New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-11
REPORT or GEN. II. G.. OTIS
OPERATIONS OF HIS BRIGADE ABOUT
MANILA DESCRIBED


MANILA DESCRIBED.
Washington. April Northumberland Corbin |
has received the first mail report OF the military |
operations about Manila since the Filipino insur-
rection began. 1t made by General Harrison
Gray Otis. commanding the First Brigade Of the
Second Division of the Eighth Army Corps. Is dated
In the field Caoocan. p. l.. February o. 1899.
and describes the movements OF his brigade from
February to February q. The regiments included
the 10Th Pennsylvania the Sd Artillery the LIST
Montana Infantry. the 10Th Kansas Infantry and
the LIST Idaho Infantry
When the alarm was given on the night OF the
4th Colonel Hawkins, commanding the 10th Penn
sylvania Infantry. moved out four companies from
their city barracks to support his outposts which
had sustained oblique fire from Blockhouse No
T. and from q force stationed at the Chinese hos
pital directly at their front During the night the
enemy made two advances In considerable force'
but easily checked by the skirmishers With
out the main line firing a shot. Al dawn the enemy
made another and more determined advance. which
also checked by the outpost. After daylight
the Utah Battery. stationed near the chinese
cemetery shelled the enemys position for half an
hour.
Hawkins advanced his entire line rapidly
He was met with heavy volley firing, but wheh
within two hundred yards of the nsurgent
line the enemy made precipitate retreat. Inc
PENNSYLVANIA troops continued their advance 10
valley in front OF the hospital where they were
with heavy fire. At this point Major biorer,
commanding the Pennsylvania left was wounded
and compelled to retire. Major Bell or the hTsi-
neer Corps reported to Colonel Hawkins, and was
assigned TO command the left wing, where ne
rendered valuable service. The line continued 10
advance It's fire being replied TO with spirit oy inc
enemy.
When within three hundred yards Of the insur-
gent line. the Pennsylvania troops. by brilliant
charge swept them from their position. forcing
fhara fn rafr In
after the regiment, together with detachment
Of the LIST Montana. and the 1st South DAKOTA
under Colonel Frost moved in an easterly
direction line established. promptly
entrenched. and still held at the date Of the
report. Colonel Hawkins speaks in high terms
OF the conduct of the officers and of his COM
mand. and commends several OF The officers by
name.
HARD FIGHTING IN THE JUNGLE.
The Sd Artillery left It's barracks in Manila at 10
o'clock on the night of February and deployed in
the darkness behind the line Of bikes situated in
ricehelds and bamboo thickets. The troops at the
leper hospital had already been engaged and
hostile advance repealed. The following day
almost continuous fire kept up by the Mon
and Kansas regiments. The bikes were heav-
fly wooded bamboo thickets interviewed. and rice
fields dotted with numerous huts extended some
distance. The concealed fire OF the enemy was an
noying and caused many casualties. AT this junct-
ure a company OF the 10Th Kansas Infantry. under
the veteran Captain Elliott, was ordered to the
support OF the lst Montana.
All three regiments went forward at about the
same time. sweeping the ground. driving the in
surgents from their cover and killing a number Of
them These movements resulted in establishing
the line on better ground Major Kobbe dscov-
cred a contlnuous-fring line of insurgents posted
among the bushes and along the wall Of the
Chinese church, on his flank. He ordered voey fir
ing to begin from two his batteries, driving
back the enemy in considerable numbers.
The forward movement continued far as
the stone blockhouse, which was taken by Com
pany G OF the 10th Kansas. which company Is
| highly praised by its then immediate commander
Major Kobbe. In the action of February 10 the
| Sd Artillery advanced, deployng on the ground
IN M Command onIv As the right Cleared rayne
| on which it had previously rested Major Bell, or
| ment forward out Of the ravine. a most at right
| angles TO Major Hobbies right front whose nank
tana men firing they advanced on the in,
surgent Entertainments, and by 40 doing rendered
tiilery.
| on receipt of information that his outposts had
| Cemetery, Colonel Ksssier OF the list Montana,
! proceeded to reinforce them with two companies.
little effect. and on the following morning a de-
| tachment made an advance from 81; Lazare Ceme,
terry. fred the houses in its immediate front and
retired the cemetery. Later detachment OF
Inc resg IN tbe Chinese hospital The ist
Montana also took part in the movement which
resulted in the capture OF the chinese cemetery,
and also In the general advance of the brigade on
| Caloocan February 10
CHARGES OF KANSAS VOLUNTEERS.
The outpost Of the 10Th Kansas. near the tram
way station on the Caoocan Road. as fired on by
! insurgent patrols about 10 p. m on February T. An
alarm instantly put the entire regiment under
arms in its barracks in the city. one battalion was
held in quarters. and two others. under Colonel
Funston. marched TO the support OF the OUTPOST pos
| line which by that time was sharply engaged
! 'c,ev were Joined by detachment from the Utah
, batterv The enemv's fire. which was concealed
! fTnnt The fire was returned by occasional voleys.
| The next day Colonel Funston advanced his line
en- the insurgent barricades and trenches distant
only about five hundred YARDS. cha. Tho or,r,ander
| This fire became CALLING that the conlmdluei
! NJ the regiment deemed an advance imperative;
| md led seven companies on charge up the road
ana rprovgh the gardens and bamboo thickets
| Ranking It and advancing urecly upon III
enemys strong positions the ch ihey advsneed
| The Insurgents stood until the Kansas Inc mao
| tpnv gave wav The vlctors occupied both oarri-
cades and preparing TO assaul1 Ia im hy he
piDisInv commander The combat resulted In
| small loss to the regiment. ana much "ioie se''1
pa next day the regiment advanced to the bar
rcades which had been taken the previous e,sn ing
and occupied them On the AFTERNOON VI Ir 80, IN,
| regiment had another brush with me eneiIy' W.
had become bold and aggressNSe vb the ' enemy in
! tbe timber in front OF the regimental line II pc
came G this was given TO Colonel Funston by the
| S ,Jt, Commander He promptly led three com
panies to the support OF the men engage IN ind
p,nod attacked the nsurgent position ana carlieJl
!, az rho poInt OF the bayonet. The comDat LASTED
less than half hour. but was excs sd
o. mr. Lieutenant Afford was Killed outrlshl
- six enlisted men wounded In TINS ehsaes,
Went and twenty-six insurgents were found usau
! The companies then fell back 10 the in''e"0'7'
| line ,.t,b Tho Mon
| ~. IN Ia ,ba 3d Artillery. the regiment advanced
on the town OF caloocan The advance Sl Inn, te
S made through dense woods and In the race oa
hot though badly dir ected hre On ms Gay t nf
eer and eight enlisted men WOUNDED Sn, Sia anS
stop its advance un.l C pf where L was
some some nnd new line made. Colonel Funston 20
1870 testimony 70 the good c1nmuCI l O oil,