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March 18, 1899.]
were dislodged and began retreating toward Pasig. During this engagement eight. Am- ericans were wounded, but none were killed, though one man may die of his wounds. Two men of the hospital corps were struck nearly a mile behind the firing line, probably by the bullets of some natives who had slipped around
the flank.
The following day it was decided to clear out this strip of country and accordingly the work began about daylight. The Colorado, Nebraska, and 20th Regulars advanced on the flanks, with the Wyoming Volunteers attacking the front, backed up by the Artillery. The gunboat came up the river but could not get into a commanding position nutil the fight was well ander way. A large body of natives variously estimated from 200 to 1,200 opposed the advance with great energy and at several points the soldiers came to close quarters befors the enemy rushed to the cover of the brush. Early in the fight Major Bell and Captain J. D. O'Brien, the latter of the Wyoming regi ment, were wounded, but fortunately in both cases recovery will be a matter of only a few days. As the natives retreated across country they came into range of the unboat and Gen- eral Wheaton's brigade on the south side of the Pasig River, and in this cross fire some fifty men were killed. By three o'clock the fight was well in band and in half an hour more not a uative was to be seen, though occasionally we could hear the sing of a bullet. General Hale reconnoitered some six hundred yards be- youd the lines and found everything quiet. The new position was held until the reports were seut in to hed quarters, but about six o'clock orders were received to occupy the old position, abau. doning the advance. This morning the scattered natives were all back agaiu merrily sending in the daylight sulute, by way of showing that there was no ill feeling. In this fight there were seven Americans wounded and three killed. WAITING FOR GENERAL LAWTON.
To-morrow or the next day Goueral Lawton and a transport loud of troops are expected in Manila and then work will begin. What with the coming of the Peace Commissiouers and these new troops everything has been in a s'ate of waiting. The idea is simply to hold the present lines until the arrival of a large part of the reinforcements. When General Lawton arrives be will very likely take charge of the military operatious, relieving General Otis of × part of his most orduous duties. A regular plau of compaign will be put in operation sud carried through with vigour in order to accom. plish as much as possible before the fast ap- proaching rainy season sets in.
ILOILO.
The latest advices from the south were brought ap by Colonel Potter, who arrived this morning with dispatches for General Otis. Ou the whole the news is favourable, though Iloilo is still giving trouble, which is more than likely kept alive by the handful of Tagalogs who represent Aguinaldo's party.
NEGROS:
Colonel J. F. Smith and Major Sime landed oue battalion of the 1st California Volunteers on March 3rd at Bacalod, Negros. This expedi- tion was accompanied by the four commissioners who represented their island before General Otis. The soldiers were received with every. sign of friendship and the most favourable prot gress is reported.
CEBU,
The transport Pennsylvania took one batta. lion of the 23rd U.S. Infantry, commanded by Major Goodall, to Cebu. Here the conditions are much the same as at Negros, though it will take more time to have affairs running smoothly
ADVANCE BY WHEATON'S
BRIGADE. -
[SPECIALTELEGRAM TO THE“ DAILY PRESS,"]
Manila, 13th March. General Wheaton's Brigade advanced from Sau Pedro to the bluffs commanding. Pasig, Pateres, and Taguig
The native rétreituhriften 11 loss. The Amerie a vasulis we e fifteen wounded an - fro killed.
A gunboat shieled, Pasig, the projectiles reaching the lake.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
THE MISSING OF THE ROYAL WELCH FUSILIERS.
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of Mr. Kennedy, Garden Road. The Colonial Veterinary Surgeon therefore recommended} the immediate slanghter of the whole of these animals, and compensation at the rate of $200 per head being granted, this being their average value.
present in case any member wished to ask him The PRESIDENT-I asked Mr. Ladds to be any questions with regard to this matter. é
Mr. LADDS, answering the President, said that there were seven or eight other cowsheds. in this locality,
Dr. CLARK-How many cattle are affected P Mr. LADDS-At the present time eleven only are affected ont of the 20, Nine at present show no symptoms of the disease.
TARO
Dr. CLABK-How far away is the nearest! other shed containing cattle?
Mr. LADD8-One is the next shed-No. 5.- The others are on the opposite side of the road.
IS THERE REASONABLE GROUND OF COMPLAINT? messing of the Royal Welch Fusiliers have Recently three letters dealing with the been published, two being letters of complaint and the third an explanatory letter from Lieut.- Colonel Mainwaring. In the first instance a ing" complained that while the other portions correspondent who signed himself "New Mess
of the Garrison paid eight cents a day mersing money the Welch Fusiliers had to disburse 13 cents, and that in consequence the N. C. O.'s and men felt dissatisfied. This letter was followed by the one from Lieut.-Colonel Main- waring, who said "The Army Order which regulates the messing allowance contains these words: The allowance shall be at the rate of 13 cents of a dollar a day in Hongkong as a contribution towards extra messing hitherto charged to the soldier." He added: "This allowance is not part of a
soldier's pay for him to spend as he wishes, but is made for the express purpose of providing extrasing that in England it is the custom to The PRESIDENT-I think I am right in stat- to the Government rations; and command- slaughter all the cattle in a shed in which are ing officers are responsible that it is so
"Reform," said that any intelligent person expended." The third letter, which was signed animals affected by the disease? who read the debates in the House of Commons should know that the recent Act was passed to give the soldier a higher rate of pay, and our correspondent added : "To force the soldier to spend the extra money in food is equivalent to saying he did not get enough to eat under the old regime."
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From enquiries we have made we are bound to admit that the men have reasonable cause of complaint. It was understood, as Reform says, that the recent Acf was intended to give Tommy Atkins a higher rate of pay, and the men connected with the other portions of the Garrison do get more pocket money in conse- quence of the passing of this Act, because, unlike the Welch Fusiliers, they pay the same amount of messing money-eight centa-as before. It was the same with the Lancaster Regiment when they were here.
The inference to be drawn from Lieut.- Colonel Mainwaring's letter is that he is the only commanding officer in the colony who is complying with the Army Orders. The follow- ing. bowever, appears on page 65 of Army Orders, pragraph 2:-"The grant of the allow ance will not involve any chauge in the arrange. ments for company messing. The men will
pay the contribution towards extra messing at the same rate as before. The regimental charge for extra messing will as far as possible be restricted The italics are ours. to a sum not exceeding threepence per day." The other corps of the Garrison pay at the same rate as before, whereas the Royal Welch Fusiliers are compelled to pay at a rate 62 per cent higher than the other corps.
Assuredly this is a matter which it is advis- able should be settled by reference to the War Office or otherwise. It is obly to be expected that dissimilar rates of deduction from the pay -for that is what it practically amounts to- ainong the rank and file of the Garrison will lead
to dissatisfaction.
HONG KONG SANITARY BOARD
OUTBREAK OF RINDERPEST AT WANCHAI.
A special meeting of the Hongkong Sanitary Board was beld on the 10th March for the pur. pose of considering a report made by the Co. lonial Veterinary Surgeon with regard to an out- break of rinderpest at Wanchai. The President (Dr. J. M. Atkinson, Principal Civil Medical Officer) occupied the chair, and there were also present the ion. R. D. Gemsby (Director of Public Works), Mr. E. Osborne, Dr. F. W. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), Mr. J. W. | Duggan (Secretary), and Mr. C. V. Ladds, Co-
lonial Veterinary Surgeon.
The PRESIDENT-I have called you together to consider a reported outbreak of rinderpest in Kennedy Street, Wanchai. The Secretary will read the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon's report.
The SECRETARY read the report, which stated at an outbreak of rinderpest had occurred at sheds Nos. 1 and 3, Kennedy Street, Wansbai, among 20 dairy cows housed there, the property
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Dr. CLARK-Does No. 5 contain cattle? Mr. LADDS-Yes.
Dr. CLARK-Belonging to the same man?. Mr. LADDS-No.
Mr. LADDS-Yes, sir, and it is the best thing to do. They are sure to take it sooner or later: it is only a matter of time.
The Hon. R. D. ORMSBY-What steps were taken when there was an outbreak at the Dairy Farm a year or two ago?
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Dr. CLARK-No notion was taken because there were no other sheds contiguous. The cattle were allowed to die.
Mr. LADDS-The last five were slaughtered. Dr. CLARK-That was last year, but he means the outbreak which took place a couple of years ago.
The Hon. R. D, ORMSBY-It occurs to me that the Dairy Farm's cattle were shut up and allowed to die. In this case, because the sheds., and cattle are contiguous to other sbeds and cattle, it is proposet to pay compensation. It does not seem fair that compensation should be paid in one case and not in another.
Mr. LADDS-In the outbreak of 1898 the re- maining five cows were slaughtered and com- pensation paid.
Mr. OSBORNE-I am prepared to support Mr. Ladds's proposal on the understanding that when the disease spreads to other dairies similar, compensation should be paid. Otherwise I can' not support the proposal.
F
The PRESIDENT-The first step is to declare these sheds-1 and 3-infected with rinderpest,
take it that the proposal to slaughter the cattle is to protect the other sheds in immediate proximity, and if they are slaughtered it is only fair compensation should be paid, because the cows would be slaughtered in the interests of. public health. I move that these sheds be de- clared infected with rinderpest.
Dr. CLARK, in secouding, said that personally he did not see any reason why they should not slaughter the diseased cattle and let the healthy ones live until they contracted the disease. It seemed that if they were going to slaughter nine healthy cattle and pay $200 for each of them they might possibly be spending more money than was absolutely necessary. The eleven diseased coWB must be slaughtered no doubt.
The Hon. R. D. ORMSBY said he supposed that the cattle which had not contracted the disease were fit for food, and if so why should they pay $200 for each of them ?
Dr. CLARK-They would not be sold for food in any case.
The Hon. R. D. ORMSBY-Why not P Mr. LADD8-It would not be advisable. would be a bad precedent for the Chinese.
Mr. OSBORNE Can the question of com- pensation be deferred.
Dr. CLARK-Not if they are slaughtered ; the Government are bound to pay.
The PRESIDENT-As Colonial Veterinary Surgeon what is your opinion with respect to the cattle which have not got the disease in the sheds ?
Mr. LAPDS-I think there is no doubt they are contracting the disease. I think there doubt that the majority are in the early stages of incubation, and if we sweep them all ont need not fear the disease spreading anywhere else.
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