Evening star., 1899-04-06
AS SEEN FROM THE BUFFALO
Impressions Of the Preliminary Fighting
Around Manila.
How the Boys in Brown Held Their
Own I'm the Trenches and Captur-
ed the Town of IIoiIO.
U. s. S. BUFFALO,
MANILA, P. l., February IS, 1899.

MANILA. P. l., February Is, 1899.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
I thought 1 would drop you a few notes
from Manila, CLEANED from observation.
The ships occupy the following positions
in Manila bay: Olympia, flagship, opposite
Manila; Concord and Manila Captured
Spanish gunboa), at Cavite; Buffalo and
Callao Qast named Spanish capture), at
Paranaque and Malate, working in con-
junction with Gen. Ovenshines brigade;
Charleston and Moradnock, at Malabon.
The two last mentioned places are north
and south of Manila, small native towns,
where the insurgents are massed. The
Baltimore and Monterey are at Hong Kong
and Boston and Petrol at Iloilo. Panay ISL
and. The Buffalo has distributed her sur
plus men she brought out TO the several
ships, and is now holding the position south
OF Manila, occasionally throwing in a few
five-inch shrapnel time-fuse shells when
ever the insurgents mass in numbers in
'front.' of our OutpoStS The insurgents have
Manila surrounded and are evidently
troublesome to our boys. Almost every
night We have brush with them they
getting badly worsted. Our boys are not
able to extend the lines on account of lack
of reinforcements. The Ffllpinos don't
quite understand the American method of
aggressive warfare. They open the ball
usually at night and retire al daybreak ex-
pecuns our boys to do the same as the
Spaniards did, to retire for the cigarette
and siesta Not SO; our boys in brown
hammer away at them and then fall back
to the original line until the next engage
ment. The place now occupied by the Buff
falo was the position formerly occupied by
that mountain of iron and steel the moni-
tor Monadnock, the 9Th instant, which
was practically the opening of the Filipino
insUrgent war The monitor did terrible
and splendid work, clearing the coast south
of Malate, preparing the advance of Gen.
O\-anShfna on 1,a eli nd Dor
which places were taken that day by our
troops. The Monadnock was ably assist
ed by the Charleston I'll say in this con-
nectiOn that a resident of the District of
Columbia was in charge of the monitors
secondary battery, Ensign S. R. Douglas.
During this time the insurgents were try
ing to capture the Cavite navy yard and
arsenal but We're repulSed by the few SOL
diers guarding them and the presence of
the Buffalo, Monterey and Manila. They
retired across the peninsula, burning the
village of San Rogue after them.
The boys on shore are sadly in need of re-
Inducements to extend their lines the
ground already taken. The courage Of
these poor, ignorant and deluded insurgents
is kept up by the manifestos issued by
their clergy, who tell them that our losses
are by the thousands and that we will give
up shortly. They making themselves
rich by looting all before them and taking
no chances on their own lives but encour-
aging the slaughter Of their poor ignorant
followers. Yes terday was St Valentines
day, but few of the gentle reminders were
in evid enCe in the fleet Admiral Dewey
and Gen. Otis are complete masters Of the
situation The Monterey sailed for HoEg
Kong under convoy of the Baltimore, which
will bring back the peace commission, but
the question among us is, what are the COM
mSsionerS going to accomplish? The writer
is under the impression that nothing will
be brought about without the strong arms
of Dewey and Otis. I'll bring this to a
close as the mailboat leaves within one
Chief Electrician, L. S. n.
Later-The rebels have made an attack
on our Paranaque outpests. We have just
received signal from Dewey to Render
all possible aid J. II. L.
Old glory floats over Iloilo. 1t only re-
quired three hours to do the job, with only
one wounded slightly, a seaman of the
United States Petrol, or the little battle
ship, as we Familiarity call her. The natives
fired the residences of the United States
and English censulates, also their own
tive village of bamboo huts and corral
storehouses. Admiral Dewey ordered the
Boston to proceed to Iloilo and relieve the |
Baltimore, and also to take the city. This |
she commenced to do the day following.
In the meantime, the natives commenced to |
throw up breastworks and build trenches. |
The ball was opened by a shell from the |
Boston. followed by the Petrers battery. |
The native batteries returned the fire. Then |
each ship opened up its main battery. |
and under cover of the smoke TWO COM |
panies of blue jackets under the command |
OF Lieut.. Niblack, who commanded the tor !
pedo boat Winslow in Cuba, and Lieut.. |
Plunkett, landed. While this action was in |
progress the transport st. Paul, with the |
1st Tennessee, ran into the harbor under a |
full head of steam. She stuck her bow !
into the sandy beach and the boys from the |
south went over the side and ashore before |
you could say Jack Robinson. In the |
meantime Lieuts. Nfblack and Plunketts |
naval brigade engaged the natives, and the |
white flags were soon seen floating from
the forts. The insurgents surrendered their |
arms and ammunition and seemed to be |
glad that they were under the protection |
of old glory. Very little trouble is expected |
on the Island of Panay. The Petrol then |
sailed for Manila to report to Admiral |
Dewey She remained duty day at |
Paranaque (Manila bay). when she sailed |
II