Evening star., 1899-02-06
BEGUN BY FILIPIN0S
Attempt to Break Through Our Lines
at Manila.
REPOLSED WITH HEAVY LOSSES
Fighting Began Saturday Night and
Lasted TIL Yesterday Noon.
WARSHIPS TAKE A HAND

LONDON. February e.-The Morning
Post publishes the following account OF the
fighting at Manila;
THE immediate cause OF the attack was
an advance by two Filipinos to the Ne
braska outpost on the northeast of the
city. When ordered TO halt they refused
and the sentry fired. An insurgent signal
gun was then fired from blockhouse Z. and
an attack was Immediately begun on the
Nebraska regiment. which was encamped-
The fighting soon spread on both sides, !
until firing was in progress on all the OUT
posts around the city. The American
troops responded vigorously, the lnsurgent
fire being heavy and the attack evi-
IDENTIFY hurriedly planned. Firing contin-
ued throughout the night, with an occa-
sional cessation OF from half an hour to an
hour at time.
AT daybreak the warshtp Charleston
and Callao began shelling the north side
of the city. Their fire was followed later
by that of the Monadnock on the SOUTH
ern side, the insurgent positions having
been previously accurately located.
THE Filipino loss is reported to have
been heavy. The wounded on the Amer
lean side are now estimated at 200. Few
Americans were killed.
Vigorous Advance by Our Troops.
THE Americans began a vigorous adj
vance all along the line this morning (Sun-
dayl. and were soon pressing back the in
surgents IN every direction, maintaining
steadily their advancing positions and cap
turing the villages of San Juan del Monte,
Santa Ana, San Pedro, Maeau, Santa
Mesa and Iomin
The splendid police system prevented a
general outbreak in the city. though sol
diers were attacked by natives in the
streets. Lieutenant Charles Hogan and
Sergeant Wall were shot by three natives.
the former being seriously wounded and the
latter slightly. Lieutenant Colonel Cotton
was attacked by a native with a sword.
while riding in a carriage to the front. He
killed his assailant with his revolver. A
sharpshooter within the American lines
shot and killed a sergeant while he was
sitting at a window OF the second reserve
hospital. Colonel William c. Smith died
of apopleXy. Many of the insurgents were
driven into the Pasig river and drowned
Several hundred were taken prisoners"
Slaughter of FiIIpinos.
In a subsequent telegram the following
statements are made:
Last nights (Saturday's) and today's
Sundays engagements have proved a
veritable slaughter for the Filipinos, their
killed being reported as amounting to
thousands. The American forces could
scarcely have been better disposed. 1t is
now known that the attack was fully ex-
pected and that every preparation had
been made to meet the contingency.
Fire slackened at noon (Sunday), the
enemy being apparently demoraliZed.
The American troops, however, are fully
equipped to meet possible attack tonight.
"Aguinaldo's private secretary has been
arrested a spy in Manila. Perfect quiet
now reigns in the city. More than hun
dred wounded Filipinos, taken from the
trenches, are being cared for in the Amer
lean hospitals"
Americans Mean Business.
MANILA, Monday, February 6, 0 am
The Filipinos have apparently reached the
conclusion that the Americans mean bust
ness, now that the barriers are removed,
as there were no further hostilities last
night and no attempt was made TO recover
the lost ground. 1t is possible, however.
that they are following the tactics they
employed against the Spaniards, and will
merely lie off for a few days TO recuperate
their forces before returning TO the at
tack.
1t is impossible to ascertain as yet how
the news has been received at Maloso, the
seat Of the insurgent government, but the
Filipinos in Manila express the opinion that
the movement for independence has re-
ceived its death blow, and that annexation
will soon be welcomed generally.
Spanish Version of Fight.
A dispatch from Madrid yesterday says:
Intense excitement was caused here by the
receipt this evening of the following official
dispatch from General Rios, the Spanish
commander in the Philippines:
The insurgents have violently attacked
and captured almost the whole of the eX-
terror American line. The Americans Of
fered a vigorous defense at the exterior
barriers. using their artillery as well as the
squadron.
THE warships destroyed and burned Ca
loacan, Paco and several towns in tho
neighborhood. Both sides suffered mate
rally. Very sharp firing continues. The
spanish troops have been confined to quar-
tiers. but a sergeant has been wounded by
a stray bullet RIOS"
The popular sympathies here are on the
side of Aguinaldo but thinking people are
anxious regarding the consequences Of the
fighting, especially on account of the Span
ish prisoners still in the hands of the in
surgents.
The government announces that Spain
will "act in the most correct manner and
scrupulously respect the treaty of Paris"
y