The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1901-10-05
FORCED TO RETREAT.
Disaster to United States Troops In
the Philippines.

seventy-Tws Men Of . Ninth Infantry
Company Attacked While at
BreaI<fast-rorty-E Killed
-Twenty-Four Escape.
Manila, Sept. 30.-A disastrous fight
between United States troops and in
surgents occurred Saturday in the is
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 insur-
gents compelled them to retreat. OF
the survivors, who have arrived at
Basey, II are wounded. According
to the latest returns the strength of
the company was ~. The survivors
include Capt. Thomas w. Connell,
First Lieut.. Edward A. Bumpus and
DIR. r. s. Griswold, surgeon. Capt.
Edwin v. Bookmiller, of the Ninth
infantry, reports that Gen. Hughes
is assembling force to attack the
insurgents. The insurgents captured
all the stores and ammunition Of the
company and all the rifles except 26.
Another Engagement.
Capt. Lawrence J. Hearn, of the
Twenty-frst infantry, reports Sc
we're engagement with insurgents
near Candelaria, the Americans los
ing one killed and two wounded. The
insurgent loss has not been ascer-
tanned. The Americans captured 3d.
900 pounds of rice and several hum
dred pounds of ammunition.
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 Gre
nted sensation in official circles. It
occurred for 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 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 1000 and $500 men. These
are distributed among various posts
in the island, large number being
located at the more important CEN
tiers. 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. The dis
aster to company C, of. the Ninth in
fantry, occurred, it is believed, while
1t was engaged in an expedition to
clear the country of rowing bands of
these insurgents. The fact that the
Americans were attacked while at
breakfast indicates the daring and
pluck of the insurgents.
Had Served I'm China.
Company sc" 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. Capt.
Thomas w. Connell, who, commanded
the company, was appointed to the
military academy from New York in
September, 1889, and First Lieut..
Bumpus was appointed to the army
from Massachusetts,, having served as
private in company A, First Massa-
chusetts heavy artillery. Surgeon
Griswold is recent addition to the
army, having crossed the Pacific ocean
with Adjt. Gen. Corbin on his recent
trip to the Philippines. During his
trip Gen. Corbin visited the island Of
Samar. 1t was just seven weeks ago,
he remarked, when discussing the
news of the disaster to company c,
that he was talking with Gen. Hughes
at Iloilo about the condition of af-
fairs in the islands. The point where
company C was surprised, he said,
was considerable distance from Gen.
Hughes headquarters. He was not
surprised at the attack on the troops
in Samar, as that was one of the is
lands considered particularly trouble
some. The natives along the coast
are friendly, but many Of those in the
interior are regarded Nas dangerous
guerrillas.
Won't Affect General Result.
Milwaukee, Sept. 3o.---When his at
tention was called to the dispatches