Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1899 — TAKE ANOTHER TOWN [ARTICLE]

TAKE ANOTHER TOWN

AMERICANS UNDER WHEATON CAPTURE UUADALOUPE. Filipinos Retreat After Offering Little Resistance—American Loes la Small —Active Campaign Is Begun—Destructive Cyclone in Oklahoma. Manila advices say that Guadeloupe was captured Monday morning by Gen. Wheaton’s new brigade, consisting of the Twentieth and Twenty-second regulars, portions of the Oregon and Washington volunteers, the Fourth cavalry (mounted) and the Sixth artillery. The troops advanced southward from San Pedro Macati, the right flanking behind the town. The resistance was slight, the enemy retreating toward Pasig and Pateros. A gunboat steamed up the Pasig river shelling the jungle and materially aiding the troops. The American loss in the attack was slight, five men wounded being the total of their casualties. The enemy’s loss waff forty killed, a large number wounded and sixteen who fell into the hands of the Americans. The prisoners were taken in the vicinity of Guadaloupe. The Americans wounded were all regulars. The advance of the flying column under Gen. Wheaton is the first step in the aggressive campaign planned by Maj. Gen. Otis. It is intended that Gen. Wheaton shall advance as far as Laguna de Bay and clear the territory between "Manila and that point of insurgents. This move, Gen. Otis believes, will stretch a line of American troops across the island, thus cutting off all communication between the northern and southern wings of Aguinaldo’s army. Gen. Wheaton’s troops were eager for action, and fought with spirit, despite the intense heat. The fight was brief, however, the Filipinos being easily outflanked and driven back in disorder. They made several attempts to rally, but the fire from the front drove them toward the river, and there the shells of the light draught gunboats sent them back again. They finally broke into small bands and fled. This is only the beginning of the drastic measures that are to be taken in future dealings with the Filipinos. Gen. Otis is determined to open the country from Manila to Malolos, the capital of the insurgents. The American troops are to be advanced day after day, and the rebels will be compelled to retreat. If their complete subjugation has not been accomplished by the time the Americans reach Malolos, the capture of the capital will, it is thought, put an end to the fighting. Aguinaldo is expected to make a final stand at the capital. Gen. Otis has given notice that the negotiations between the Filipinos and the Spanish prisoners must be stopped at once. Gen. Otis’ object in doing this is, presumably, to prevent the Filipinos from obtaining indemnity which they demand for freeing the prisoners.