The San Francisco call., 1899-05-11
FILIPINO CONGRESS
MEETS AT SAN ISIDR0
Although Those Present Are Parti-
sans Of Aguinaldo, They Express
e.,

sans of Aguinaldo, They Express
Strong Desire for Peace.
MANILA, May 10, 7:3O p. m.-
Reports received from the in
L surgent line, which, however,
have not been confirmed, say that a
meeting of the Filipino Congress has
been held at San Isidro. There was
no quorum present, but in spite of
this fact some business was transact
ed. The reports add that although
those who attended were mostly par
tisans of Aguinaldo, strong desire
for peace was expressed.
Major General Macarthur will prob
ably remain at San Fernando until
fresh troops can be forwarded to him
from this city to replace some of the
volunteers who have become exhausted
from the long campaign. Filipino rifle
men to the number of 5000 are in
trenched on three sides of Bacolor. The
Americans, however, are fully able to
held the city if Mondays attack was a
specimen of the enemys fighting
ability.
The Filipino General Mascardo's
army, inspired by wine taken from the
storehouses of Bacolor and by the gem
erals oratory, on Monday evening at
tackled San Fernando. There was tre-
mendous yelling and a great expendi-
ture of cartridges by the rebels. but
very little result. General Mascardo
holds the outskirts of Bacolor. west of
the railroad In front of his positions
are the Kansas and Montana regi-
ments. which occupy trenches that the
Filipinos built In anticipation of an at
tack from the direction of the sea.
During the afternoon of Monday
General Mascardo, with large retinue
of officers, rode along the lines. fire.
quently stopping to harangue his war
riors. At dusk a detachment of rebels
rushed toward the outposts of the
Montana Regiment, but were met by
a hot fire from the Montana Regiment
line. The insurgents from trenches
nearly three miles long responded.
After an hours firing, during which
one private soldier of the Montana
Regiment was wounded, the insurgents
subsided, although they kept up a
scattering fire throughout the night.
Prisoners who were brought into the
American lines said that General Mas
cardo distributed barrels of wine
among his soldiers, telling them that he
expected to capture the city of San
Fernando. The trenches undoubtedly
saved the Americans from heavy loss.
the bullets falling thick about them
during the engagement.
General Luna is massing his army
east of the railway, bringing up troops
by trainloads in sight of the American n
lines. The country between San Fer
nando and Calumpit is filing UP with
natives who profess great friendship
toward Americans, but who are sus-
pected by many of sympathy with the
insurrection. A Filipino connected
with the American Hospital Corps was
killed, 1t is supposed, by amigos, So
called.
The army tinclad gunboats Laguna
de Bal and Cavedonga, under the com
mand of Captain Grant, steamed UP the
Rio Grande TO Calumpit to-day, clear
ing the entire country of rebels from
the bay upward. When the vessels
reached Macabebe, about a thousand of
the inhabitants of the place assembled
unon the banks of the river cheering
the expedition Justify. Captain Grant
was given an ovation when he went
ashore.
Many of the Macabebes expressed