The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-12-04

nerve to remain in their trenches until the
Americans reached the pits. When the
advancing line reached these places the
Filipinos were Il mile away and going far
ther, and they had plenty of time to pick
;heir way across the distractions unmO-
Tested. This is but a sample of hundreds
Of elaborate schemes the Filipinos have
from time to time concocted for the slaugh-
ter of Americans, all of which have failed
because of the lack of nerve to execute
them. Another illustration was given this
same day and at the same place.
Along the bank of the river and but u
little distance from these railroad trenches,
was fake or dummy breastwork, made
of bamboo and faced with a thin layer of
dirt through which a bullet would pass
easily. On the opposite side of the river,
the side the Oregons passed along. was a
genuine trench. 1t was their expecta-
ton that the Americans in their adj
vance would occupy this fake trench,
and then from the masked trench op-
posite the insurgents would pour q
voley of bullets through it and kill
most of those who imagined it was fur
nishing them protection. 1t was clever
scheme, but, as before, when the I'D ar
rived at the fake trench the F'ilipinOs, who
ought to have been lying low in the trench
across the river, were more than two miles
from there, making time to get out of the
way of the smoking Springtieids of the
yelling Oregons. 1t was another clever
scheme gone wrong.
As l said before, in advancing against
these works the I'D had to cross an open
rice field fully mile wide. and every foot
of that field was within the danger zone
of the Filipino fire. With modern mill
tary rifles it makes a little difference
whether one is on the firing line or several
hundred yards i'll the rear of it. Both are
equally points of danger. = "A Colonel in his
proper position in the rear OF his line is i'll
just as much danger from the shots of the
enemy as are the priyates on the line
itself, and even a brigade commander, if
lie keeps close enough to see for himself
what is going on, must keep within the
sweep of the enemy's fire.
DEATH OF GES!i EGBERT.
| have kodak picture of the line of the
I'D at this very time, taken by man of
the Hospital Corps, which shows Gen.
Wheaton giving orders TO Il staff officer
but about 200 yards in the rear of the firing
line. Gen. Egbert does not show in the
picture. but he was probably still nearer
the line than was Gen, Wheaton. This
was the situation when he received NOR
tai wound, one from which he died in a
few minutes, only being able to say a few
words to Gen. Wheaton. words of good-by
ana satisfaction with the death that had
come to him on the battlefield after long
years of faithful and gallant service to
his country.
Notwithstanding the death of its COM
mander the 22d PUSHED steadily on and
captured the trenches and the town and
continued to drive the Filipinos for sew
eral miles, until Wheaton's Brigade was
Withdrawn from the fight and the advance
was continued by the other brigades of
MacArthurs army, which three days later,
days of continuous fighting and advance.
occupied Malolos, the rebel capital, nearly
40 miles from where the first heavy in
trencllments Were captured in front Of
Malabon. 1t was the longest aud best
sustained lighting of the entire campaign.
lasting during a continuous advance of
FIVE days, and it broke the back of Aguin-
4fido's army. Had the advance been
pushed there would have been no army left,