New-York tribune., 1899-06-14

col, fats noured steady volleys Of musketry at
the rebels and drove their opponents beyond
the river Then the two armies lay facing each
other across the deep stream, the enemy prac-
tically out Of sight while the men in blue and
khaki lay in the mud and bushes many Of them
without any shelter. for three hours, without a
moments cessation in the firing pouring bull
let's at the enemy fast they could load.
The thousand rifles blended into a continuous
roar which was vastly different from the inter-
mlttent skirmishke rattle Of most OF the en-
gagements.
ATTACK ON REAR FEARED.
One battalion after another General Lawton
summoned the reserves from Las Pinas until
only enough troops were left in the town 10 pre-
vent the FiIipinos from attacking the Americans
In the rear This was feared, the insurgents
we're creeping around the American left through
the woods delivering a fanking fire which put
q great strain upon the endurance Of the troops
who were foundering In the mud across the
river while on the right the Filipino sharp
shooters. hidden in the trees were peppering the
men Thanks TO the poor craftsmanship OF the
rebels the loss not as great as II would
have been II the Filipinos had shot straight.
An army however has seldom fought under
greater handicap or more courageousy than
did our Regulars, a majority Of whom were.
comparatively speaking recruits who could
have been pardoned for retiring In the face OF
such a fierce fire from their exposed positions.
The l4th Regiment lay TO the right Of the
bridge and in front of them was the 18th, with
the 9th on the right and the 21st up the road
facing the bridge. which was the key to the
situation. On the bridge lay the bodies Of two
Americans who had attempted 10 rush across.
ord many wounded men carried from the
omen ground before the crossing
Actor firing In volleys for a short time, the
| Americans were ordered TO fire when and where
| they could see the enemy. 1t was every man Tor
| himself and the best the men could do was TO
| aim at the faint mists rising from the rebels
smokeess powder
| General Iawton. though exhausted by the
mornings fight. rallied by sheer will power and
was the commanding figure in the battle He
went along the lines directing and encouraging
the troops.
BRAVERY OF THE GENERALS.
| c.onsral Wheaton and General Ovenshine were
| ec,,oI,, ooure aeous In fact the generals were
among the few men on the battlefield who re-
| fused 10 take shelter under hottest fire
| The only approach 10 the fighting ground was
| nv a narrow winding road where the rebel bull
lets dropped thickly. woundng several OF the
men
AT o'clock there an hours lull In the
| lighting and an artillery sergeant galloped back
10 where two guns Of the mountain battery were
| waiting in reserve and shouted; Bring up
| those guns The sergeant then tumbled ex-
! hausted from his horse.
| twenty wounded men were carried 10 casooe
waiting on the beach which was roWed 10
| Peranaque. .,. 49,
| II Is impossible at present 10 estimate the
| number of Filipino dead. There are many dead
| bodies in the field the Americans traVersed
SCENE OF FORMER BATTLES.
This battlefield. incidentally. was formerly the
| scene OF several OF the greatest struggles be-
tween the Spaniards ana the Filipinos. The
Zapote was considered impregnable, and hun
dreds OF spaniards and Fflipinos have been
kiIled while hghting over the same bridge In for
| mer contests for It's possession. In June. 1897,
| Generals Pho del Pillar and Trias turned the
| scaIe OF war 10 the side OF the Filipinos by de-
! sertIng from the Spanish army there on the eve
| n. a decisive battle, carrying the native militia
! With them and thereby breaking the chain OF
! defence- around Manila
REPORTS FROM OTIS AND BARKER.
Washington. June l3-The following cable