The evening times., 1900-03-16

that officer says:
The expedition WAS undertaken pursu-
| ant to verbal instructions received from
| Brig. Gen. Theodore Schwan. chief of staff,
Palace, Manila, p. L., and telegram from
same source.
The plan of concentration decided on
and afterwards carried out, was to gather
| up detachments along the railroad line,
/ starting from Caloocan TO Malolos; upon
arrival there. to unload troops and sup
! plies and send empty train under guard
! to Santo Tomas for detachment of Com
pany b Sixteenth United States Infantry
then TO returp to Malolos, taking the
! troops at Apalit and Calumpit. This com
pleted, the column could be formed and
marched toward its objective strengthen
cd en- route by Battalion Third Infantry
ana detachment from Battery G, Third Al
| tillery. The geographical position Of Ma
lolos rendered il the most desirable point
| for concentration.
After details as TO the march through
| the island the report says:
hattie nj san ndefonso.
AT 1895 a. m. sighted San Ildefonso, a
village situated on the crest Of hill di
rectly in our front and at distance judS-
ed TO be 1,500 yards. Ii appeared a nat
ural fortification and a difficult position TO
take were il held by well disciplined
troops. I halted the command and sent
my adjutant ahead TO reconnoitre. He
soon returned and reported enemy en-
trenched about l,iG0 yards in front. Up
on moving forward TO more commanding
position / could plainly observe men in
white AT the insurgent position moving
hastily 10 ana fro and disappearing, as if
1 into a trench. Our opinion as to location
OF the enemy was now confirmed by Cap
tain Randolph. commanding the artillery.
4 who had participated in an attack made
/ on the place on a previous occasion.
Under my orders the two pieces of ar
tillery were disposed for attack on left of
road. They opened fire at 1920 a. on
enemyS trenches. Shelling of this position
and of the adjoining woods and sugar fields
was continued with apparently good ef-
feet. but no response Was ELECTED. Hotch
kiss gun. posted later about 4O0 yards in
front put in few shots, which seemingly
were very effective.
Al 80 a m. | ordered Lieutenant
Balch. with Maccabebe scouts TO move on
the position. supported by two sections OF
Battery L. Third Artillery. under Lieuten-
ant himmel. Enemy opened fire at 10:43,
when our advance party had reached 10
within 60U yards of their works. 1t was
replied to vigorously. our side continuing
TO advance.
At 10. - the battaliOns under Captains
Williams Third Infantry and Thurston,
Sixteenth Infantry. We're brought up, and
deployed 10 right and left of road. respect
lively. which movement was admirably eX-
ecuted Battalion under Major kirkman
remained on road 10 our rear, in column of
fours moving forward later in that for
nation available. OF course, as a reserve.
Whole line now advanced. The artillery,
from their position in the rear. supported
our advance most satisfactorily.
AS / rode slightly ahead of cur main
body | saw many of the enemy leaving
tho trenches ard running back 10 places OF
safety. When Lieutenant BalCh reached
the objective. he found trenches deserted.
with the exception Of one man, mcrtally
wounded whose bat band showed him to
be a member OF the Second Battalion of
Bulacau Infantry. At Hes firing on beth
sides had yisbly slackened. and at HIP
ceased.
The enemy having now di app ared from
cur front the movement was arrested. !
and the city occupied. Strong outposts
were established in every direction. by di- /
colonel and the vicinity thoroughly /
searched. Major Kirkman, with Company 1
II. sixteenth Infantry. made reconnois- /
sauce toward San Miguel following road |
in that direction for about two miles. |
Nothing was seen of the enemy. nor any
thing to indicate his near presence.
Two prisoners. evidently insurgents. par
TALLY dressed in uniform, were picked up
near the town during the day. Casualties
on our side five wounded. not seriously.
Nine of the enemy found killed on the
held. and were decently buried by details
from my command.
Heavy Front and Cros.fre.
On December >, the enemy in force hav-
ing suddenly appeared to the north and
east Of the town, / made disposition of my
forces accordingly. and personally taking
command OF the battalion of the Third
Infantry and the Second Provisional Bat
TALON. Sixteenth Infantry. started at 9:30
a m. and moved rapidly along road to the
north. Had proceeded about a mile when
] encountered heavy cross-fre. Ny COM
mand, which had previously been deployed,
returned the FIRE, and advanced
through rice swamps and across ridges.
firing on Tetreating enemy. Firing lasted
twelve minutes, our line advancing and
lying down al intervals. The artillery in
this. as in the former engagement, very
ably supported the infantry m ement At
1899 all traces of the enemy having dis
appeared. i left battalion of the Third
Infantry as a temporary outpost, and re-
turned with the remainder of my command
to camp. The Third Infantry Battalion,
under nay orders. returned one-half hour
later.
First Provisional Battalion. Sixteenth
Infantry under command of Major J. T..
kirkham with one piece of artillery, had
been despatched TO the east of town si-
with my movement to the
north and engaged the enemy at long
range after moving about mile and a
half The insurgents deployed coHsidera-
BILE strength here and began spirited at
tack. our forces BY carefully directed fir !
ing soon drove them from the field. Major
kirkman continued TO hold his position
trouble later on. which was
verified when a large force of insurgents
was discovered. in about two hours ran
idly deploying in rear of Major Kirkman's
position.
As insurgent force was now believed to
he much more formidable than any we
bad previously engaged | deemed the sit
laiion correspondingly serious, and. leay
ing strong guard at Idefonso fastened
toward the scene OF action with all nv
available force. Upon arriving at a point
Y here he artillery had a position. I dis
posed my force for an anticipated attack.
soon learned. however. that Major Kirk
man assisted by the good work
lf the artillery had already nut
he enemy to flight with a
ew shots at long range. No casualties on
,ur side. Loss of enemy during day not
,nown bat thought to be severe. Four
II his dead were found on the field which
represented but a small percent |