Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1899 — MOVE UPON MALOLOS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MOVE UPON MALOLOS.

AMERICAN TROOPS CLOSE IN ON AQUINALDO. Hot Engagement Extends Over Three Darn - A merican Lo» About 40 Killed mod 200 Wounded—Many Natives Die. —Filipino* Retreat to Their Capital. • The fighting around Manila was resumed Sunday at different points, the outcome of the day's operations being lurther victory for the American arms and the continued retreat of the rebels, though the enemy was strongly intrenched and the natural obstacles to our advance were almost insuperable. The Filipinos were forced back at every point, but owing to the destruction of bridges and the roughuess of the country the Americans were unable to follow up their advantage as promptly as could have been wished. Many of our soldiers suffered severely from the intense beat and there were several prostrations, but neither heat, a strongly intrenched enemy, tangled bamboo thickets, nor brass bullets intimidated our gallant fellows, who drove the Filipinos before them wherever they found them. Gen. MacArthur and Gen. Wheaton at the head of their brigades carried off the honors of the day. The former, with three brigades, assisted by the army gun-

boats, drove the enemy out of. their trenches around Polo, although they held strong positions and the advance upon them was over a rough country. The rebels could not withstand the impetuous onset of our men and were driven back like sheep, after firing a single volley. Gen. Wheaton’s brigade, after a sharp engagement, took Malinta, but could not follow up this advantage at once, owing to the destruction of a bridge by the rebels and i the impossibility of fording the river. An j incident of Gen. Wheaton’s advance was the evacuation of tbe city of Malabon and its burning by the rebels, which Gen. Wheaton was unable to prevent owing to the natural obstacles in his front. It is a grateful feature of the day's operations that onr casualties were light, so far as tbe number of killed is concerned. Among these was Gol. Egbert of the Twenty-second Infantry, one of the most gallant officers in the army, who was shot in the thickest of the fighting, the place where he was most likely to be found. He had proved his gallantry in the civil war and he was wounded at San Juan. He | died shortly after receiving the praises of Gen. Wheaton for his splendid courage and fine work. In his death the army has lost one of its best soldiers. The total ■, number of Americans killed in tbe en- j gagement of Saturday, Sunday and Mon- ; day is 40 and the wounded 200. Severe fighting continued Monday and our casualties were about forty. The in- > surgents destroyed bridges, which imped- ' ed progress of train and artillery. Our troops met the concentrated insurgent j forces on northern line, commanded by Aguinaldo in person, and drove them with considerable slaughter. They left nearly 100 dead on field, and many prisoners and small arms were captured. The army has forced its wny through an i almost impassable country, while sailering from the intense heat and having to epgage an enemy who will not fight in the open, bat retreats from one internchmeut to another behind which they are concealed while our gallant troops are exposed to their volley firing. Our troops are gradually closing around them. Opinions differ in Washington as to what the effect upon the insurgents will be in tbe event the American troops soon capture Malolos, the headquarters of Aguinaldo, and drive the insurgents to the jungles. By some, it is thought that would practically end the war, but ethers hold that as long as the Filipinos can procure supplies they are apt to keep up a guerrilla warfare, and that it may be many months before they lay do\vn their arms and ask for terms. The conflict has gone bo far that the authorities are determined that the campaign mast be waged fiercely. SPANISH AID TUB REBELS. Prisoners Released ou Condition that They Take Up Anna. The suspicion which had for some time been entertained by War Department officials in Washington—namely, that Aguinaldo had released the Spanish prisoners of war ou condition that they take up arms against the Americana—was confirmed by the message from Geß. Otis, which was received Sunday. The Spaniards who remained ia the power of the insurgents have made common cause with them, and Gen. Gorbin was ready to admit that this had been his belief for some time. The Spaniards are good fighters, and it id their influence which is responsible for the recent resistance to the American advances. With' out their help and leadership the Filipinoshad given no indication of military knowlor heroic conduct. They ran like Moef» under the first fire. Now they stand and fight to the death. Gen. Gorbin says the best estimate of Agninaldo’a strength is 30,000. Admiral Dewey recently said to a newspa|R*r correspondent: “I am beginning to think I may never see our owiLrfieantry again; the campaign is now assuming such an aspect that I cannot think of going home. I am grateful to my country for gratifying my highest ambition. All I now ask ia that the people stop writing to mfc.” J. Frank Wheaton, a member of the present Legislature in Minnesota, is the first colored man who ever sat in that body. He was elected by n constituency of 0,000 voters, only fifty of whom are colored mem vw A n, Un

COT. H G. EGBEHT.