The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-06-09
Efforts to Surround the
Insurgent Forces
ON MORONG PENINSULA
Our Troops Concentrating From Seva
eral POints-Philippinos Attack Our
A Running Fight of evera Hours.
Insurgents Use Battery Against Our
Gunboats-Town Of Morong Captured
oregon REGIMENT TO Return.

Manila, Jun As D. NTH position
of the American troops tonight indi-
Gates that they will tomorrow sweep
the peninsula Of Morong, the land pro-
jecting to the south into Laguna de
Bay, where the insurgents are suppos-
ed to nave a large force, near the town
Of Morong, as we'll as the battery on
the western shore of the peninsula,
which recently smashed the propeller
of the gunboat Napidan.
General Hall is marching from An
tipolo, about six and a half miles
northwest of Morong toward the pc
n~insula, with his forces spread out to
cover a large section. Colonel Truman,
with the First North Dllota regiment
along the coast of the lake from Tay-
tay incidentally clearing several small
towns. Colonel Whalley with the First
Washington regiment has landed on
the peninsula above the town of Mo-
rong. The army g~unboats Napldan,
Covadonga and CeSte are in a position
to cooperate.
General Halls column assembled at
the water works, or pumping station,
idtC iIIOdy I1lSbt, uAioCl wv " q
moonless sky. The men rolled them
selves in their blankets n lay upon
the wet grass for a few hours under
a driZZling rain.
At 4 o'clock yesterday Saturday
they began to cross the San Mateo
river and about noon easily repulSed
a large band of Philippines, about
twelve miles east of Manila between
Mariquina and AntipOlO.
49, II
the afternoon. A Philippine outpost
first attacked a few American scouts,
whereupon the Fourth cavalry formed
a long skirmish line and easily drove
the insurgents into the hills. Then the
Oregon regiment moved across a wet,
Soggy rice field, in extended order, to-
ward the hills, where it was believed
a large force of the enemy vas con-
centrated. When the Oregonians were
Philippines opened a heavy fire, the
Americans replying and pressing for
ward the more rapidly.
After a few volleys the insurgents
were seen scattering over the crest Of
the hills in every direction, and their
panic was increased when the artillery
opened upon them and the shells be-
a to explode all around them, IN
doubtedly causing great loss of life.
- ~ I'm oAAA
the musketry was maintained for near
ly half an hour, after which a Philip
Pine could not be seen on the hills, and
not a shot came from them.
The heat was intense and the troops
suffered greatly, out they continued on
the trail taken by the fleeing enemy in
the hope of driving them toward the
lake.
MORONG CAPTURED.
Manila, June 5.-1:40 p. m.-Two bat
talionS of the Washington troops un-
der Colonel Whalley On board cascoes
were towed from Pasig to Morong or
Sunday and landed under cover of a
we'll directed fire from the 'tinclad'
army gunboats Napidan and Cava-
donga. The rebels, who were intrench.
ed in the outskirts of the town, reserv.
ed their fire until the troops were
artillery opened fire on the insurgents
and drove them from their positions
killing lii of them and wounding five
The Washington troops hen took the
town, the rebels fleeing to the hills.
While the Americans were on their
way to Morong, the insurgents opened
fire from a shore battery at Ancona
their first shots striking the Cava.
gonda's awning at a range Of $500
yards. The Napidan also was fired at.
Washington, June 5.-General Otis
advises the war department that the
Oregon regiment will cav for the
United States this week. 1t will be sem
direct to Portland, Oregon.