The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-05-10
THE FILlPINOS AND AMEIsICANS

Heroic Defence by a Small Garrision
for Five Days-TwO Hundred Fill
pinos Were Killed.
a dispatch from Manila, dated Nav
:, says that the American garrison at
Catu big, island Of Samar, consisting Of
thirty men, belonging to the 43l rcgi-
mcnt, ha, been attacked bv rebels.
Twenty OF the Americans were killed
l he remainder were rcSC ucd. The
Americans were quarterGd in the Catu-
big church, which the enemy, numbe
ingscver"t hundred me0, surrounded
and !iercrly attacked. The Americans
fought for lwO days, AMI then tua reb.
els managed TO ignite the roof OF the
church, aud IL burned away and finally
Tell upon those inside the cdiiiCc. The
WALL remained intact, however, and
were used ~ shelter by the basiegeu
NmcricnDs for three DAYS longer, the
enemy attacking IL" lul!d!nS % 4ll
sides at once.
Tnc Americans continued firing from
the windows aud doors Of the church,
ana dld great execution among the
FllipinOs. II is estimate lhu, over 200
bodies being rcmHved from the accnu
OF the lighting.
After tive days resistance hy the
Americans II Lieutenant and eight men
arrived from I.at al ana engaged the
bcSlcgcrs, who thrrcupOn retire i. The
fortunate arrival OF these reinforce.
ments prevented the aunihiIation ot
the American force intrcnched in the
church, Who bad repeatedly declined
TO surrender when ordered 10 do SO by
the tllip!nO5. The ten survivors were
without food, had little ammunition
and were physically exhausted when
relieved.
This light has encouraged the r,li.
pjnos. who are now acting in an
aggressive manner and threatening
that section OF the coast, particu ariy
the town OF CAtGrma, whc zee the gar.
rlson probably will be Withdrawn TO
LaOan.
Gen Otis has so far not reported to
the war department tho casualties
sustained by the American garrison at
Catubig. The officials believe that he
is holding back the news with the ob-
ject OF supplying the names Of the vic
Tins nf the siege. Tho loss reported
in killed is the sevcrost suffered by t1y
American forces since the beginning
OF the Insure ctiOn, but even 81, the
Uill tla!s at the war department. could
not but express their adni.atiOu for TIE
heroic endurance anQ courage display.
cd by the littio garrison.
The department IS not informed as to
the composition Of this particular yar.
rlsOh, having only g. r0ugn statement
frOm the commanding general OF the
dist o5l,iOn Of each regiment among
certain islands, without particulars Uf
location Of each company.
Inc officers at the var department
who have seen service in the Philip
pines arc not surprised a. the fact tn at
an otliccr with eight soldiers was abic
to raise the siege. They say that the
f'ilipinos were probably dismayed at
the extent OF the punishment II ilictcd
uron them by the garrison before tho
relieving party came near, and then
they supposed it was but the advance
guard Of a formidable force and ran or.
Recent mail advicos to the war de-
partment from the Philippines indicate
that the latest plan OF tte Insurgents
Is to organize into mounted bands OF
100 and har2ss the American forces
wherever possible. These bands will
be scattered throughout the islands
and will be in daily communication
with each other ns far as possible by
means Of scouts, who will carry the
orders to govern concerted movements
and all information concerning re-
treats, reinforcements, etc.
According to the Liberal, the organ
OF the Fllipinos, S complete plan Of
military strategy will be drawn up, |
"as Il result Of which the Americans
will soon suffer-" The Liberal &C ,larcs |
that tho present war, far from being |
over, is really more vigorous than ever,
1t ia reported that strong insurgent
camp IS being organized in tho |
Himoales mountains by prominent |
general, ana that nearly all the towns |
of the provinces, whether occupied bv |
Americans or not, cOntinue tn nav
taxes for the sustenance Of the mi |
pinos In arms and the prosecution Of |
tho struggle