack as easily and frequently
as they did the Spanish troops sent
against them. The difference resulted
in thousands of them losing their lives
in hopeless cause.
Aguinaldo, so far as can be learned,
did not risk his precious skin with his
troops, and is still hale and willing to
make further trouble
The first reports of the fighting were
TO the effect that few of the Americans
had been killed, but when the official
report began to come in it was found
that over forty of our men had lost
their lives, while the wounded num-
bered $50. These reports are not yet
complete. 1t is known, however, that
the Fourteenth regular) Infantry, the
old command of Brigadier General j..
NJ. Anderson, from Vancouver Bar
racks, suffered the greatest losses. The
regiment was quartered at Malate, and
was under command of Major Robe.
1t was assigned the task of carrying
the rebel position south of that suburb,
and the fight was through a country
with dense underground that made
progress slow at first.
The natives took refuge in huts and
until they were dislodged and while
being driven back inflicted considera-
BILE damage on our men. The Four
teenth is armed with Krag- Jorgensen
rifles. and these weapons proved most
effective. For every life that gallant
old regiment gave up it took a score in
revenge.
The First Washington Volunteers
and Third Regular Artillery also saw
severe fighting and sustained material
losses.
The Utah Light Artillery, seasoned
by experience at Malate in August. and
the Sixth Regular Artillery did splen-
didly effective work, and the latter
probably saved the First California
Regiment and the First Colorado from
being badly cut up. The guns of the
Utah Battery were posted east of the
city, and during the early hours of
Sunday poured a deadly fire into the
insurgent trenches.
The First California Regiment was
attacked by the Filipinos, who were
concealed in hutS beside the road along
which the Americans were advancing.
To put an end to the danger from this
quarter Colonel Smith gave orders to
burn the village, which was soon done.
In the district between Tondo and
Malabon to the north of the city, great
slaughter was done by the gunboat
Callao, Lieutenant Benjamin Tappan
commanding, which Admiral Dewey
captured from the Spaniards. This lit
tie vessel is certainly a terror She
mounts more guns, proportionately,
than any other vessel in the American
| navy, being full of one, two and three
Founders and machine guns. She dup
Heated her performance of August 13,
when she covered General Merritt s
advance on Manila. Then she steamed
close to the breakers and moved along
| the shore as the troops advanced, pour
ing deadly fire into the Spaniards
Yesterday she again ran close to the
beach, and, getting the range of the en-
envy, began to spit fire from her bow
guns. Then, maneuvering, she brought
| her starboard battery to bear, and the
rattle and din were terrific. Soon she
came about and brought her port bat
terry into action, and these maneuvers
were repeated until she was ordered to
cease firing.
The Coneord's six-inch and the
Charleston's eight-inch guns did awful
execution Brigadier-General Otis bril-
| gade had driven a large body of the
enemy from their positions, and the
Filipinos ran at top speed for the
beach, disorganized and panic-strick-
en- mob. When they reached the shore
they were met by the devastating fire
| of the warships. and were moved down
score upon score, until the sands ap-