Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-01-30
NEW CoALING STATION
Admiral Watson Reports. Taking
Possession of the Harbor of Isa-
bella for the Navy.

| washing tOll. Jan. ~. - Admiral wat
son reports that he has taken posses
sion of the Isabella coaling station, and
established marine garrison there I'M
der command of Lieut.. Long. A short
time ago, feeling the need of coaling
station for the use of smaller vessels in
the Philippine archipelago in the south
ern islands remote from Manila, Adj
miral Watson diSnatched vessel to
look into the conditions at Zamboanga.
where the Spaniards had maintained a
garrison and Il small coaling station for
many years. 1t was found upon inves-
| tigation, however, that the harbor at
that point was not suitable for naval
vessels, owing to shallow water and, at
tention being directed elsewhere, n
small but perfectly protected and deep
harbor was found IN Basilan island.
where the Spaniar had already estab-
lished coa!ing station.
The navy, as already stated, took pos
session of this, garrisoned tie place,
and is taking steps to add to its Goa.
supply.
The Solace sailed Saturday from Ma
Mia for San Francisco, and on the way
She will touch at the new coaling sta
ton, as well as 1loilo. Cebu and Guam,
and thence returning to Yokohama will
strike across the acific for San Fran
cisco. She will carry the bodies of
Capt. Nichols, who died while in COM
mand of the Mona mock; and Capt. In
gate, of the marine corps, who died at
Guam, from a surgical operation.
Manila, Jan. pa dispatch from
Sorsogon. dated Thursday, January rs,
says Brig. Gen. Kobbe's expedition
has occupied Sorso gon, Donsol, Bulan,
Legaspi and Nirac, on Catanduapes
island. The only resistance was at
Legaspi, where five Americans were
wounded and As dead and is wounded
Filipinos were found.
1t is estimated that there are 1875 900
bales of hemp in these provinces, and
10000 bales in the ports of Sorsogon
and Legaspi The United States gun
boat Nashville's shrapnel burned 3d.
600 bales in Legaspi.
The expedition arrived off Sorsogon
January 20, and the town displayed
white flags. Gen. Kobbe and Col. Howe,
with battalion of the Forty-seventh
infantry, landed and raised the United
States flag. The insurgent force, num-
bering 300 men, evacuated the place.
The natives were passive. During the
morning of January 90 the Nashville
and Venus, with four companies of the
Forty-seventh infantry regiment, I'M
der Maj. Shipton, approached Legaspi
Filipino flags were flying and the
trenches were crowded.
A detachment of $50 picked men, led
by Maj. Shipton, landed on the beach
about mile north of the town, the
Nashville bombarded the trenches, and
the enemy retreated to Albay, whence
they were easily dispersed to the hills.
About 200 insurgents, armed with
rifles, forced 600 unwilling villagers,
armed with bows and arrows, to serve
in the trenches in the close range
street fighting before the enemy fled
The Filipino dead were mostly villagers
who were attempting to fee. The ex-
petition will proceed to Samar and
Leyte, where the Forty-third infantry
and battalion of the Third artillery
will be distributed. The natives COM
plain of lack of food. resulting from
The blockade. They are strongly OPP
posed 10 the return of the friars. Ma
i've priests are officiating in the
hurches.