Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-12
CAVITE PROVINCE CLEARED
Gen Lawton's Advance of Saturday Pro
duces Good Results.
insurgents Take Advantage of Dark
ness to Escape Capture-Tr""ps
Suffer From Heat.

dispatch from Manila yesterday says:
The Filipino occupation OF the province Oh
Cavite has been broken. and. as the result
of the present movement, the Americans
now control the important coast towns OF
Paranaque and Las Pinas, while long line
of insurgent trenches facing our south line
has been cleared.
The insurgents have again proved their
facility as dodgers. between 5000 and 1900
warriors. who seemed destined TO be cap
tured, having disappeared, the majority
sliding away under cover of the night after
fighting the Americans all day. Some 9TH
ers came to meet our troops with protesta-
tfons Of friendship.
The 18th Infantry lost one man killed and
six wounded; the 9th Infantry, one man
killed and five wounded. the 14th Infantry,
three wounded. and the LIST Colorado Folua-
teer Regiment. eleven wounded.
Yesterdays work was the hardest our
army has seen The battlefield stretched
out across the entire isthmuS from Laguna
de Bay to the harbor. While the troops
were advancing the army guuboat Napidan,
in the river near Taguig, shelled the enemy,
killing several of them. The monitor Mo-
nadnock and the gunboat Helena shelled
Paranaque and Las Pinas all day with the
full power of their batteries.
The rebel sharpshooters kept in hiding
until the American lines had passed and
then attempted to pot stragglers from the
trees. Thanks TO their poor marksman-
ship. this was without result. The whole
country proved TO be a succession of small
hills, with DOGGY ground between the high.
thick grass, and bushes in the hollows.
which greatly added to the difficulty of the
advance, but gave shelter that saved many
from the enemys bullets.
Men Discarded Their Kits.
Our men threw away their blankets,
coats and even haversacks, stripping to the
waist and trusting to luck for food. Water
\,
discomfort after the canteens were emptied
At the outset the Colorados. the 9th In
fantry and the 21st Infantry forced the
line of insurgent trenches. wheeled to the
left and drove the enemy toward the lake.
during this maneu Ver the F1lipinoS, IN con-
cealed trenches on the right. opened an en-
fladng fire. but the brigade, partly owing
10 the high grass. had few hit.
The 9Th Infantry crept around to the
right Ranking the trenches. driving out the
FilipinOs and killing many of them. The
Colorado regiment advanced to the lake.
Two companies encountered trenches on
top of a knoll. where the Filipinos stood
waist-htgh above trench pouring a vol
ley upon the advancing Americans. The
Colorado troops charged and drove them
out, Lieut. Col. Moses being wounded in the
arm as he jumped into the trench.
In the meantime Gen. Wheaton's column
advanced one and half miles toward Par
anaque, where the Americans found a
strong trench on a ridge. out of which they
enemy tried 10 flank the dismounted troops
of the 4th Cavalry, accompanying Mai Gen.
l4awton, and at the same time they made
their only advance throwing a skirmish
line to flank the nth Infantry. But they
were easily repulsed. the American artillery
coming TO the crest of the hill and Smelling
them
Lawton Takes Chances.
About 3 O'Clock in the afternoon Gen
Wheaton's brigade, headed by Gen. Law
ton, who. in his white clothing and helmet
on a big black horse. was a shining mark
for the enemy's sharpshooters, circled to
the south of Las Pinas, encountering
large force of Filipinos in the shelter of the
trees Gen. Lawton had a narrow escape
In the first volley of the enemy the horses
of three of his staff officers Were shot from
under them. The Colorado regiment bore
the brunt Of this attack and dispersed the
Fili.inos.
Hardly had they finished off that lot when
large force appeared in the rear which
the 9Th Infantry and a part of the Colorado
regiment drove away. By this time nearly
the whole division was around Las Pinas.
The Americans camped for the night south
OF the town and in the midst of heavy
rain
At 6 o'clock this morning Gen Wheaton
advanced upon Las Pinas. with a troop of
cavalry, the 21st Infantry. the Colorado
regiment, part of the 9th Infantry and two
mountain guns, crossing two streams and
entering the town without firing a shot