The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-13
CLIMATE OF THE TROPICS.
WHAT s0LDlERs VIII. ExrERI-
ENCE IN THE PAILIrriNEx.


The volunteers who have left their homes
in this state 10 serve the United States In
the Philippines can look forward to n
In northern climate. accustomed to north
ern manners OF living. they will be sud-
denly transplanted 20 a land OF romance.
Instead OF tan pines and frs they will see
forests OF ebony. ironwood. gum trees and
bamboo. The plebelan potato and the cs.a-
nonplace apple viii be sunplanssd by grow
ing oranges. cocoanutss guavas. citron. bread
fruit. bananas. pineapples. sugar cane cof-
fee. cotton and tobacco. They will live I'M
der a tropical sun. whose rays beat on the
earth with a heat of from 80 to ITO degrees.
and between July and October will be hunt
ing shelter from a warm rain that peits
down In great drops and seems to convert
the islands into vast steam bath.
The voyage from San Francisco will con-
sumo between twenty and twenty-five days
and the soldierA will reach the Philippines
at time OF great heat and their first care
will be to reduce clothing to the lightest
possible equipment compatible with de-
cency. The many who have left here with
a supply of WOODEN garments will find that
they are encumbered with useless baggage.
No sooner will the men become accustomed
10 the dry heat than July will bring the
summer rains. From that time until Octo~
Der the air is constantly full Of moisture.
Rainfails occur almost daily. Those who
have been In these storms OF the tropics
- " hav ar1 hao vi bas ra In
more northern countries. The water comes
down as though falling from hundreds OF
spouts. and the unfortunate who Is with
out protection Is drenched In a moment.
Should the United States hold the Phil
ippines as a military protectorate. as has
been suggested. 1t will require 5000 troops
TO garrison the islands so long as they ara
under the authority OF this government.
Between 1e.000 and Il 900 men are now headed
for Manila. and the chances are In favor OF
their retention on the islands for the term
OF enlistment. two years. Ii L. the opin-
ion Of some that the volunteers viii return
in a year. or that. at the close of actual
war. the newly mustered troops will be Civ
en- an opportunity to take their discharge
and soldiers OF the regular army win be
sent to replace them.
As to the character of service that win
be required of the untried citizen soldiers
there - diversity of opinion. Should
Spain send an army to drive the Ameri-
cans from their newly won possessions the
volunteers would see hot service. There
are said to be 1900 Spanlar1s In Manila
itself. and they would combine with any
invading force OF their own countrymen-
Again. the Insurgents are to be considered.
1t Is expected that the sight of the Ameri-
can soldiers will be enough to que,l any
rising desire they may have to create trou-
bic. but peace with the natives can hardly
be relied upon.
The Importance attached to the islands
and the service that may be needed OF the
soldiers by the United Slater government,
il shown in the appointment of Maj. Gen.
Wesley Merritt as supreme commander IN
the Philippines. Gen. Merritt IL second to
Gen. Miles In command OF United States
land forces. and Is taken from Governors
Island. New York. to 60 to the islands.