n Juan river towards San Francisco del
Monte. The artillery advanced to the stream and sent shells flying after
them until it became too hazardous to continue the bombardment, owing to
the approach of our troops. Down the causeway over which the Tagalans
fled in their mad desire to escape whole squads of Filipinos lay. As the
guns had made the advance almost entirely unaided by the infantry it
was purely an artillery charge, and to the artillery belonged the
victory. General Hale rode up a few minutes later and personally
complimented Lieutenant Naylor upon the ability with which he had
handled his men in this successful maneuver.

As the guns were unprovided with mules they were unable to proceed and
retired to their former position.

The engagement opened up by Lieutenant Naylor's men on the right found
an echoing response from the guns of Lieutenants Critchlow and Fleming.
As they were to continue the advance their general course lay along the
railroad track, which stretches entirely across Luzon Island from Manila
to Dagupan. Just after dawn on the 25th the infantry moved forward about
700 yards ahead of the artillery, which followed the Novaliches road. A
strong force of the enemy was encountered heavily intrenched in a
position commanding the Novaliches and Malinta roads. The infantry swung
into line and attempted to force back the Tagalans, who stubbornly
resisted the attack of our column. Two large guns were soon brought into
play and the natives gradually retired. An examination later showed that
the defenses of the insurgents were remarkably constructed; in some
cases the main breastworks were twenty feet thick. The first day's
fighting had taught them a lesson by which they had profited.

General MacArthur gave orders for the artillery to remain with him
during the advance, as it was impossible to move over the ridges. A
troop of the Fourth Cavalry, under Major Rucker, also remained with the
General. In the afternoon the artillery had turned down a small valley
toward the bed of the Pulilan river. The infantry had entirely
disappeared from the division commander's view, owing to a mountain
which lay between our forces and the artillery position. The general
whereabouts of our troops could be ascertained by the battle-sound, but
occasionally this died away as the moving column advanced. The General
sent forward one of his aids with a view of re-establishing our lines;
but he was fired upon and compelled to r