Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-04
PRISONERS RELEASED
LIEUT.. GIBBONS EXPEDITION IN THE
SOUTH OF LUZoN,
Hardships Connected with the Enter
prise-The Corporation
of the Navy.

The Navy Department has made public
a report from Lieut.. ]. H. Gibbons, at
tached to the Brooklyn, upon an expedition
conducted by him in the south Of Luzon in
the latter part Of February last which re-
suited in the release of SD prisoners, mostly
Spaniards, who had been held by the Fill
pinos for many months. Lieut. Gibbons
report, dated on board the Brooklyn, at
Cavite. March 4, shows that he was placed
in command of the United States transport
General Alava, with detail of officers and
men from the Brooklyn, on the 18th of Feb
ruary. and proceeded to the vicinity of San
Narcfso, Gulf Of Ragay. at the southern ex-
tremity of Luzon. in search of these pris-
oners. with whom insurgent guard was
retreating. Of Guinayaban some of the
Spanish prisoners who had escaped came
aboard, reporting that thirty-six Spanish
prisoners who were disabled had been left
by the insurgents at that town. and the re-
matnder of the prisoners, including some
Americans were being carried to Piris.
Prisoners Released.
The Alava at once made for Piris and
landing party at the head of the bay I'M
der command of Lieutenant Brown, U. s.
NJ c., with twenty marines the insurgent
guard fled and the prisoners were released
and brought aboard the ship. There were
among them ten Americans, seventy two
Spanish officers, with the wife of one; sew
enteen priests, thirty-one merchants, four
Filipinos and 3Ss Spanish soldiers. including
the wife of one There was a good deal of
hardship connected with the expedition, and
Lieutenant Gibbons reports that he cannot
speak too enthusiastically of the energy and
zeal shown by the members Of the expedi-
ton, and particularly of their cheerful CO.
operation in the all-night work involved.
In transmitting the report Admiral Wat
son calls the departments attention to the
CELEBRITY with which the expedition was
nv no Prnn 11xry oy,1 hof ,,-th hos
says that much credit is due to Lieutenant
Gibbons for his zeal and ability. to Lieuten-
ant Commander Mahan IN fitting out the
expedition, and to Lieutenant Brown Of the
marine corps and Naval Cadet Mcintyre.
The Nays Cooperation.
The report is accompanied by a graceful
acknowledgment from Gen. J. C. Bates Of
the services rendered by the navy In CO.
operating with the army in the expedition
into the southern provinces of Luzon. In
his letter Gen. Bates says:
Commander Gheen, U. S. N, command
ing the U. S. 8. Marietta, directed the move
ment5 of the several transports, and on ar
irving in San Miguel bay, February 20, per-
sonally conducted the Decentralization of
the force landed at the southwest corner Of
the bay, being assisted by Ensign White,
Z. N, and using the steam launch end
beats OF the Marietta, manned from the
crew of the Marietta At the same time
Lieut.. Commander Irwin, Z. s. N, similarly
conducted the landing of force at the
southwest corner of the bay, being assisted
by Lieut.: Price, U. S. N, and Ensign
Graeme. U. s. n.
"On the following day the Marietta's
launch towed company IN the Marietta's
boats TO Cabasao, at the mouth of the Bicol
river, where the troops Were landed; them
the Montanes having grounded on the bar
Just outside the mouth of the river, the
Martettas launch took the two companies
which the Montanes was towing and turned
them over to the Baltimore, which had al
ready entered the river. Later, the Baltf-
more having grounded about mile below
the point of Decentralization, the launch
towed the four companies up to that point,
making several trips for that purpose
The gunboat Paragua having arrived the
night of February p, took one company up
to Nueva Caceres on the 22d, arriving there
a few minutes before the marching column
reached that point. Great difficulty having
been experienced in getting supplies up the
river, both the Paragua and launch Of the
Marietta lowed up some much-needed ra-
tons and ammunition.
In the disembark alton of troops near Daet
and Mambulao, North Camarines, on the
4th instant, the troops were landed by the
Paragua and Mariettas launch.
Commander Gheen and Lieutenant Alt
house and the officers and men Of the Ma
rietta and Paragua most cheerfully and
efficiently co-operated with my troops and
complied with every request I made.'