The Philippine Insurgent commander has decided to leave a screening force at Baler, while departing with the rest of his force to the town of Casiguran.

Early on the morning of October 7th, 1897, the Transport "Manila" arrived off Baler beach. The commanding officer of the ship had orders to get news about the arrival of the troops under Lt. Mota.

Seeing the town apparently deserted he sent a landing party with orders to scout out and link up with the garrison. The landing party, under Medical Lieutenant Ricardo Espi was composed of twelve marine infantrymen and a NCO.

The game

Philippine: Avoid the landing party trying to make contact with the forces at the church. If the link cannot be avoided then impede the Spanish forces returning to the beach. Spanish: The marine patrol must make contact with the Spanish forces at the town in order to assess the situation they are facing.

Special Rules:

The river can only be forded (crossed) near the broken bridge. The rest of its length is impassable, except for figures who discard their rifles. (These figures are considered knife armed [only] for the rest of the game, or until they secure another rifle).

The Spanish forces at the church cannot leave the building until contacted, but they are allowed to fire at any insurgent within range and LOS.

The ship is armed with a 50-mm gun that can reach 40 inches from the center of the coast side of the table. It has 10 shells and can fire a shot every turn if the Spanish player rolls a 3 or higher with a 1d6. The gun cannot perform indirect fire, so any and all targets must be within Line of Sight.

The wounded must reach the beach to be evacuated. They have serious wounds, so they need another person to help move them at half speed or two figures to move at normal rate.

The Filipino's deploy their figures after the Spanish marines have landed. They cannot deploy forces East of the river. There is only one Philippine leader, which is placed on the table with his forces. The two kinds of troops must be deployed intermixed. Starting with game turn Six (#6), roll a 1d10 for breech loading, rifle armed insurrectionist reinforcements to enter the table on the NE corner every odd turn.

Victory points (VP's):

• 10 points if the Spanish forces link up.
• 2 points for every wounded Spanish soldier evacuated.
• 2 points for every able (not seriously wounded) soldier left as garrison in the church.
• 2 point for every marine re-embarked after link up with the garrison.
• -1 point for every marine or infantry private killed.
• -2 points for every Spanish NCO dead.
• -3 points for every Spanish officer dead.

• 60+ VP's = Substantial Spanish victory.
• 50-59 = Moderate Spanish victory.
• 40-49 = A Draw.
• 29-39 = Minor Spanish defeat.
• 29 or less = Spanish debacle.