WAR IN THE PHILIPPINES. DETAILS OF THE FIGHTING.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3676, 28 February 1899, Page 5

WAR IN THE PHILIPPINES. DETAILS OF THE FIGHTING.

TEN THOUSAND FILIPINOS 1 SLAUGHTERED.

AN UNFORTUNATE MISTAKE,

' , Sydney, Monday. The steamer Changsha bringsi details of the opening battle between the Americans and the Filipinos. The fighting began at nine o’clock in the evening of Saturday, 4th January. The Americans numbered about 20,000, and the rebels, who were entrenched around Manila, about 100,000. The Filipinos fired the first shot, and advanced upon the Americans, who at first retreated. This move drew the natives into the open country, where they were mowed down by the American bullets. 1 The firing of the Filipinos .was very poor, though they were well armed. When daybreak came, the Americans assumed the aggressive with great slaughter. The enemy’s train, loaded with reinforcements, was sighted on Saturday morning by the American fleet that was anchored in. Manila harbour, and was literally blown to matchwood. The warships also shelled the Filipino positions with most deadly results. It is estimated that about TOGO of: the rebels were killed in this way; The. American land forces' fiercely drove the enemy before them, the vigour of the onslaught paralysing therm * It is estimated that" 10,000 Filipinos and. less .than 200 Americans were killed. Further- -details, of . the fighting at Manila show that on the Sunday the natives retreated, their houses and strongholds” being fired by the” Americans, who drove them from their township. >'•' The Americans had 400 wounded, but as the, Filipinos used brass ; cartridges, the subsequent" "mortality" ambngst.tthoso injured is expected to - be considerable. - A ' great number of Filipinos were wounded, . and. 1600 wore , taken prisoners. ’ ," , The.iFilipihos showed no quarter to the prisoners-ox - , the woundgd. ; . It was' Vwjtli; the Vgrcatest; difficulty that the fightixig was-deferred so long. The Filipinos jinsulted-the American outposts dfiily in every possible way—coming; close up, sharpening - knives, - and challenging them, to .• fight-; .■ also ; calling the"Aniexpcans cowards, and saying they were afraid to fight. ; . - : . During , the skirmishing ; which - has taken place in- the streets of Manila in conttection . With- the. Filipino .attacks; on the soldiers.. engaged • in., suppressing the incendiary fires,, a dreadful mistake was made..

A’ number of Englishmen were mistaken for Filipinos, and. were, fired upon by i the ; Americans. .: One of them ■ was killed and two others were wounded.