The Worthington advance., 1901-10-04
SURPRISED BY F|L|P|NOS.
A Company Of the Ninth Infantry
Trapped on Island Of Samar
and Many Killed.
Attacked While at Dreakfast and Re-
treat After Making STUBBORN ne
sistance-Nevvs Creates a Sensat1on
in Washington-One Theory of the
Outbreak.

Manila, Sept. 30.-A disastrous fight
between United States troops and IN
surgents occurred Saturday in the ls-
land of Samar, near Balangiga. A
large body of insurgents attacked
company C, Ninth infantry, only "a
members of the company escaping.
All the others are reported to have
been killed. The company was at
breakfast when attacked and made
a determined resistance, but the
overwhelming numbers of the lnsur-
gents compelled them to retreat. VI
the survivors, who have arrived at
Basey, II are wounded. According
to the latest returns the strength OF
the company was u. The survivors
include Capt. Thomas W. Connel,
First Lieut.. Edward A. Bumpus and
DR.. r. S. Griswold, surgeon. Capt.
Edwin V. Bookmiller, of the Ninth
infantry, reports that Gen. Hughes
is assembling a force to attack the
insurgents. The insurgents captured
all the stores and ammunition OF the
company and all the rifles except 26.
News Creates Sensation.
Washington, Sept. 30.-News of the
disastrous fight between troops OF
the Ninth infantry and the insur-
gents in the island of Samar Saturday
was sent promptly by Gen. Hughes
commanding in that island, to Gen.
Chaffee at Manila and by him trans
mitted to the war department. 1t
reached the department during the
early hours Sunday, and Adjt. Gen.
Corbin, realizing it's Importance, at
once made it public, after sending
copy to the white house. Gen. Chat
fees dispatch agrees with the Asso-
ciated Press dispatch. The news cre-
ated a sensation in official circles. 1t
was the first severe reverse that has
occurred for a long time. Still the
officials were not unprepared for
news of just this character from
Samar, in which the revolution start
ed by Aguinaldo still continues. I'm
mediately upon receipt of the dis
patch, Adjt. Gen. Corbin cabled Gen.
Chaffee to send complete report of
the fight and list of the casualties.
The Island of samar.
Samar is a country about as large
as the state of Ohio, and the Amer
lean forces of occupation number in
all between 1900 and 1850 men. These
are distributed among various posts
in the island, large number being
located at the more important GEN.
ters. Spain never made any effort to
occupy samar, and it only has been
for probably three months past that
the United States has undertaken
that work. The latest report made
by Gen. Hughes to the war depart
ment was that the number of insur-
gent rifles in the island aggregated
about 300. The Filipinos carried on a
guerrilla warfare and operations
against them were difficult.
Had Served in China.
Company &C" was portion of the
Ninth regiment of United States in
fantry, which went to China at the time
of the Boxer outbreak and which there
performed valiant service. Later the
troops went to Manila and were en-
gagged in provost duty in that city.
During the past month battalion of
the Ninth was sent to Samar.
Won't Affect General Result.
Milwaukee, Sept. 3o.-When his at
tention was called to the dispatches
announcing the disaster that had
overtaken company c, of the Ninth
infantry, Gen. Arthur Macarthur
said:
''This is one OF those deplorable, isolated
incidents which will have no effect upon the
general result. 1t is a portion Of the in
surrection which has been conducted by
Gen. Lukban, which has never been sup
pressed. There are plenty of soldiers there
to ultimately subdue the rebellion in the
island of Samar. The details are too
meager for me to discuss the subject. The
dispatch contains all the information that
can be had at this time. can add nothing