Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1899 — FIGHTING IN THE PHILIPPINES. [ARTICLE]

FIGHTING IN THE PHILIPPINES.

Buppo*ed Friendly Filipinos Surprise American Troops. Gen. Wheaton occupied Peres das Marinas Tuesday morning after moderately heavy fighting. Gen. Wheaton bivouacked in • field Monday night, and early in the morning advanced on the rebel stronghold of Perez das Marinas, near which place Monday the insurgents in foree were so gallantly resisted by a small reconnoitering party under Maj. Bubb. Gen. Wheaton’s advance wag contested by the rebels, but after moderately heavy fighting the Americans occupied Peres das Mariuas. After occupying the town, Gen. Wheaton oxamined the sanitation, which he decided was so bad as to make it dangerous to garrison the place. The rebels mutilated American dead. The bodies of two soldiers of the Fourth infantry, who fell in the running fight back of Imus, were left behind by their comrades. The bodies were afterward found with the right ears cut off, throats cut and slashes across the face.

An all-day battle between Gen. Wheaton’s force and the insurgent -army was fought near the city of Imus Monday. One battalion of the Fourth infantry, while reconnoitering, was attacked in the rear by a band of supposed friendly natives, The Americans stood their ground pluckily and were out of ammunition when Wheaton led a strong force to their help. The insurgents fought well, taking advantage of the woods, and were driven back with difficulty. little progress was made until late in the afternoon, when the native force was dislodged from a dense timber. The Americans lost five in dead and twenty-five in wounded. It is known that the Filipino loss was very heavy. On effecting the capture of Perea das Marinas Maj. Babb’s battalion, composed «f 300 men belonging to the Fourth infantry, was surrounded on aU sides by the Filipinos, who were abont 2,000 in number. Nothing bnt the most determined bravery saved the Americans from being entirely wiped oat. Maj. Bnbb’s battalion had been sent from Imus to take possession of Perea das Marinas. On arriving within two miles of the town the alcalde met them and formally surrendered the place. The houses along the road were filled with Filipinos of the friendly variety. These pretended to welcome the Invaders. When within a short distance of Perea das Marinas Maj. Bnbb discovered that the enemy had lines running parallel to the road and that his force wit practically hedged in. • Gen. Wheaton was fired on in a road •nd had a narrow escape. Later the Third battalion was ordered to the front •and formed on the Las Minas road. Finally the Americans secured a quantity of Filipino arms which had been abandoned in the woods. The scene of the fighting is over twenty miles from Manila.