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| USS Monadnock in rough sea. |
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| USS Helena. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, June 12, 1899.
VERY HARD FIGHTING.
Two More Important Towns Taken by Our Troops.
PARANAQUE AND LAS PINAS.
A Long Line of Insurgent Trenches Facing the Lines of the American Army Cleared of the Rebels After Some Very Hard Work.
MANILA, June 12.—The Filipino occupation of the province of Cavite has been broken and as the result of the present movement the Americans now control the important coast towns of Paranaque and Las Pinas, while a long line of insurgent trenches, facing our south line, has been cleared.
The insurgents have again proved their facility as dodgers, between 3,000 and 4,000 warriors who seemed destined to be captured, having disappeared, the majority sliding away under cover of night, after fighting the Americans all day. Some others came to meet our troops with protestations of friendship.
The Thirteenth infantry lost one man killed and six wounded; the Ninth infantry one man killed and five wounded; the Fourteenth infantry three wounded, and the First Colorado volunteer regiment 11 wounded.
Saturday's work was the hardest our army has seen. The battlefield stretched out across the entire isthmus from Laguna de bay to the harbor. While the troops were advancing, the army gunboat Napidan in the river near Taguig, killed several Filipinos.
The United States monitor Monadnock and the gunboat Helena shelled Paranaque and Las Pinas all day with the full power of their batteries.
The whole country proved to be a succession of small hills, with boggy ground between the high, thick grass, and bushes in the hollows which greatly added to the difficulty of advance, but gave shelter that saved many from the enemy's bullets. Our men threw away their blankets, coats and even haversacks, stripping to the waist and trusting to luck for food. Water could not be obtained and there was much discomfort after the canteens were emptied.
At the outset the Colorados, the Ninth infantry and the Twenty-first infantry forced the line of insurgent trenches, wheeled the left and drove the enemy toward the lake. During this maneuver the Filipinos in concealed trenches on the right opened an enfillading fire, but the brigade, partly owing to high grass had few hit. The Ninth infantry crept around to the right, flanking the trenches, driving out the Filipinos and killing many of them.
The Colorado regiment advanced to the lake. Two companies encountered trenches on top of a knoll, where the Filipinos stood waist high above a trench, pouring a volley upon the advancing Americans. The Coloradoans charged and drove them out, Lieutenant Colonel Moses being wounded in the arm as he jumped into the trench.
In the meantime General Wheaton's column advanced one and a half miles toward Paranaque, where the Americans found a strong trench on a ridge out of which they drove the Filipinos by hard fighting.
The enemy tried to flank the dismounted troops of the Fourth cavalry, accompanying Major General Lawton, and at the same time, they made their only advance, throwing a skirmish line to flank the Fourteenth infantry. But they were easily repulsed, the American artillery coming to the crest of the hill and shelling them.
About 3 o'clock in the afternoon, General Wheaton's brigade, headed by General Lawton who, in his white clothing and helmet, on a big black horse, was a shining mark for the enemy's sharpshooters, circled to the south of Las Pinas, encountering a large force of Filipinos in the shelter of the trees. General Lawton had a narrow escape. In the first volley of the enemy, the horses of three of his staff officers were shot from under them.
The Colorado regiment bore the brunt of this attack and dispersed the Filipinos. Hardly had they finished off that lot when a large force appeared in the rear, which the Ninth infantry and a part of the Colorado regiment drove away. By this time nearly the whole division was around Las Pinas.
The Americans camped for the night south of the town and in the midst of a heavy rain.
At 6 o'clock Sunday morning General Wheaton advanced upon Las Pinas with a troop of cavalry, the Twenty-first infantry, the Colorado regiment, part of the Ninth infantry and two mountain guns, crossing two streams and entering the town without firing a shot. He then advanced upon Paranaque. The women and children, and for that matter many men, remained in the towns. No houses were destroyed though many were torn by the shells from the warships. Everywhere the Americans found white flags flying. So far as can be ascertained, the Filipino loss is about 50 killed, 350 wounded and 20 taken prisoners.
Long trains of commissary wagons are now carrying provisions to the United States troops along the road which recently was the stronghold of the enemy, and the natives who were then probably carrying arms are doffing their hats and grovelling before the Americans with effusive greetings of welcome.
The Colorado regiment returned to barracks in Manila. As the ragged and dusty men marched past the Luneta, the fashionable gathering place for Manilans, they were heartily cheered.
LETTER FROM MANILA
Written by George Robson of Company I, Ninth Infantry.
Mrs. Wm. Robson of 70 Groton-ave. has received a letter from her son, George Robson, a member of Company I, Ninth Infantry, now located at Manila. The letter is dated May 7, and is in part as follows:
I have but little time to write as I have to do so much guard duty around the city and on the posts. We reached Manila April 23, leaving Honolulu March 6. For two days the sea was very rough. On April 19, we passed Volcano island which was still smoking. We went into Manila harbor Sunday morning, seeing on the way some of the old Spanish battleships, hard looking sights. We went ashore in boats that looked like canal boats, though not as large. We pitched our tents Tuesday. On Thursday two more companies joined us, the rest of our regiment being out on the firing lines. The day the Zealandia arrived Major Rockefeller of our regiment went to visit some of the outposts and was captured by insurgents. A searching party could find no trace of him. Last night we got an order to get ready for the field for the report came that half of our regiment had been killed and wounded. We had to sleep with our clothes on and about 2:30 the call to arms came, but it was only an alarm, as some one had heard shooting going on.
At our barracks we can hear the fighting going on three miles away. I went up to an insurgent hospital and went through a part of it. There were some hard looking men there, some with legs and arms cut off. Some of the women go out and help the insurgents fight. Manila is not as bad as some think. It is very hot in the day time, but cools down by eight. Mosquitoes are very troublesome at night and we have to cover ourselves with mosquito netting. Nearly all the quarters are made of bamboo which keeps out the rain. The rainy season has just begun.
Old Manila has a large stone wall all the way around, and the government uses some of it for the prisoners. The governor general's office is there too. The only horses here are those used by the cavalry. There are a great many Spanish ponies. Water Buffaloes are used for heavy work. There are hundreds of cabs in the streets all the time. I expect to go on duty at 3 o'clock, and so must close.
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| Maj. Gen. John Brooke. |
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| Maj. Gen. Arthur MacArthur. |
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
◘ General Brooke has furnished to the war department an elaborate and carefully written review of the shortcomings of the American Volunteer army. He points out innumerable defects in the details of the system, all of which are more or less inherent in that system. After reading his very intelligent survey of the conditions one perceives how absolutely impossible it is to bring a suddenly improvised army up to the efficiency of a regular professional establishment. To obtain the clockwork precision and the perfect system, for example, of the German military establishment, would necessitate a martial condition of our country that it is not at all prepared to accept. Germany may be said to sleep with her hand on a hair trigger. America will not and cannot be made to do it. War is not and never has been the paramount ambition of our people. They accept war when it is a necessity and proceed with alacrity to convert themselves into soldiers, but to make war a business, to which peace itself and commerce must conform, is not at all on the American programme.
◘ General MacArthur has come to the conclusion that if the Tagalos intend to keep up a running fight with the United States the cheapest way to handle them will be to turn their old enemies, the Macabebees, against them. Whether this be humanity or not, it is certainly economy. If the natives must kill somebody, it would much enhance the gayety of nations if they killed each other and be much cheaper than to kill our western boys, for at the present rate it takes 287 Tagalos to get away with one Kansas man. General MacArthur takes Iago's view of it. "Now, whether he kill Cassio or Cassio kill him, either way works my profit."
The South Cortland Cycle Path.
The people of South Cortland would like to hear from the [bicycle] sidepath commission officially through the columns of The STANDARD what action, if any, is to be taken to keep their path in proper repair this season. They have been buoyed up by promises all through the spring and in the meantime the grass has been growing higher and higher until now it is almost impossible for two wheels to pass almost the whole length of the pat. This path, it will be remembered, was put through a year ago by the enterprise of two South Cortland young ladies and was enthusiastically supported by most of the people along its route. The South Cortland people feel very [much] slighted by the commission and would gladly accept in the place of the communication above indicated, the appearance of some men at work on the path.
The writer has just been over the path and knows whereof he speaks.
DAVID WESSON.
Sidepath Notes.
Mather Howe and Earl Smith went fishing on their wheels early Saturday morning, going up to Little York lake on tagless wheels and riding the sidepath. It was an expensive luxury, for on their return they invested in tags and paid $2 each for having gone without them so long.
The top dressing on the path from Little York to the county line was begun this morning. It will be completed in two or three days.
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| Henry T. Dana, M. D. |
MEDICAL SOCIETY
Of Cortland County in Annual Meeting—Officers Elected.
The ninety-first annual meeting of the Cortland County Medical society was held at the Cortland hospital Thursday afternoon, these members being present: Drs. Beach, Dana, Higgins, Neary, Reese and Sornberger of Cortland; Braman and Green of Homer; Hendrick, Forshee and Smith of McGraw; Leonard of Harford Mills, and Andrews of Pitcher. Dr. Emery of Virgil was also present and, on motion was invited to take part in the discussions.
The president and vice-president being absent, it was moved and carried that Dr. Dana act as chairman of the meeting.
The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The annual report of the secretary and treasurer was read and, on motion, was accepted and adopted. The report showed that two new members had been added during the past year and one member had died, Dr. E. H. Barnes of Marathon, the society's oldest member both in age and point of membership.
Following the reading of the treasurer's report Dr. Dana offered the following resolution which was adopted:
Resolved, That all but $10 of the funds at present in the hands of the treasurer be turned over to a committee to be appointed by the society for the purchase of instruments for use in the Cortland hospital to be used by its surgical staff or any member of this society, but the use of them is not extended to the nurses connected with the hospital and that the instruments remain the property of the society and are not to be taken from the hospital without the society's consent.
Moved that Dr. Higgins, Dana and Reese act as such committee. Motion carried.
Dr. Forshee then read the report of an interesting case of "Cerebral Tumor" and showed photographs of the brain and tumor.
Dr. Andrews followed with a paper on "Hemipiegia with Convulsions" which elicited an interesting discussion as to locations of brain lesions and their significance.
Dr. Green read a paper on some of the proceedings of the society from 1808 when the society was organized down to 1848 and also gave extracts from old circulars and other documents in the society's possession. A motion was made that the Cortland STANDARD be invited to print the paper and that it also be inserted in the society's minutes. Carried.
Dr. Halbert, the president of the society, being unable to be present, the president's annual address was omitted.
The election of officers for the ensuing year then followed with this result:
President—Dr. F. H. Forshee.
Vice-President—Dr. H. S. Braman.
Secretary, Treasurer and Librarian— Dr. F. H. Green.
Censors—Drs. Dana. Hendrick, Reese, Higgins and Sornberger.
Delegates to the Central New York Medical Association—Drs. Reese and Andrews.
A motion was made that in case the delegates chosen could not go that the secretary be empowered to give credentials to any member who wished to attend. Carried.
It was moved and carried that in as much as the choosing of delegates to attend the meetings of the various neighboring county societies had become a matter somewhat perfunctionary [sic] that hereafter any member wishing to attend any such meeting as a delegate should apply to the secretary for the regular credentials and the same be given him.
There being some doubt as to whether a new delegate was to be elected at the present meeting to the state society the same was on motion put over to the September meeting.
A motion was made and carried that the secretary notify the several members of the society who have been suspended for non-payment of dues that they can be reinstated on payment of the past three year's arrearages, all previous dues being remitted.
Moved and carried that the secretary notify the delinquent members of the provision in the by-laws relative to nonpayment of dues and that such members will be expected to avail themselves of the above offer before the next regular meeting if they wish to be reinstated.
The name of Dr. Emery of Virgil was proposed for membership and on motion the same was referred to the board of censors who retired and shortly afterwards reported that the matter go over till the next regular meeting.
On motion the report was received and adopted.
Motion was made and carried that the thanks of the society be extended to the Hospital association for the use of its rooms for holding the society's meetings.
Moved that the society hold its next regular meeting in the same place as the present one. Carried.
Moved to adjourn. Carried.
F. H. GREEN, Sec., June 9, 1899.
Change in Express Drivers.
Philip May, who for the last two years has been driving the large double team for the United States Express company, has resigned to accept a situation with the Cortland Wagon Co. His successor is Harry Millard, who has been driving the company's single wagon. Mr. George B. French, who has been with the Little York Ice Co., succeeds Mr. Millard, and F. H. Christenat succeeds Mr. French.
BREVITIES.
—A regular meeting of the Royal Arcanum will be held to-morrow evening at G. A. R. hall at 8 o'clock.
—A regular meeting of the L. C. B. A. will be held at Empire hall on Wednesday evening, June 14, at 7:30 o'clock. All members are requested to be present.
—The last of the series of Rob Roy parties given by Stephen and Lawrence Dillon will be given at the park Thursday night. An orchestra will be in attendance.
—New display advertisements to-day are—Bingham & Miller, Merchant tailors and clothiers, page 8; McGraw & Osgood, Burning feet, page 5; Pearson Bros., More Inducements, etc., page 6; C. F. Brown, Seedless strawberries, page 7; Palmer & Co., Special sale, page 7.
—A regular meeting of W. C. T. U. will be held on Tuesday, June 13, at 2:45 P. M. Consecration service will be led by Miss Harriet Cady, which will be followed by a business meeting and quarterly reports by the superintendents of departments and the report of the county convention.
—Invitations are out for the wedding of Mr. Frank Oscar Jones, superintendent of schools at East Bridgewater, Mass., and Miss Eva Linnette Soule, which will occur at the First Presbyterian church at Stamford, Ct., at 7:45 o'clock on Thursday evening, June 29. Mr. Jones is a graduate of the Cortland Normal in the class of '92. Mr. and Mrs. Jones will be at home at East Bridgewater after Sept. 10.
AFTER THE OUTLAWS.
The "Hole In the Wall" to Be Cleaned of Its Desperate Inhabitants.
CASPER, Wyo., June 12.—The "Hole in the Wall," for many years a refuge for outlaws, promises to be cleansed of its desperate inhabitants. The daring robber band which looted the Union Pacific express at Rock Creek recently and escaped to the fastness of their dens in the "Hole in the Wall," in spite of the fact that they were closely pursued over plain and mountain, are to be systematically hunted to their death.
To this purpose the several railroad managers with interests in this state are organizing posses and the outlaws will be given no rest. It is expected 200 men will be engaged. It is estimated that at least 50 men on whose heads there are prices set and who are wanted in many states are to be found hiding there.
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