Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-27

aldos army to-day is defending Cal
umpit energetically, which is said to
indicate that the rebels are finally
making that place their last ditch, or
stand, which the Americans expected
them to make at Malolos.
For the first time the Filipinos are
employing artillery. They brought two
guns into action in the trenches to-
day before Calumpit, firing modern
shrapnel, which burst over the heads
of Gen. Wheaton's men without erect.
The fighting was resumed at o'clock
this morning. During the night the
American engineers repaired the Bag
tag bridge, thus enabling our troops to
cross the river.
Gen. Wheaton's brigade advanced IN
extended order, with the Kansas regl-
ment to the west of the railroad and
the Montana regiment to the east OF it.
and took up a position covering one
and half miles on the south bank OF
the Rio Grande. On the opposite bank
were fortified trenches from which
few American soldiers would have been
able to defy thousands, so strongly
were they constructed.
The Americans found the trenches
on the south bank of the river deserted
which furnished them with cover from
which they could pick off Filipinos
whenever one of them showed his head.
When the rebels began firing, two
puffs of smoke, simultaneously, from
the trenches on each side of the rail-
road track showed they were using can
non, which was a genuine surprise to
the Americans Several shells burst
close to General Wheatons staff, but it
seemed that the Filipinos failed to
master the machinery of modern shells,
as they were unable to get the right
range.
Young's Utah battery was ordered
into position, in the center of the Kan
sas regiment, to silence the rebel guns,
and at IL O'Clock the rapid fire guns
had been ferried across the river and
came into line.
At noon the rebels were still pour
ing heavy fire in the direction of the
Americans, who returned it spirited
ly.
Two Americans were killed and
seven were wounded.
At about this time Gen. Hale's brig
ade was advancing east of the line, ap-
parently to cross the river and attack
the rebel trenches in the flank, as the
Americans did yesterday
Gen. Macarthur has secured an or
der issued by Aguinaldo to the rebel
commanders telling them to instruct
their men to economize their fire,
save the empty shells and not to fire
at the enemy when the latter is under
cover. The Filipinos are also instruct
ed never to fire at longer range than
$50 metres, and when they have a river
or other obstruction in front, to hold
their fire until within eighty metres.
This order was issued after the re-
cent encounters between the Filipinos
and the Americans.
Gen. Lawton is meeting with the
greatest obstacles on account of the
character of the country. His troops
have only had few skirmishes thus
far, resulting in five of his men being
wounded, but he has been forced to
put his men at work building roads.
The transport service is giving much
trouble, bullocks dying of the heat and
exhaustion and Cinnamon having to
be employed in pulling some of the
carts. Therefore, the General has
been unable to cover the ground he
hoped to cover.
The natives flee before his expedi
ton, but they swarm back to their
huts as soon as the American troops
have passed. A few Filipino sharp
shooters are harassing the American
TANKS.
The Commissary Department is pre-
pairing to send more rations, under es-
cort, to the front.
The United States transport Zealan-
dia, from San Francisco, March 2S, hav-
ing on board several companies of the
Ninth infantry and large quantity of
supplies, arrived here to-day after an
uneventful voyage. Her troops are now
camped on the water front.
The United States transport Sheridan
sails for home tomorrow. She will
take among her passengers General
Chas. King and Mrs Col. Stotsenberg,
who is conveying her husbands body
to the United States. The Sheridan has
on board several officers families who
md Manila an undesirable residence.
Washington, April 26,-At the close
OF Office hours tonight Secretary Alger
said that the department had not re-
ceivsd word from Gen. Otis. Ofacials