The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-04-11
CAPTURE OF SANTA CRUZ.
Fall of the Stronghold of the
Filipinos.
So REBELS LEFT ON THE FIELD.

Large Nnmber of the Enamy Wounded
and Still More Are Captured-American
Casualties Are Six .Wounded-Tactics
Used In Fighting Indians Adopted-sol-
diers In Squads of Twelve,
MANILA. April 11.-General Lawton
has captured Santa Cruz, at the ex-
treme end of the lake. He drove the
rebels, who were commanded by a
Chinaman named Pao Wah, into the
mountains. The Americans had six
men wounded. The rebels lost 6s
killed and 40 wounded.
Santa Cruz was the Filipino strong
hold on Lake Laguna de Bay, and it
fell into the hands of General Lawton's 9
expedition after some sharp, quick fight
ing. forming one of the most interest
ing and important battles Of the war.
Plans of the American commanders
worked perfectly with the exception
that the progress of the expedition was
delayed by the difficult navigation of
the river. About 1.50O picked men
composed the expedition, which was
under the personal command of Gen.
eral Lawton, on account of the illness
OF General King. These troops partly
surrounded the city while the gun
boats Laguna de Bay. Rapidan, and
Oeste, under the command of Captain
Grant of the Utah battery, shelled the
city and outlying trenches.
General Lawton and his staff accom-
panied the troops, some times leading
charges in Indian fighting tactics, which
eventually resulted i'll the complete rout
Of the rebels, with the smallest amount
Of damage to the city and slight loss to
the Americans.
Delayed by Native Pilots.
The expedition started from San Pedro
Macati at dusk on Saturday, intending
to capture Santa Cruz by assault at
daybreak. But in navigating the shall
low. tortuous Pasig river, perhaps
through the cunning of the native pilots
who were not anxious to see the Amer
leans successful, several boats grounded
and it was nearly dawn when the troops
reached the lake. The expedition then
steamed cautiously forward, the Rapi-
dan and the Oeste a mile ahead of the
Laguna de Bay. which guarded the
rear.
Rebel signal fires, however, were
lighted on the mountain tops, giving
alarm of the approach of the troops. 1t
was noon before the white church
towers of the city appeared in the
shadow of the great volcanic mountain,
on marshy plain, dotted with occa-
sional palm groves.
A casco, with a force of 200 picked
sharpshooters under Major Weisenber-
ger, mostly belonging to the First Wash
ington regiment, was run into a shall
low inlet about five miles south of the
city. Then few shells We're sent to-
ward the entrenchments of the rebels
at the edge of the woods, sending the
enemy scampering inland Then a
number of Americans jumped into the
water and wading for about 100 yards
crept forward and formed Ill line, cover
ing the landing of the remainder, which
finished about o'clock.
The three troops of the Fourth cav
airy, unmounted, We're sent ashore on a
dangerous marshy point, directly south
Of the city, under fire from the enemy's
trenches. Meanwhile in the town it.
self, there was utter silence and not a
sign of life.
GENERAL Lawton. desiring to make an
inspection and to give the inhabitants
an opportunity to surrender, went Oh
beard the Laguna de Bay, and steamed
slowly to the dock, the whole fleet
watching anxiously. When it was dis
covered by the glasses that the trenches
and stone buildings were swarming
with white clad soldiers, the two boats
withdrew, receiving volleys from tho
trenches thrown up on the marshy
plain north of the city. The fiotilla
anchored in compact formation for the
night, ready to resist any surprises from
the rebel gunboats supposed to be in the
lake.
Command Divided Into Squads.
At sunrise Monday the assault com
menced. The American outlines south
) of the city stretched two miles inland
and with its left reaching the shore it
moved north, while the Fourth cavalry
men on the point advanced toward the
Guy pouring VoiieyS Ou Uue UreucneS.
simultaneously the gunboats hoyered
along the shore, shelling the woods
ahead of the troops and driving the Fill.
ipinos inland. The gatling cleared sew
eral trenches. The whole brigade was
divided into squads of 12 and the fight
ing was carried on in the old time from.
tier fashion, from behind trees, crawl
ing through bushes or rushing across
theopen. The trenches that were not
cleared by the gunboats gave consid
cradle resistance when the line was
nearing the city, and the Laguna ds
Bay and Oeste bombarded for an hou,
in the hope of making them too warm
for occupancy, but did not succeed in
clearing them entirely.
General Lawton with the fourteenth
infantry battalions, approached. mar
row iron bridge across creek on tn,
south border of the town. Here com
pany of Filipinos was entrenched acros.
the stream and behind stone barricad,
at the entrance to the bridge. The
Americans rushed forward in single fill,