Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 80, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1899 — HEMS IN THE NATIVES [ARTICLE]

HEMS IN THE NATIVES

LAWTON SURROUNDS FILIPINO REBELS AT MORONG. Town Is Captured by "Washington Men After Sharp Battle—Antipolo, Cainta, Mariqnlna and Taytay Also Taken —Several Americans Killed. Gen. Hall’s campaign against the Philippine insurgents under Gen. del Pilar at the north of Laguna de Bay continues vigorously. The American lines across the Morong peninsula, extending six miles from Morong on the east to Antipolo and Taytay on the west, began gradually closing in Monday morning, aud the advance down the peninsula begun. The operations begun by the Americans Saturday morning with a view to entrapping and crushing Del Pilar’s forces about Antipolo were distinguished by heroic marches and brilliant attacks. The plan was to have Gen. Hall attack the insurgents at Antipolo and drive them down toward Laguna de Bay, while Col. Whalley, with a strong force, should advance from Pasig and attack the rebels in front, thus crushing them. The plan as originally conceived could not be carried out owing to the adverse conditions under which Gen. Hall advanced oh Antipolo. What he expected to do in two hours took seven. His troops had to swim unfordable rivers and wade through swamps to their waists all under a scorching sun. It was early afternoon before Hall’s troops, who had left the pumping station at 5 in the morning, reached the valley of Antipolo to the northwest and in the rear of the insurgents at Taytay aud Cainta. Seeing that Hall could not get to his position for a combined attack on the enemy on time, Gen. Lawton ordered Col. Whalley to advance on Cainta and Taytay and engage the enemy moderately until Gen. Hall, coming down the Antipolo valley in the rear, could co-operate. Col. Whalley’s advance on Cainta was brilliant. His troops swept across the four miles of open country at a rapid pace, with a swift moving skirmish line in front. The Twelfth regulars were on the left or northern flank, and the North Dakotas stretched along between Cainta and the shore of Laguna de Bay. A battery held the central position in the North Dakota line, and began shelling the town at fourmile range. Meanwhile Gen. Hall was coming down the valley toward Taytay, which is only a few miles east bf Cainta, on the shore. He had had a running fight with Filipinos all day, the first encounter being at Monte in the San Mateo foothills. The insurgents were driven out of Monte and surrounded on three sides by the Oregon regiment, a sharp tight following, and before the enemy was repulsed the Ore-: gons last three men killed and six wounded. Gen. Hall entered Taytay meeting little resistance, the insurgents fleeing to Morong on the southeast. Shortly afterward his forces collected on the shore with the North Dakotas, composing Col. Whalley's right advance line. Gen. Hall occupied Antipolo, and Col. Whalley’s forces came through Cainta and united with them, the combined force then advancing on Morong, which was captured after a sharp battle. During the night Gen. Lawton had brought troops to Morong by water, and these advanced and connected with Hall’s troops, forming a chain across the peninsula. A few Filipinos slipped through the American lines and escaped northward. The heat is terrific, and frequent showers cause a deadly humidity. Hospital boats returning to Manila Monday morning brought 200 soldiers, who were suffering from heat prostration. The country between Manila and the field of operations offers insurmountable obstacles to the transportation of supplies, and the wagon communication from Manila through the San Mateo valley has been abandoned. Provisions and ammunition are being sent via the Pasig river.