FIGHTING IN THE PHILIPPINES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2359, 11 May 1899, Page 24

FIGHTING IN THE PHILIPPINES.

AMERICANS IN MALOLOS.

A WEEK'S FIGHTING AND HEAVY

LOSSES.

By the Japan mail boat Futami Maru neAvs has been received (says the Sydney Telegraph) from Manila to March 31. On that date the Americans had captured Malolos. The account says : — The advance Avas commenced at La. Loma Church, on the north side of the city, at daylight, and no sooner had the Americans left their trenches than the insurgents opened up a heavy fire from the Avoodson the east side of the church, at about 1000 yards range. The Americans advanced in a long thin line some tAvo and a-half miles in exjtent, running north and south. TAvelve pieces of artillery and tAvo rapid-fire machine guns Avere kept to the front, dragged by mules or pulled over difficult places by the batterymen themseives. The natives remained in their trenches until the range was about 300 yards, and then they broke and ran through the coA r er of bamboos and gwamp land to San Francisco del Monte, where a short stand Avas made.

By half-past 7 the main body of the enemy on Brigadier-general Otis's front, which was the left wing of M'Arthur's division, had been driven back 'avo lr.'Jes, and Avere making desperate efforts to reach their comrades on the right beyond San Francisco del Monte, Avhere General Hale's brigade Avas being slightly checked l>y the heavy opposition and difficult country. The River Tuliayan runs almof-t east and Avest at right angles to the American advance, and it Avas hoped to rush the enemy so quickly that they could not cross the mer without heavy loss. The plan Avas partly successful, and by maintaining perfect junction between the tAvo brigades no broken place in the line permitted any rest or safe retreat. After reaching del Monte, General Hale sAvung his troops to the Jeft, and began the advance in a northerly direction. At the same time General Otis changed his front slightly, and proceeded straight on to the river. General Hall, with three regiments, Avas stationed on the extreme right beyond Hale, and, taking his position from Hale's right wing, he marched eastward, passing south of San B^rancisco del Monte, and jpenetrating almost as far out as the Avatenvorks and San Mateo Valley. On the extreme left General Wheaton, with three regiments, occupied the trenches in front of Caloocan, and as soon as Otis reached the river Wheaton began his advance along the railroad. Thus the entire country from the railroad on the north to the waterworks, eight miles east of the city, Avas on the move. It was planned for Otis and. Hale to carry the advance as far as Novaliches, north-east of the city, then to swing left and SAveep the country in a Avesterly direction as far as Polo. At the same time Wheaton was to advance up the railroad and join M'Arthur, the division commander, at Polo, which is 15 kilometres from Manila. But the difficulties of fording the Tuliayan River, and the heaA T y Avork of the cavalry and baggage trains combined, and the rough character of the country, prevented the fulfilment of the scheme. After crossing the river the troops marched in a westerly direction along the north bank toward the railroad.

On Sunday afternoon Prince Lonvenstein went out on the firing lines and finally joined the Oregon Regiment, Avhere the Avork was severe in front of Malabon. The rebels were strongly entrenched in hidden places, and Colonel Summers warned the Prince to remain in the reserve, as the danger Avas A*ery great. However, he joked about the danger, and thanking the colonel, he told him he would be cautious. He advanced beyond the lines, and came under a cross fire of Americans and insurgents. The unfortunate man was found shot in the abdomen, and died shortly after.

On Sunday afternoon Wheaton met M'Arthur's advance guard near Malinta. A river separated the forces, and the insurgents Avere fortified on the north bank. All the morning the trenches Arere shelled by the artillery, and the infantrymen picked off the enemy as they retreated to the brush in small bunches of 10 or 15 at a time. After the trenches Avere Avell emptied the troops adA r anced, crossing on the railroad bridge, which Avas partly destroyed, and entered the fields south of Melinta without a shot being fired. The position the insurgents had A'acated Avas unusually strong, protected by trenches and forts with earth banks 15ft thick, and casemates to break the effect of shrapnel. Dozens of places Avere found Avhere the shells had hit, inflicting comparatively little damage. At Melinta a trap was laid, which caused the death of a breA-et Brigadier-general and seven men. The desertion of the trenches led the troops to believe that the natiA-es had retreated a long distance ahead. Scouts returned stating that the enemy were nowhere in sight. Accordingly the men advanced confidently, little expecting an attack, when suddenly, just as the line was coming over the broAV of a hill in front of an old ruined church, a heavy fire opened up from front and right. The 22nd U.S. Infantry, which fought in Cuba, Avas on the direct front, and immediately began the charge, supported on the right by the 3rd U.S. Infantry and the 3rd U.S. Artillery. In 20 minutes the enemy had been driven flying through the tvoods, but the short fight caused the death »f Brigadier-general Egbert, former colonel of the 22nd Regiment.

The same night the troops reached the outskirts of Polo, and in the morning the town was occupied, but not before a large portion had been burned by the deserting natives.

. A line Avas now drawn in, and a more compact fro.nt formed, with Otis and Hale >n the firing line under M'Arthur, and RTheaton placed in the reserve. Murciiwuu Marilao, "and B6c*Y« W*&>

all taken, each one after a fight, in which both sides lost more or less heavily. The rivers and lack of roads greatly retarded the progress of the army and many hundred yards of railway Avere destroyed. Nearly all the waggon bridges Avere damaged, but as a rule they were so strongly built by the Spaniards that the Filipinos could not entirely remoA^e the massive stone arches. Several attempts were made to burn the railroad bridges, but with little success. ONE HUNDRED PRISONERS TAKEN.

At Marilao the Americans succeeded in surprising the rebel trench on the opposite bank, less than '100 yards distant. A redhot infantry fire Avas rained into the works, preventing the enemy from running to cover, which lay some 300 yards behind the trench, until the artillery Avas brought up. Tavo or three shrapnel at close range so thoroughly scared them that a Avhite flag Av t is held up over the trench, folloAved by the butts of guns Avith the bayonets stuck in the ground. Two soldiers of the Pennsylvania Regiment SAvam the river and took the flag. The troops were hurried across, and about 100 prisoners were taken in Avith their arms. This was the first large surrender, and the natiA r es must have been thoroughly frightened. From Bocave the march Avas uneventful, beyond small fights occurring at nearly eA'ery bit of wooded country, until Guiguinto, 30 kilometres from Manila was reached. Here a' considerable force was met, and a hard fight of an hour ensued, during which, the enemy lost about 80 and the Americans 30 in killed and Avounded.

Every town Avas completely deserted, only chickens, dogs, and a crowd of thei inevitable Chinamen being found. Many of the villages Avere destroyed by fire before the insurgents left.

Prisoners taken at Guiguinto stated that Aguinoklo was present during the fighting, and a large number of his staff officers also* viewed the operations. The general impression is that Don Emilio Avas many miles beyond the danger line.

On Thursday night the troops had reached Santa Isabel, a little toAvn on the railroad, one mile and a-half from Malolos. Four miles just covered had produced no opposition Avhatever, though several lines of vacant trenches were passed. Just at dark the enemy were discoA'ered by scouts to be entrenched at the edge of the woods, beyond some open paddy-fields 1000 yards ahead, but they were not disturbed.

A NARROW ESCAPE

General M'Artlnir had a narrow escape, also Adjutant Strong and three correspondents, who were standing on the railroad, which is considerably higher than the surrounding fields. The party was looking over a map which General M'Arthur was explaining, when suddenly a volley of Muusers came down the road, many bullets ' striking within a dozen feet. Everyone dug for cover 'with all possible haste, except the General, who scarcely shifted his position. Skirmishers were immediately sent out, who discovered a concealed trench less than 300 yards away, and a few shots were exchanged Avith the fleeing sharpshooters.