Evening star., 1900-05-10
CLEARING OUT THE ISLAND
GEN. WHEATON REPORTS OPERA
TIONs IN LUZON.
Expedition Into the Country Stretch
ing From Manila South to
Lake TaaI.

The War Department has made public
report from Brigadier General Lloyd Whea-
ton, United States volunteers, concerning
the operations of an expedition led by him
early in January into the country stretch
ing south from Manila to Lake Taal. His
forces, consisting of the 2Sth, 3Sth, 45th and
Companies d and H. 37th Volunteer Infan-
try Regiments. the 4th Infantry and de-
tachments of the Sd and 4th Artillery, con-
centrated at linus, and about one mile
south of that point on the 1th instant, the
first engagement of the expedition took
place. in which Lieutenant Ward Cheney
was mortally wounded while leading a de-
tachment against the intrenched enemy,
500 strong The American loss was two
privates killed and one wounded, while the
insurgents lost fifty in killed and wounded.
On the same day another engagement oc-
CURED, Colonel Birkhimer, with a de-
tachment of the 2Sth Infantry Volunteers,
and Captain Reilly, in command of a sec
ton of the 5th Artillery. engaging the
enemy at Putol, where the Insurgents after
making a determined stand, We're out
hanked and almost surrounded, and finally
routed with great slaughter. Seventy-four
dead bodies being counted in one portion
of the battlefield. Our loss was eleven men
wounded.
Still another sharp engagement occurred
on the Ith, when Major Z. F. Taggart with
the I'd and Sd battalions of the 2Sth Infan-
try, attacked a force of insurgents eSti-
mated at 1000 strong the DasmarinaS
road near linus. driving them from the field.
killing sixty and wounding more than
eighty. Major Taggart had one man killed
and six wounded.
Fight at the PancipiI River.
Lake Taal was reached on the 10th, and
several slight skirmishes occurred on the
northern and eastern shores. On the 10th
Nain u-itJ
panies of the 46th Infantry, was directed
to make a reconnaissance to Lemery, stu
ated on the Pancipil river, which connects
Lake Taal with the Gulf of Balayan
Major Johnston's command met with the
enemy at Lemery, so strong, with four
cannon. and drove them across the river
to Taal. On the 10Th he co-operated with
three companies of reinfOrcements sent
from BantangaS by Colonel Anderson, :SSth
Infantry. who had been transferred to Cen
eral SChwan's command operating in the
province to the east, and thus strengthened.
the command attacked and carried Taal,
dispensing the insurgents and capturing
their cannon.
Occupation of Cayite Province.
Colonel Dorst. with battalion of the 4Jth
Infantry and a squadron of the 11th Cav
airy. was ordered to clear the country
around Lemery, and he was engaged upon
that duty when this report was forwarded.
Indeed, the whole province of Cavite,
the report states, is being thoroughly
traversed by various minor expeditions,
that every part may be made untenable
for armed bodies of insurgents. All of the
principal towns have been occupied and in
many municipal governments established
and great numbers of insurgents have re-
turned to their homes and gone to worl. in
the fields.
Conduct of Officers Commended
In conclusion. General Wheaton calls par
ticular attention to the gallant conduct of
Lieutenant Ward Cheney, who lost his life
IN the charge near linus the 7th instant,
to the "skillful well as gallant conduct
of Colonel Birkhimer, 2Sth Infantry in the
combat at Pu.ol. and to the prompt and
energetic action of Colonel George R An
dersOn. 3Sth Infantry Volunteers, while un-
der his command. He also mentions as de-
serving of great creuit the skillful and GAL
liant services rendered by Major E. F Tag
CART, 2sth Infantry: Major w. II. Johnston,
who led the attack on Taal: Major B. D.
Price, commanding the 4th Infantry; Can
tain Chas. r. HOwland, 2-th Infantry. and
First Lieutenant NJ. F. Smith Of the Goth
Infantry, who was acting aid upon the
generals staff and rendered gallanf service
under fire.