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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE WAR IN THE PHILIPPINES. | away. Two companies of the Oregons were
THE AMERICAN ADVANCE.
SEVERE FIGHTING.
SEVERAL TOWNS CAPTURED.
AN AMERICAN GENERAL KILLED. (SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE "DAILY PRESS."
MANILA, 26th March.
On Saturday at daylight General McArthur's division advanced east from Caloocan and La Lo. ma and swung round to the north, taking several towns and inflicting heavy loss on the enemy.
Twelve thousand troops with twelve guns were engage.
The enemy is now retreating towards Polo and the sea.
Malabon was burned.
General Egbert was killed while leading a oharge.
The American losses were about a hundred and seventy-five.
THE FLYING BRIGADE EXPERIMENT,
INSURGENTS STILL CONFIDENT OF VICTORY.
MORE TROOPS ARRIVE. [FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT].
Manila, 22nd March,
[April 1, 1899.
Occasional advices leaking through the lines from the interior go to show that the Filipinos are showing very few signs of weakening and are confident that once the Americans leave the vicinity of Manila they will be defeated.
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF C MMERCE,
landed and marched around the west frout to at- tempt to gain the rear and prevent escape, for Pasig is an island with only a bridge to con. nect it with the mainland, and over this the natives must escape or swim the river with heavy equipments. A battalion of the Washing. ton Volunteers was towed across and sent to the east as flankers, while a battalion of the 20th U.S. Lofantry assailed the trenches from Artillery was mounted on the bluffs on the Commerce, held at 3 p.m. on Monday, the 29th the front. One field gun of the 6th U.S.mittee of the Hongkong General Chamber of At the monthly meeting of the General Com-
American bank and from its commanding posi. March,-Present: Messrs. R. M. Gray (Chair. Time and again they exploded on stone walls A. McConachie, W. Poate, H. A. Ritchie, N. tion shells were dropped into any place desired. man), A. Haupt, J. J. Bell Irving, T. Jackson, sheltering the enemy, tore off a tiled roof, or breached the walls of the last resort, the church. (Secretary)..
A. Siebs, T. H. Whitehead, and R. O. Wilcor The battle waged with great violence for seven 80 yards of the church the fiercest street fight- hours, and even after the troops were within
ing was carried on. It was the best organized and sustained resistance the Americans have met and the natives fought with desperation surprising in a time of surprises.
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From this time to last Sunday's battle with its famous fifteen mile run, tactics were adopted that meet the approval of but a few observers and are unanimously condemned by the troops themselves. The brigade turned out and accom. plished some astionishing marches, fighting as it went, burning all obstructions and menaces in the shape of houses or jungles, and then rushed back to its former positions. The conn- try was cleared for the immediate moment, but as nothing was held and no advance made in positions beyond Taguig on the south and Cainta on the East, the natives followed in the wake of the retiring troops, took up their old positions again, and soon had themselves in as good a condition to resist advance as before. For instance, Taytay and Caiuta were taken at a loss of some four killed and seventeen wounded and the former was theu giren into the bauds of the insurgents again, inasmuch as it was not occupied. Last Sunday's work completed a week of what might be called brilliant achievements, but advantage was not secured from the work performed. A march of fifteen miles was made along the lake from Pateras to the vicinity of San Pedro Tunason, ten towns are ou the list of the burned, and the popular estimate of killed and wounded varies from 200 to 300. The Americau loss was four killed and nineteen wounded. After experiencing a few moments of stunborn opposition at the start| the fight turned into a chase; though small detachments here and there had sharp skir. mishes with similar bodies of natives in well chosen positious. It was a soul wracking march in the heat of the day across rice fields, through jungles, alternately soaked in creaks and steamed in the hot sun; and the men were completely exhausted. General Wheaton tele- graphed in that he had gone fifteen miles into the enemy's country driving everything before him and that he ordered a retreat. This last clause was the most galling of all to the meu. They did not mind the fight, the heat, the loss of food, but they did object to giving up cap- tured ground, knowing that to-morrow the slightest attempt at an advance would mean the same fight all over again. Late in the afternoon the stragglers begau returning to camp and continued walking, resting, moving a few hundred yards and stopping again, until From Pateras to Taguig is only a short dark. It was a feeble army that was returning, stretch, and after capturing the former Whea-weakened by the work of the day and trudging ton's men pressed on and drove the natives back from Taguig right up to the shores of the lake into a position from which they could not escape, and one hundred and fifty were taken prisoners. Only a handful of arms was seized, as the natives threw them into the river and lake to avoid letting them fall into American hands.
Hostilities began on February 4th; it is now Maroh 21st; nearly two months have passed and more than half the fighting line remaius in the same position it attained as fur back as February 10th. The only movement of im- portance has been the work of what has been termed the flying brigade. This is an organiza- tion under command of Brigadier General Wheaton, composed of mixed volunteers and regulars and provided with artillery and the use of two river gunboats manued by the army. It was thrown out to the east of Manila aud began the work by attacking and clearing out Guadaloupe and Sun Nicolas; then it pressed on through the rough, well covered conutry some three and a half miles to the bluffs over- looking Pasig, Pateros, and Taguig, and from this high ground all these towns were bom- barded. However, the Pasig and Taguig rivers separated the enemy aud left them fairly safe in the bamboo jungles, while on the American side for several hundred yards before reaching the bank the fields were entirely open aud almost without protection. Considerable delay was caused by the lack of the neces-ary transportation, but finally cascos and launches ware sent up the river and the troops were ferried across Pateras after the place had been raked over by the artillery. A lively fight ensued in which the insurgent loss was about fifty and the Americau twelve in killed and wounded. More than one month ago this same village of Pateras was practically captured; in fact it was partly burned by a little force of three companies of the ist California Volunteers, and there were no casualties, but after the victory 'the men were ordered back to camp, some five miles in the rear, and the fruits were lost.
to
THE TAKING OF PASIG.
Just to the north of these towns, where the river bends, lies the once prosperous town of Pasig. It has fared better than the rest and fire has not demolished it and left only smoking, blackened stumps marking the success of the army. Pasig was splendidly fortified with several lines of well constructed trenches, gar- risoned by a large number of troops estimated at about three thousand. On the morning of the attack the Americans were drawn up on the opposite side of the river one thousand strong, facing the insurgent trenches 93 yards
back seven miles to dinner. Had the enemy been alert it would have gone hard with the boys.
The execution of the week has been estimated at 2,000 killed, wounded, and captured, while the American loss was 12 killed and 76 wounded. Since Sunday there has been no action what- ever, all the liues remaining nudisturbed.
To-day the Salace arrived from New York. During the Cuban campaigu she was used as a hospital boat and will perform the same duty here.
Infantry and one Battalion of the 17th U.S. The transport Sherman brought the 3rd U.S. Infantry, who are now being put ashore pre- paralary to going on the lines.
Within the next two days there is every pro- bability of an extensive advance along the northern division, and when it begins it is hoped that the march will extend to Malolos.
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MINUTES,
The minutes of the previous meeting (held on the 7th February) were read and confirmed. THE FUTURE fiscal POLICY IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
Read letter from Singapore Chamber of Commerce, dated the 9th March, acknowledg ing receipt of Chamber's letter of the 8th Feb. thanking the Committee for the information re- garding the proposed notion of the Manila Chumbor with reference to the fiscal policy for the Philippines.
THE MERCHANT SHIPPING CONSOLIDATION
ORDINANCE, 1809.
A letter having been received on the 13th February from the Government enclosing. a copy of the draft Bill, asking the consideration thereof by the Chamber, the opinious of various experts were sought and obtained on the pro- visions of this measure, and these notes and re- mittee cousisting of Messrs. J. J. Bell-Irving, ports are now being considered by a Sub.Com.
A. Haupt, W. Poate, and H. A. Ritchie.
A reply was, on the 28th February, addressed to the Goverument stating that the Bill was under consideration, and that the result of such consideration would be sent in on the earliest possible dute.
THE PLAGUE AND QUARANTINE, Letters had been received from the Govern- ment-
On the 11th March announcing that Hong- kong had been declared an infected port by the Rangoon Government.
On the 16th M «rch, announcing receipt of telegram from Straits Government that nine days' quarantine is imposed at Singapore on arrivals from Hongkong.
On the same date, enclosing copy of letter from Netherlands Consul-General, stating that quarantine_restriction-ten days-had been im- posed in Netherlands Indian ports against vessels from Hongkong and that imports of animal refuse, tapestry and used embroideries, and bags or sacks weretemporarily prohibited.
On 17th March announcing that Hongkong and Calcutta had been declared infected ports
nt Batavia.
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THE PHILADELPHIA ̧ COMMERCIAL
MUSEUMS,
Read two letters, dated 23rd January, from the Director of the Philadelphia Commercial Museums, the first conveying a third invitation to the Chamber to accept permanent member- ship on its International Advisory Board, and the latter announcing that a Universal Com- mercial Congress will be held, under the auspices of the Museums, at Philadelphia, in October next.
Also read a futher letter, dated 2nd February, advising the despatch to this Chamber of a Card Index File Cabinet, which the Museums Com- mittees trust will be given a prominent place in the Chamber's rooms.
The Secretary stated that no bill of lading had yet arrived.
THE PARIS UNIVERSAL EXHIBITION, 1900. the Government for perusal, in reference to the Read a despatch from Colonial Office, sent by above exhibition, stating on what terms private firms in Hongkong who might wish to avail themselves of the privilege of exhibiting in the Colonial Department could do so,
Decided to send copies of despatch and en- closure to the local papers for publication.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.