Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-11-17

lying In the trenches and rice f1efds.
Many more Filipinos doubtless were
killed or wounded. Gen. Wheaton was
informed that the enemy was gathering
at San Jacinto for the purpose of pre-
venting the Americans from controlling
the road from Dagupan north, whereby
Aguinaldo might retreat. The Thirty
third, Col. Howe commanding, and de-
tachment of the Thirteenth, with gait
ling gun, Rowland commanding, were
sent to dispense them.
Handicapped by Bad Roads.
The troops encountered the worst
road ever found in the island of Luzon.
There was succession of creeks whose
bridges the Americans had to stop and
repair, and miry bitches, and at certain
places men and horses struggled waist
deep in quagmires. A hundred soldiers
had to drag the gatling gun part of the
way, the horses being useless.
Rebels Open the Battle.
The insurgents opened the fight two
miles from San Jacinto, while the lead
ing American battalion was passing a
clump of houses in the midst of CO.
coanut grove, knee-deep in mud. The
Filipino sharpshooters, hidden in trees,
houses and small trench across the
road, held their fire until the Ameri-
cans were close to them. When they be-
gan firing other Filipinos opened fire
from thickets, right and left, further
away. The insurgent sharpshooters
picked off the officers first. Five of the
Americans who fell wore shoulder
straps or chevrons. But the Thirty
third never wavered. Its crack marks
men knocked the Filipinos from the
trees like squirrels and the Americans
rushed the trench, leaving four dead in
surgents there.
The regiment then deployed under
fire, with Maj. John A. Logan's bat
talon in the center, Maj. Cronic's on
the right and Maj. Marsh's on the left.
The skirmish line, which was mile
long, advanced rapidly, keeping up a
constant fire. The Filipinos made an
unexpectedly good stand, many of them
remaining under cover until the Ameri-
cans were within 20 feet of them. Maj.
Marsh thanked small trench full of in
surgents, surprising them and slaugh-
tering nearly all of them before enter
ing the town. The gatling killed five of
the force holding the bridge and swept
the country beyond the town, driving
about $50 Filipinos into the hills.
Marsh's battalion, entering the town
first, captured a big battle flag which
was flying over convent.
The insurgents are supposed to have
retreated toward Dagupan. 1t was i'm
possible to pursue them. as the Ameri-
can troops were exhausted and their
supply of ammunition was low. The
outposts killed five Filipinos during the
fight during the night. The body of
Filipino lieutenant colonel command
ing was found among the killed. The
regiment returned to San Fabian Sun
day, it being impossible to get supplies
over the roads.
Aguinaldo's Retreat.
The dead and wounded were brought
to Manila Tuesday. The officers who
are returning say it is impossible for
Gen. Wheaton to attempt junction
with Col. Young on account of the
roads. Prisoners say it is reported that
Aguinaldo, with an army they esti-
mated at 10000 (probably great ex-
aggeration), is retiring toward Dagu-
pan, intending to leave by railroad for
the northwest. Some of them said they
believed the Filipino army had passed
the line intended by Gems. Wheaton and
Young to be covered on Aguinaldo's
rear and that he passed San Fabian,
going northwest, fortnight ago.
A proclamation of the Filipino secre-
tary Of war was found in all the vii
lagos giving glowing accounts of al
legged Filipino victories and saying that
1880 Americans had been killed and 49,
900 wounded during the war,