The Portland daily press., 1899-07-28
A Gallant Deed That will Bring
These Men Promotion.
Fortified Town Cap
tured With Loss.
Four Killed and Twelve Wound
ed in the Engagement.

Manila, July 27.-7. 40 p. m IAN expe-
dition comprised OF troops from San Pc
dro Macati, Passig and Morong, under
Brigadier General II. H. Hall yesterday
captured Calmba. an Important trading
town on the south shore of Lnguana de
Bay. There was two hours OF sharp fight
ing. during which four soldiers were
killed and twelve wounded. The trenches
commanding the harhor were under water
but the swanplness Of the land made the
work harder. The troops boarded cascoes
Tuesday night The force comprised 400
of the Washington volunteers, 45J of the
2lst infantry, 100 OF the 4th cavalry and
two guns Of the LIST artillery. These and
the gunboats Napidan and Uests as
semblsd opposite Calamba Wednesday
afternoon. Crowds Of people In carts and
Oh foot were seen rushing to the hills.
Natives escaping from Calamba In canoes
said hundred insurgents held tine tow n.
A forcs under Captain MsGrath of the
21st infantry and Captain Elton Herd,
landed east Of the town but found river
intervening. Captain MoGrath and Lieut..
BAtson swan the river unier fra from
twenty Mauser rifles. Having orosssd the
ferry the troops. The insurgents retreated
through the town, shooting frcin houses
and bushes as they fled to the hills.
Three members OF the Washington rsgi-
ment wadsd from oascoes through
swamps, often shoulaer desp.. whIls A
group of Bihpinos concsaled In haystacks
were shooting at them, until the Napidan
focused her six Founders and Gatling gun
on the stacks for few minutes. Most OF
the work was done before tho Washington
voluteers could ranch the town.
The Filipinos lost three dead. OF the
casualties on the American side, two OF
the killed and three Of the wounded were
members of the Fourth cavalry and two
killed and eight wounded belonged to the
twenty infantry.
Calamba is a town on Leguann de Bay
about thirty miles southeast OF Manila.
1t Ia much farther south than the United
States troops have heretofore penetrated
on land. 1t is In the pr5vince Of Lsguna.
1t has population OF II, 476 and Is 27
miles from Santa Cruz on the eastern
shore OF the bay. Its capture is not con
sidered of any stragetioal Importance ex-
cept as part of the plan to harrass aud
worry the insurgents.
General Hall captured twelve FiliTinos
with guns. Major General Henry w.
Lawton, Prof. Dean y. Worcester CT the
American Philippine commission, Mrs
Gen. Lswton and Gen. Lawton's son ac-
companied the expedition on hoari q
launch and sat cody in an unprotected
place close to the shore during the fight
ing, the bullets splashing about them.
Today General Hall brought to Manila
the Spaniards whom the expedition had
released from captivity OF more than a
year.
Lieut. Larsen, commanding the Nspi-
dan. found today long missing Spanish
gunboat. which had been coysred with
bushes and fish nets
The Filipinos having met reinforce
ments and thinking that the Americans
had evacuated the town, descended from
the hiils today intending to re-oocupy
Calamta. General Hall easily drove them
back. General Hall will leave garrison
at Calamba.