436
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Altogether the men are more comfortably and pleasantly situated than at any time since the campaign began.
Chinamen are beginning to come back in large numbers and follow their old pursuit of looting. Two or three severe punishments do not seem to have the slightest offect. NEWS OF THE NORTH LINES.
GUNBOATS
OPERATING ON THE RIO GRANDE.
Two troops of the 4th Cavalry, one mounted on the big American horses and the other on
ponies, are stationed near Apalit, about midway between San Fernando and Calumpit. As the natives are beginning to come back in large numbers it is necessary to protect the long road used for bringing up supplies. As usual the
in various places, the camp is not lacking in silver, and the events are hotly contested. SHÅRP FIGHT ON THE PAMpanga river
AMERICAN GUNBOATS GIVE THE, REBELS A HOT TIME.
15th May.
Yesterday morning the gunboats Laguna de Bay and Covadongu, nnder command of Captain Grant, went up the northern branch of the Rio Graude de Pampanga about three and a half miles, towards the town of San Luis. They en- countered a heavy force of insurgents on both sides of the river, who did not open fire npon The the boats until within close range. boats advanced in the face of an ex- tremely hot fire, and when almost along side the trenches opened up a galling fire
[May 27, 18f9.
vicinity of Paranaque and Imus, both of which are strongholds (P), are in a rather bad way Food is scarce and daily drill without a foe to fight is somewhat discouraging work. It takes the combined efforts of the officers to hold the army together and the task is fast becoming more difficult.
མཱམ
who wish to raise crops must take advantage The rainy season is just approaching and those of the time to plough and plant. The rebel general has wisely taken the matter in hand and let certain soldiers return to their homes and prepare for the coming season. In this way it is hoped that the people can be supplied during next year.
Private Coates, of Company K, 1st California Volunteers, is reported alive and well.. A short natives claim to be amigos, but the bull-carts with every available gun, and killed twenty ago he was taken to Batangas. The natives have more than once been shot at from native insurgents and wounded many others. During say that two other Americans who were taken
houses.
The experiment of travelling by night has proved more successful than working dur- ing the heat of the day. It is possible to make the trip at night in about seven hours, and the bulls stand the work comparatively well, but in the daytime they suffer keenly: frequently frothing at the mouth and lolling their tongues out. Three carcasses stretched along the side of the road point out a lesson to the men that the carabaos cannot be pushed too far without water. Fortunately the rain has been very light and the road is in good con. dition, except in a few places where it is neces- sary to go into the fields in order to avoid trenches and a number of sharp-staked pitfalls that were designed to disturb the cavalry.
The gunboats have already succeeded in reaching Guagua without much difficulty, and if General McArthur can open communication over the short distance between that place and San Fernando, the problem of supplying the army will be very much simplified. At the pre- sent rate of bringing up supplies, the men eat up rations almost as quickly as they are received, thus leaving no stores to last through an ad. vance. By using the water route large quanti. ties can be transported in a short time.
The Pasig river, on which Guagua is situ. ated, has at this time, the low season, from twenty-five to sixty feet of water, which great depth would permit the passage of ocean steamers, However the water near the mouth of the river is much more shallow, owing to a bar and delta.
Yesterday morning Captain Grant succeeded in passing under the bridge across the Rio Grande at Calumpit with the Laguna de Bay and Cova donga. There is plenty of water for several miles beyond Calumpit and it is likely that the gunboats will go up the river and co-operate with General Lawton in the vicinity of Baliuag. The natives have a whol some respect and fear for Captain Grant and his little fresh water nary, and if the plan suggested is feasable the river and land forces working together should be productive of the best results.
RAILROAD RAPIDLY PROGRESSING. The work of repairing the railroad is being pushed with all possible haste. The track has been laid almost half the distance from the Bug bag River to Calumpit, and on the Rio Grande bridge at Calumpit there only remains about 60 feet of iron work to enable the train to pass over it. The bridge across the Bagbag river where the steel span was dropped, is causing the most delay. It is impossible to raise the span with the machinery availabe, and timbers are being sunk on which to construct a support for the rails. As the mud on the river bottom is very soft and yields most readily, it is necessary to go to a great depth before bed rock is reached. The superintendent stated that he expected to run trains through to the San Fernando bridge in abont ten or twelve days. This will be a most welcome change in all branches, as the troops most at present make a twelve mile march be- fore reaching San Fernando.
the battle, Sergeant Young of the Utah Battery, was killed by a chance bullet from an insurgent gun through the casemate, and a private of the Utah Battery was also wounded, Americans will be sent in this direction to open It is believed that to-day a strong force of np communications with General Lawton at San Miguel de Mayumo.
INSURGENTS DRIVEN FROM SAN MIGUEI,
veteran
Saturday afternoon ten scouts, under the leadership of Captain Young, the civilian scout who has been doing most of the advance work for General Lawton, en-
tered the town of San Miguel de Mayumo, and found it almost deserted. They ran up against a force of 200 insurgents and drove them out beyond the limits of San Miguel. During the fracas, Captain Young and another of the scouts were wounded and brought into the hospital last night.
prisoners committed suicide at Bacor, Aguin- aldo's old headquarters. If they are dead it is more than likely that they were killed and the
Mariano Trias is the general commanding the suicide story is merely a blind.
ber of the Cabinet and had his head quarters at troops in this section. He was formerly a mem- San Francisco de Malabon. It is stated that Aguinaldo wrote to Trias asking his opinion on the situation and that the latter advised sur. render or at least some arrangement for the
cessation of hostilities. Trias is a well bred
Tagalog, was educated at the college at Manila, and always has taken a great interest in the affairs of his people. Before the outbreak he was a keen student of American history and politics.
NFWS FROM CEBU.
Cebu, 6th May. The peaceable condition of affairs in this island continues undisturbed and everything is proceeding harmoniously.
As a natural
The developments at San Miguel de Mayumo will be a great surprise to many, as it was a boasted rebel stronghold, and a month ago it consequence, news-genuine news is very the place, and also that 400 of the Spanish However, I cannot miss reporting an inci was reported that a heavy force would defend scarce, and it will be difficult, or rather im- possible, to get it even for the love of money. prisoners were quartered there, as well as 1,500 dent which is of special significance. Pres- wounded Filipino soldiers, who were con- valescing in the hospitals at that point. San ident Flores, of the native government, accom- Miguel de Mayumo is a noted health resort, is panied by the high officials and the wealthy beautifully located on the side of the mount-element, visited the cruiser "Boston" a few ains, and boasts of several magnificent mineral springs, whose curative powers are throughout the islands.
famous
San Miguel de Mayumo is said to have 20,418 inhabitants, according to the last census, and the hills and mountains in its immediate vicinity contain rich iron deposits.
GREGORIO PILAR ASKS FOR A MILITARY COMMISSION.
days ago in response to an invitation of the captain, who had prepared a naval, display for their benefit. The visitors greatly admired the manœuvres and were particularly impressed by the work of a landidg party, with Hotchkiss guns, which was done rapidly and without a hitch of any sort. The visitors were enter- tained on board in characteristic American fashion.
ADMIRALEWEY IN HONGKONG.
After an absence of over 12 months spent in the enervating climate of the Philippines Ad- mira) Dewey finds himself once more in Hong- kong, where he has called on his way home vid the Suez Canal.
On Saturday afternoon Lieut. Reyes, the representative of General Gregorio Pilar, came into Manila to offer a proposition from his superior to General Otis. Early in the morn- ing the officer, accompanied by his orderly, passed into the American lines, near San Ildefonso, under a white flag, and was con- ducted to the headquarters of General Law. ton. He stated that he came to ask, in the name of General Pilar, for permission to pass some military commissioners through the It was about half-past eight on Tuesday morn. lines so that they might confer with the Ameri- ing when the Olympia saluted the port, and can Commission now in Manila. The act was about an hour afterwards an aide-de-camp from apparently sanctioned by Aguinaldo. General the cruiser made his way to the American Cou Lawton sent the two men to Manila, accom-sulate, and it was arranged that the Admiral panied by Captain Sewell, who took Lieut. should land at eleven o'clock. Reyes before General Otis.
There is no doubt that the Filippinos realize that they can hope for no recognition of any of their officers in a civi, capacity, and hence they have placed the Commissioners on a military basis.
General Otis replied that the Americans were in the habit of passing white flag parties through the lines without molesting them and that he saw no reason for a special permission. However, he proposed to leave the matter in the hands of General Lawton, whose advance is opposed by Gregorio Pilar.
Captain Randolph with a company of the 3rd Captain Sewell took his visitor away on the U.S. Artillery is still in command at the Bag-afternoon train, which was held over for their bag bridge, and will also take charge of the accommodation. At the depot Lieutenant Calumpit district as soon as the 9th Infantry, Reyes was met by his wife and "friends, and for now at the latter place are relieved.
a few minutes there was a family gathering that was greatly appreciated.
Life along the river is far more pleasant than ordinary patrol duty. Several canoes and cata. marans have been found, and every afternoon races are held. As a large amount of money has been unearthed by the soldiers, hidden away
DOINGS BEYOND THE LINES. NEWĄ PROM. PARANAQUE AND IMUS,
Nows has been received from the south of Manila to the effect that the natives in the
Consul-General Wildman went on board the Olympia at half-past ten, being received with the salute due to his rank, and shortly after. wards accompained the Admiral and Captain Lamberton and Lieutenant Brumby ashore.
The Admiral was received by a guard of hon- var composed of about 70 members of the Royal Welch Regiment, with the band, regimental colours, and the regimental goat, Captain Ban- craft being in command. The guard presented arms and the band struck up with "The Star- spangled banner."
The Admiral went straight to Government House, where he was received by Sir Henry Blake. His Excellency invited the Admiral to reside at Government House during his stay here, but the Admiral expressed his regret at his fuabi- ||lity to accept this kind offer, the state of his health necessitating his spending the short time-about ten days—he will remain with us at the Peak.
From Government House the Admiral went to Headquarter House, where he was received