The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-03

against a dozen Of them. Still they can
stab in the dark or behind your back all
right and though they do fight that way
mostly they seem to have no fear of death
This is, of course, the direct result Of
ignorance.
We left the camp at Cavite on the 7th
of August, went on board small steam
ers, were taken across the bay about three
miles to the outskirts of Manila. We
went into camp that night ons and half
miles from our trenches. 1t rained all
night and things were in bad shape but
every one was in the best OF spirits' We
staid at this camp until the morning OF
the 18th of August when we got orders
to move on Manila. Every man was
served with 100 extra rounds OF ammu-
milton, making 200 rounds In al, and Two
days rations. These with the rifiessano
sidear ms constituted q soldiers outnb on
this day. A march of about two miles
brought us to the trenches earth WORKS
thrown up for protection. 1t was rain
ing heavily and everyone was soaking
wet and as muddy as goose but all were
anxious for tho attack.
At about 10 O'Clock the ships began to
she'll the Spaniards in their trenches,
which were about one mile from ours. At
the same time we began to advance all
along the line. There had been and was
at this time some little skirmish firing
|
from the ships shrieking over our heads
made peculiar music under peculiar cir
cumstances. We had to break through
dense foliage, tangled vines and the Ike.
some tripping and going into trenches
of mud and water to their waists, but
broke cover about 300 yards from the first
line of Spanish works. field thinly
sprinkled with cornstalks separating us.
/ had no idea but that we would lose
thirds Of our battery at this place.
Well we lost no time but advanced as
shot was fired. They are waiting for
surs thing thought Still was sur
prised that they had not opened fire at
sight Of us. But when 80 yards only
separated our troops from the trenches
my surprise was complete. | more than
Initiation in yet being alive In fact !
was too much puzzled about where the
| Spaniards were to think of anything else.
| We mounted and passed the trenches,
which were very firm being made ofaDags
of sand. An American army could have
number and SO could the Spaniards be-
lieve had they staid there and fought it
out. But that Is just what they did not
do. We continued to advance 800 yards
further which brought us to the town
and very soon we're in the streets. The
|
countered even in the streets, 1t being
quite evident that the inhabitants had
left the city for safety.
Occasionally groups of Spanish sold
iers could be seen running through the
side streets and all seemed to be making
| for the same center and were but mo-
n,ent In sight. We were more than ever
| on the alert ct this time, expecting
| vollsy from any OF the houses at any
moment but none came. Here again the
Spaniardsa could have given thel Ameri
| cans q severe lesson.
| One half mile moro and we were in
sight of an inland fort and there stream
ing in the breeze, surrendered by hun
dreds of Spanish soldiers was a white flag
planted On the rampartS To me this was
the biggest surprise Of the day, but there
was more to come. Right here it may
be said that Battery l.. Sd artillery, was
the first troop of American soldiers to en-
ter Manila.
Well, this beyond doubt for time, at
least, settled the matter. Even while the
white flag foated from the fort some
shots vera exchanged through the town.
iards and were soon Joined by troop after
troop of our soldiers. Here it was def
nitely settled that the Spanishlhad sur
rendered the city. One half hour more
and we were called upon to go to another
portion Of the town in which the insur
genus were IudSS6u. ATFlVluS Uu0E0 We
were draWn up completely blocking two
streets. We were at this time about 100
men strong facing about 1000 angry In
surgents DESTROYS of getting into the city
and looting and killing. We were not
| 80 yards apart and the insurgents seeJued
bound to come. Finally we got the
command "as single leaders load and
consequently looked for squalls. Still the
officers of both sides talksdsand gesticu.
lated and then the order s'fill magazines
and fix bayonets. - This was the most
critical moment of any we had passed
but finally the insurgents tt ok water and
retired and after a while our flag was
hoisted from this portion of the city and
| the first chance of aeserious collision was
avoided.
We sought quarters and have been tax
| ing matters pretty easy,since. Armed
American soldiers partol the city but
business goes ON as usual / suppose
now you are better aware how matters
stand at headquarters than ourselves as
we have had no news from home and
what little we get here is very unreliable. |
We all expect trouble with the insur- |
gents yet There has been little sickness |
and all are In good spirits. Win try and |
write again at the first opportunity.
Yours truly,
LARRY WYER.
P. S. Take a glance at view of
Venice or any part of old Asia and you
can judge of the appearance of Manila.