some parts of the line the attacked
Tagalans were allowed to approach within 200 yards. Most of the guns,
when the fight began were located close to MacArthur's headquarters, but
they were soon on all parts of the line. When the attack by the
Filipinos began the gun under command of Lieutenant Naylor was on its
way to the outposts. It had been the custom to take the gun there just
before dawn and bring it back immediately after darkness came. The
advancing Filipinos began firing before the gun was in position.
Corporal Hanson was in charge at the time, and the rifle was at once
rushed to the emplacement. Word came at the same hour to Lieutenant
Naylor, who was officer of the outpost, and he went through a heavy fire
down the road leading to the intrenchment. When he arrived there the
Filipinos were within three hundred and fifty yards and were advancing
over the rice ridges at a rapid gait. The Lieutenant had a shell sent
into the approaching insurgents, who seemed astounded to find that the
artillery occupied such an advanced position. When nine shells had been
sent into their line, the Filipinos gradually drew back and were not
seen any more on this part of the line during the fight.

[Illustration: PREPARING FOR AN ENGAGEMENT.]

The Seventeenth and Twenty-second Infantry were the support on this end
of the line, which faced to the north.

On the west, east and part of the north line were the Kansas and Montana
infantry. It was to this point that the two guns of Lieutenant Gibbs
were moved when the firing began, and here the guns inflicted severe
damage on the islanders. Another gun of Battery B was also placed near
this part of the line under Lieutenant Hines, but it was unnecessary
from this position to use the artillery.

This fight was the first time the American soldiers during the whole
campaign had repulsed an attack from behind intrenchments, and they laid
back and smiled as the black men approached and then passed out some
volleys that made the whole advancing line reel. When the Tagalans began
to retreat under the awakened storm, the Americans followed, and as the
Filipinos recoiled from one regiment they were broken against another. A
company of the Twentieth Infantry located near Santo Tomas was almost
cut off by the advancing column of the enemy, and a company of the
Montana men was sent to its assistance. The fight lasted nearly two
hours and the Filipino loss amounted to several hundred. The only
c