The St. Louis Republic., 1901-10-06

| had hastily continued the retreat 10 Perez
| iaamariuas. The Alcaldc believed II prob
| able that they had fled still further away.
how far he did not know. but that did not
matter now. He wished to say that he was
: only too glad to w"icoin" the Americans.
and at the same time TO get rid Of the
I treachcruus Filipino army. which ate all
| their food and kept them poor.
| To garrison 'he town the Fourteenth In.
/ fantry moved UP over a beautiful ROAD
| which ran along the bank of a deep and
I winding river, past great rice fields and by
The, side Of salt pogis. with their curious
Garth. upon which the salt crystalizes.
Z There was not soul In linus to receive
US in fact, as the troops marched through
the outer streets "A few Inhabitants were
seen scattering through the back yards and
breaking down the fences. apparently en-
dcavoring to get a. far away as possible
from the friends who 1t had been repre-
THE PRIEST CONES.
~ solitary black-robed priest came for
ward TO meet the troops. lie alone welcomed
us. with many prutestatons Of affection.
apglogizlng for the timidity OF the populace
and explaining that the Mayor had not yet
returned from his visit to General Lawton.
He may have been honest In his representa-
tinns. but the evident treachery which fol-
lowed a few DAYS later makes one skeptical
"One battalion remained at the bridge IN
the rear. another battalion ensconced itself
within the stone vail OF the churchyard. and
nectod with the cathedral for sleeping
quarters. while the rest moved further into
the town and took possession of empty
houses for their temporary abode.
"The next act In the drama was when the
so-caileI Alcadc Of Las Marinas presented
himself at General Wheaton's headquarters
on June - and announced MS desire of sur
rendering the town To the Americans. He
said that not more than 90 insurgents had
been in the town during the week, and that
at ~ o'clock the night before they had left
for the south, he knew not exactly where
THE JOURNEY BEGINS.
There was but one regiment In linus at
this time. the Fourth Unitfd States Infantry
having taken the place ot the Fourteenth
Infantry. and two guns Of Lieutenant Koch
ler's Battery. Sixth Artillery. General
Wheaton had had small attachments scout
ing the country over without finding the
enemy. and obtained permission from the
division commander then IN Manila TO
send battaliun OF the Fourth toward Las
Nariuas on q accommodating expedition. The
First Battalion under Ma or BIbb WAS Sc
leCtcd. and started with 800 men and one
32-inch artillery piece In cnsr-e Of Lieuten
ant koehler. at haif past $ a. IN. ON the
10Th. over the military highway.
The day Was cloudy and cool and the
first five miles advance WAS very common
place, through fiat country Of rice fields.
which often We could not see for the inter
posing copses on the roadside. and the in
termlnable line of thatched houses Of the
peasants. tucked away In little gardens
filed with wild confusion of tropical
growth. The natives seemed all to be stay
ing Mt home. They crowded to the windows
Of their tiny houses. set on Stilfs and |
watched rs with interest as we passed. |
There were more young. brawny fellcdss |
than usual and fewer children.
Some greeted US with a smile. other |
gilut.d us griniy and more sat with irnpus- /!
sive faces. watching US move into the trap |
On the last mile there were many deserted |
houses. sure evidence usually that the |
insurgents are near, yet the staff officers 1
seem not t" have attached much importance |