New-York tribune., 1900-04-22
IN HISTORIC BALER.
OF A FAMOUS TOWN BY A
FORCE UNDER GENERAL FUNSTON.

officers
sound the eastern side OF Luzon. There are very
few towns or villages on this coast. apd one can
cruise along II for days, seeing no sign OF human
occupation Down south in the Camarines ana
Albay provinces there few ports on this Pa
cifc side. such Legaspi. Tobacco and Daet ana
those we have lately occupied and garrisoned, but
with those exceptions and that OF Baler the IA
cifc coast OF Luzon Island Is practically unknown
our army OF occupation. General Funston last
month led an expedition into Baler, the Pacihc
side and a little north of Manila, and left there
garrison Of the 34th Volunteer Infantry Spaniard
In Spain here in Manila would never think or
calling this little hamlet simply Baler; with him II
would be "Baler, heroically defended by the
Spanish soldiers" or Glorious Baler." and to-day
II soldier OF Spain truthfully say L was at
Baler,'' he becomes great and envied in the
eyes OF his companies; he is the subject or nero
worship OF distinctly commercial and gratifying
character-it is considered honor to drink with
a hero Of Baler'
THE SIEGE OF BALER.
During the summer OF 1898 the Spanish forces at
Baer were having their customary trouble with
the Fipinos in that vicinity. Some OF this spanish
garrison was Withdrawn. others were killed until
finally about fifty Spaniards commanded by cap
tain, withdrew with a years provisions into the
now historic Church OF Baler. and there they were
oesieged by the rebels for eleven months Ihls
garrison reduced thrty-three souls, surrendered
10 the FilIpinos, with all the honOrs of war July
2, 1899. In the summer OF 1899 the head of the
Spanish army in the Philippines realized that the
resistance of this Baler garrison needless and
rather of place. insomuch the United States
had vanquished SPAIN declared her sovereignty
over the Filipino people and engaged in queiI-
ing their revolt It was consequently, DECIDED 10
communicate with this garrison, explain 10 them
those facts and order them to quit. With this end
IN view Lieutenant-Colonel Aguiar arrived or me
town of Baler May 80, and explaining his mission
Filipino officer commanding that district re-
ceived the latters permission 10 land and comrnun-
with the beseged Spaniards. Early one morn
had he chm
white and Spanish flag only TO be told py the
guards to back that same afternoon at d
o'clock the commanding officer Lieutenant
saturnino Martin Cerezo. had been up all night
then sleeping and could not be disturbed Al
o'clock the Colonel received the privilege Of speak
ing the Lieutenant and handed him a letter from
the Leutenant's commanding officer directing MIN
to place himself Colonel Aguilar's orders The
Lieutenant refused follow these orders and even
after he had been shown newspapers which proved
that his resistance needless and tnopportune'
he still declined surrender or leave the church
he had so long defended Il have provisions enough
TO last my garrison until August Is; not until these
are exhausted will surrender he said. Colonel
Aguilar returned Manila without accomplishing
the object his trip
Later in July a Spanish commission from Manila
" ent 70 the Filipino lines to and bring ABOUT
the release of the $500 Spanish prisoners stiH held
by the rebels Their efforts were unsuccessful eH-
cept in the of the defenders of the Baler gar
rson numbering thirty-three all told. This oanu
=,
being exhausted. and their captors had conveyed
them with the most kind and considerate treat
ment wonderfully brave and determined men,
to the town of Cabanatuan- Captain Las Morenas'
Lieutenant Alonso and thirteen prtvates had either
died or been killed during the siege. The survivors
returned from Cabanatuau Manila with the
Spanish Commissioners and here they became the
heroes OF the hour among the Spanish residents
FUNsTON'S EXPEDITION.
General Funston in territory Baler is stu-
ated decided to occupy the town. and nsomuch as
rebels IN strong force reported in that vicinity
and il was known that the church was well
adapted a strong resistance, he took with MN
three companies of the 34th Infantry and a Hotch-
kiss gun. all under the command of Colonel l. w
V Kennon of the 34th Regiment. Information was
obtained trails and passes, the SNpeulttloI'
mao General Funston himself had personal
| cert OF fourteen picked and mounted men The eH-
Bongabong and from this latter point sLruck INTO
! American soldiers This march Ike many our
troops have already made and will again make n IN
it rained daily and the ground was muddy ana
| travel hard and exhau=ting ne iohS me o.
les and ra vines packs became disarranged at the
'st e ao oonortnne moments the big mules stumbled
and fell and crashed through the bushes, and went
plungng down a hill steep almost as the SIDE
and had to be shot This kind OF rough travel
the top of that particular mountain range; aT9 5 G,l
the third dav came 70 river moving tQ"aru ilg g
]
/ with bovjers some as big a ; a cottage, was the
| next line of march. Men and beasts slipped over
their by the current and horses , ana mus mus
often came down with crash Of falnng s9 Rafhs fh
river and down this arcade OF cooi, green shaa9
! spiashed and spluttered to continuous accompaRl-
ment Of dashtng water and the chck OF ron l3oiS ;
stretches OF road, and these were used as f1r as
practicable On of these roads were IoIlilu ti
rst sign of the enemy IN the shape OF ms iocaITy
reported that the American troops were ~ egI g
! at such a simple matter for the enemy 10 Sel eni
! native runners ahead giving notice OF Jhss sol
! diers approach and that the rebels hau IeiI ""l
II The frst night on the river spent at hamlet
! called San Jose and the following day; the hIll
80 +ba eTnedition started the deserted town OF
Baer entered and occupied Deserted WIN WIN l tle
! protection Of white flags explained they we're OF
another tribe and locality ana had had holHiH6 "
! do with the revolution
THE CHURCH OF BALER.
-r,a church Of Baler was the object of immediate
! ,r-a-aet and examination It's walls four feet
thick al and taper 10 two feet at the top
! The outside OF the walls found 10 be pitted
all over with bullet marks, and the zinc roof or the
! building actually Ike 4 sieve The walls also
/ bore evidences Of protecties from cannons and a
! few hundred wards away five old smooth bore guns
were found Inside the church the most noticeable
/ thing was a vast accumulation OF sardine cans,
| lived almost entirely sardines The forma ton
OF the land there is such Lhat g9od "a.er car. g og
thus bv shallow wells. the besteged procured llelr
water wat supply @ e ne 6eaviIv baTrca9ed with stones
! A line Of tntrenchments surrounded the puldlng az
! a distance OF about seventy-ive yards, and from
their position and construction they We're evidently
| built by Spaniards The rebels had trenches
said that during the latter part Of the siege the
rebels occupied the Spantards tTenches ana ana the
latter were confined 70 the church itsel Ihat m me
rebels made strenuous efforts TO effect the capture
Of this position 6ad nasssd Py rebe
officers. One letter was rom me Flplno 0diGer i