The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-06-05
OUR TROOPS ADVANCING
The Effort to Hem in the Forces Of
General Pic del Pillar. ,....
HARDsHIPs OF ONWARD MARCH.

Manila, June 5.-The position Of the
American troops indicates that they
Will today sweep the peninsula of
Morons, the land projecting to the
south into Laguna de Bay, where the
insurgents are supposed to have a
large force. near the town of Morong,
as well as the battery on the western
shore Of the peninsula, which recently
smashed the propeller of the gunhoat
Napidan.
General Hall marched yesterday
from AnNp0lO. about six miles and q
half northwest of Morong, toward the
peninsula, with his forces spread out
to cover large section. Colonel Tru-
man, with the First North Dakota
regiment and the Twelfth infantry
advanced along the coast Of the lake
from Taytay, incidentally clearing sew
eral small towns. Colonel Wholley
with the First Washington regiment,
landed on the peninsula above the
town of Morong. The army gunboats
Napidan, Covadonga and Ceste are in
position to cooperate.
The original plan was to surround
the forces Of General Pho del Pillar,
so that he must retreat to the Morong
peninsula, where capture would have
been inevitable. This was not COM
plete success, because General Halls
column found the country full of
handicaps to marching. There were
several streams to be bridged or ford
ed, and the troops frequently founder
ed through morasses waist deep in
mud, an experience which, under the
terrific sun, exhausted the Americans
quite beyond endurance. Most of GEN
eral Pho del Pillars followers are sup
posed to have escaped northward,
probably reaching Bosoboso, a streng-
hold in-the mountains.
Colonel Wholley. having success
fully completed his share of the move-
ment, brought the Washington regi-
ment to the River Pasig, where about
Saturday midnight the men embarked
upon cascoes and started for their des.
tination under the convoy of the gun
boats.
They encountered repetition of the
experience undergone by almost every
expedition on attempting to enter La
guna de Bay, as heboats went aground
In the shadows at the mouth of the
river and were detained there several
hours.
Major General Lawton in the mean
time was interchangeable, riding from
one force to another and supervising
the loading Of the cascoes, without
sleep for two nights.
General Halls column, which as.
sembled at the water works, or pump
Ing station, late Friday night, consists
OF the Second Oregon volunteers, a bat
TALON of the Second Wyoming regi-
ment, four troops of the Fourth in
fantry, one battalion of the Ninth in.
fantry, the first six companies of the
First Colorado regiment and two
mountain guns.
The men rolled themselves in their
blankets and lay upon the wet grass
for few hours under drizzling rain,
AT 4 O'Clock Saturday morning they
began to cross the San Mateo river,
and about noon easily repused large
band of Filipinos, about u miles east
of Manila, between Mariquina and
Antipolo.. The Oregon regiment, the
cavalry, the artillery and the Fourth
Infantry accomplished this task,
running fight was in progress all
the afternoon. A Filipino OUTPOST
hrst attaked a few American scouts.
whereupoh the Fourth cavalry formed
a skirmish line ana easily drove the
insurgents into the hills. Then the
oregon regiment moved across a wet,
ssoggy rice field, in extepded order, to-
ward the hills, where 1t was believed
large force Of the enefity had concen.
trated. When the oregopians were
Nithip about mile of the position the
Filipinos opened a heavy fire, the
Americans replying and pressing for
ward more rapidly.
After a few volleys the insurgents
were seen scattering over the crest of
the hills in every direction, and their
panic was increased when the artillery
opened upon them and shells began to
explode all aroiind THEM, Undoubtedly
causing great loss Of life. The BON
bardment by the batteries and the
musketfy was Paintaiped for nearly
half an hour, after which not a Fill
pino could be seen In the hills, and not
a SHOT came from the position.
The heat was intense, and the troops
suffered greatly, but they continued on
the trail taken by the fleeing enemy in
the hope of driving them toward the
lake.
General Halls column, in the move
ment upon the Morong peninsula, COM
pleted circuit of 20 miles, over rough
and mountainous country, having two
engagements with the insurgents one
Of them severe, keeping up an almost
constant fire against scattered bands
Of rebels for nearly "a hours from 4
o'clock Saturday morning, when the
column left the pumping station.
The FilipiRos were driven in every
direction and the country through
which General Hall passed was pretty
thoroughly cleared At 10 o'clock
yesterday morning the column reached
a point few miles from Taytay,
where General Hall was met by Gen.
eral Lawton, who had already entered
the town and found IL deserted.
General Halls objective point was
Antlpolo, ten miles off, and there was
desultory firing all along the line of
march The gunboats could be heard
Smelling the bills in advance Of the
column.
The column, after driving the rebels
from the foothills near Mariachino,
about noon yesterday, with loss of
but two or three, slightly wounded
with all possible haste to-
ward Laguna do Bay the Fourth cav
airy In the lead. the Oregon regiment
neXt and the Fourth Infantry last. At
) O'Clock these three regiments fought
their second battle of the day, and 1t
like the first, in the complete
rout Of large Filipino force. In this
fight the American loss was four killed
and fifteen wounded.
Superior Court.
Superior Court this morning heard
lrgument on demurrer in thu case of