Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1899 — MALOLOS IS CAPTURED. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MALOLOS IS CAPTURED.

laanrgent Capital Taken by Aneripaa Troop*—Aguinaldo Eacapea. Malolos. the Filipino capital, was captured and destroyed Friday, but Agulnaldo managed to elude the Americans and escaped in safety. After three hoars of desperate fighting the natives, realizing that further effort was hopeless, net fire to the city and fled in disorder. A targe portion of Aguinaldo’s army managed to break through the lines and the men scattered in every direction, leaving guns and swords behind. The American loss was comparatively small, considering the severe nature of the combat. Rapidfire guns had been trained upon the city and spread consternation among the native troops. MacArthur began the attack at 7 o’clock in the morning, having the city practically surrounded by his forcos. Line after line of intrenchments was stormed, the defenders failing back into the town. At last the natives found that they could do no more, so they applied the torch to buildings in every direction and began the retreat. Aguinaldo and his cabinet sought safety in flight, escaping capture. Filipinos taken by the Americans say that the native leader left Malolos Wednesday, and, with his chief supporters, headed fo* the north. Although by this move Aguinaldo may claim that he saved his capital from falling into the bands of the United States forces, it is doubtful if he can retain his influence over the native forces. Many Filipino officers consider the flight an un-called-for retreat in the face of the opposition, and they declare that the chief

should have stood by his men to the hut. Thousands of desertions from the native army are certain to follow the leader's action. The American flag was raised over Mtlolos at 10 o’clock Friday morning. The Kansas regiment and the Montana regiment, on entering the city, found it deserted, the presidencia horning, and the rebels retreating toward the mountains in a state of terror. The American loss was small. It was evident the rebels for some time past had abandoned all hope of holding their capital, for the Americans found there evidence of elaborate preparations for departure. On the railroad the rails and ties for abont a mile had been torn up and probably thrown into the river. The only prisoners captured were a few Chinamen. The United States troops rested Thursday night in the jungle, about a mile and a quarter from Malolos. Thursday’s advance began at 2 o'clock and covered a distance of about two and a half miles beyond the Gnigninto river, along the railroad. The brant of the battle was on the right of the track, where the enemy was apparently concentrated. The First Nebraska, First South Dakota and Tenth Pennsylvania regiments encountered the natives intrenched on the border of the woods and the advancing across the open, suffered a terrific fire for half an hour. Four men of the Nebraska regiment were lolled and thirty were wounded. Tor men of the Dakota regiment were #onnded jf>r of the Pennsylvanians was killed. The Americans finally drove the Filipinos back. Although there were three lines of strong intrendunents along the trade the natives made scarcely any defense there. The escape of Aguinaldo is offset by the fact that his capital fell into the hands of the American troops after such a short battle. Ever since the decisive advance from Manila into the interior waa began all the dispatches have predicted that Gw most desperate battle in the entire campaign would have to be fought before Malolos was take*. Nevertheless it capitulated in such short order that its storming was like a skirmish. Only one interpretation can be placed upon this, say officials of the War Department. That la thai the backbone of the rebellion is brok«q and that the natives will soon soreander.

Malolos the American troops Mm* splendidly. They advanced stelft) from frightful American volunteers were handicapped h fighting by the fact that their flpiiiqhW rifles are of shorter range than the Man ser rifles in the hands of the rebels. Vnßm those circumstances the steady ndvanm off oar troops is a really lemnrlmhh achievement. But the most noteworthy feature of Ibis onward sweep off the Americans has been the patience and endurance off the private soldiers. They bans never hesitated to plunge across any kind of difficult country against any number of the enemy and in the face off positions of entirely unknown strength. After-en-tering Malolos the victorious American army feasted on cocoon uts and bananas and enjoyed a well-earned rest. The country between Mari Lao and Manila presents a picture at desolation Smoke is cnrling from hundreds off ash heaps and the remains of trees and fences torn by shrapnel are to be seen everywhere. The general appearance «JT ths country is as iff it had been swept by a cyclone. The roads are strewn with tor niture and clothing dropped in flight i% the Filipinos. The only persons remaining behind are a few aged persons, hso infirm to escape. They camp beside 4a rains of their former home and heg-paas-ers-by for any kind Of assistance. Xtw majority of them are living on the generosity of the American soldiers, who gras them portions of their rations Bodies of dead Filipinos are sbabU in the shallows of the river or are rehim in the jangle where they crawled ~ta -die or were left in the wake off the hurriedly retreating army. The inhabitants whe fled from Marilao and Meycanyan kftt ia such a panic that on tables the American soldiers found money and valnahfes msß er property of value. They were not mo-lested-by the soldiers, but the fTiiinai ifflsi slip in between the armies tooted when ever they could and took paawauon *1 several houses, over which tiirj isiasil fhs Chinese flags, some of which were tam down. It is said at the War Department that the subject of mustering ia 35.M0 wohmhas not been mentioned to the Prewdsat, either by Acting Secretary off Wtor Metldejohn or Adjt. Gen. Corbin. Thom is no intention to bring forward this qwmtion at present, as. with t&e troops ML ready ordered to Manila and -which JtaaS Gen. Otis has all the ttewamamuM* accomplish what is desired off him in ths Philippines.

AGUINALDO'S HEADQUARTERS