LUKBAN
deserted the pilot house and hid in the anchor chain . The wheelman , on the other hand , was outstretched upon the pilot house , paralyzed with fear . The crew deserted the steamer and went into small boats which were farthest from the shore .
At the place where soldiers were expected to disembark , the rebels had placed sharpened canes on the trench covered with wet ditches and hidden by a covering of grass . Several of Gilmore ’ s men fell into these ditches , but luckily they were not injured . The rice land at the rear of the trench was also planted with sharpened canes at angles varying from 30 to 40 degrees . When Gilmore ’ s troops finally landed , the rebels were too far to engage in a shooting battle . He learned that Abuke had mobilized 60 men with about 40 guns , and was joined by a number from Mateginan .
Gilmore however said he had no casualties . The rebels on the other hand had reportedly lost one killed and three wounded , one of whom was reportedly Abuke who suffered a slight wound on the shoulder . When Gilmore returned to Laguan , he was told that one Isidro Medina , formerly a captain of artillery in Catbalogan , had turned himself in .
To the Americans , the occupation of Catubig was more strategic than Catarman . For one , Catubig was the rice granary of the district . If the rebels were to control the town , it would enable them to solve the problem of hunger . If the Americans did , they would hold the key to the rebels ’ eventual defeat . At that time , the town already had 10,000 inhabitants . Besides rice , which was estimated to yield 300,000 sacks per year , it had nearly as much hemp as Catarman . The rice harvest was expected to start at the end of March . If Abuke was to succeed in occupying the town , it would serve as a good base of supplies . In addition , occupying it would open up all the towns along the Catubig river .
Gilmore sailed for Catubig on the 22 nd of February 1900 at around 10:00 in the morning on board the boat Cuco with 50 men commanded by his deputy Lt . Sweeney . Although it was said to be highly populated , Gilmore found only 56 Chinese traders who were collected by Abuke from Laguan , Catubig and neighboring villages . Everything seemed quiet . So Gilmore sent a small detachment to Pamponton , the first village on the trail from Mateginan after crossing the mountains .
Next he appointed Tomas Tafalla temporary presidente at Catubig . Earlier , the presidentes of Palapag and Pambujan - Fernando Opinion and Restituto Jazmin – had presented themselves to him . Palapag had a population of 6,000 while Pambujan 5,000 . No Chinese or Spaniards were killed in either of the two towns , he learned . Tafalla also informed him that he had received two letters from Lukban , directing that all
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