The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-05

Conditions i'm the Philippines
Garrison Work Is Not So Bad
Boys Can Get Everything They
Need-Very Little Sickness.
The story of the battle Of Manila
was told to the members Of the Thir-
teenth Regiment Auxiliary association
last evening, by Maj. Samuel d. Stur-
gis formerly Of Gen. Merritt's staff on
the Philippine expedition. The rooms
of the Commercial club were crowded
with relatives and friends Of the Thir-
teenth regiment men, when President
O'Brien introduced Maj. Sturgis.
You know more about the Manila
campaign" began Maj. Sturgis, than
many of us who were there. 1t is
difficult in the midst Of such excite
ment and duties as naturally result
from such an event to keep track Of the
affair in detail. One is so occupied
with his immediate duties that he fails
to take in the scenes around him. and
thus loses much.
we were lying in the harbOr Of Ma
Mia on the steamship Newport, wait
ing for Gen. McArthur's brigade. Gen.
Merritt had been acquainting himself
with the situation there. Gen. Greene's
brigade Of 400 men was encamped on
sion or our lines to the right on the
SingalOng road which was protected
by blockhOuses No. Is, IA and further
along No. 20.
Our first difficulty was in landing.
A southwest monsoon had come up,
making it almost impossible to land.
The Spaniards had run all their small
boats up the Pasig river and only
few native boats were available. AS
soon as the fleet appeared every eye
was turned on the little column of
smoke beyond Corregidor island. Final
ly we saw the Indiana and the Para,
and Immediately after there came the
whole expedition in fleet formation, the
Indiana leading, and they dropped an
Choir in the places assigned to each.
Gen. Merritt's first question was as
to the health Of the men, and the re-
ply was that there had been five deaths
and little sickness, but nothing Of
serious character. This was very grail
flying, because the former expedition
did not have such good luck.
"Then efforts were made to land on
the beach. Owing to the difficulties en-
COuntered the task was stupendous.
Here the Minnesota regiment again
called themselves into prominence. Gen.
Merritt said the colonel of the Mime
sCta regiment is hustler. See how
quickly his men are going ashore All
the men were Immediately put in camp.
They had little bamboo huts and BAN
| boo beds, covered with mating, which
We're set about three feet from the
| ground. Natives never sleep on the
| ground. This accounts for the excel
lent health of the command. In camp
there were many discOmforts. Rain
and sunshine alternated constantly
The mems clothes were always wet and
their shoes were wet They would
spend a night in the trenches without
shelter and their clothes would get
wet and muddy. Their food supplies
were simple but ali that was neces-
sary. Extra coffee was served to the
men in the trenches and everything
possible was done to offset their dis
comforts.
BEGINNING THE ATTACK.
when we began our attack upon
Manila, Greene's brigade was on our
left and MacArthur's on our right The
navy began with a bombardment OF
the forts, but 1t did not amount to
much. Not much damage was done.
The fire was not returned by the forts
lest the large guns of the fleet should
open upon the town. The monitor Mon
terey did not fire q shot. The real
work fell upon the army, though the
moral effect Of the navy was cOnSid-
the men moved forward through thick
foliage Of bamboo, and there was a
very loud explosion in front, which we
feared might be mine under the First
brigade, but it was a blockhouse blown
up by the Aston battery. 1t was block
house No. Is.
Gen. Macarthur was ordered to move
forward as soon as in his judgment
circumstances justified 1t, and when
he gave the order the Minnesota reg
iment led the column, with it's advance
guard in front. The Spaniards had
erected a parapet across the SingalOng
road, and it was impossible for the
Asitor battery to get it's guns across it.
| The Thirteenth men put their ShOlders
to the wheels and lifted the guns bod
lily over it. Then the advance guard
was attacked from blockhouse. and
the men fell back. Gen. Macarthur
formed the regiment in the rear, and
the men sheltered themselves and kept
up vigorous fire on the blockhouse,
so that the Spaniards did not dare to
show themselves A captain of the
Aston battery drew a revolver and call
ed for volunteers to storm the block
house, and number of Minnesota men
responded with the Astor battery men,
and they drove the Spaniards out. 1t
was gallant act. There was no
chance for the attacking party to dodge
| bullets. They had to advance up the
Lace VI the DlOCknOuSe ana III the open.
The plan was to Sieze the bridges
into the town. The Spanish were in
front and the Filipinos on the side. The
FilipinOs were to be kept out so as to
! prevent a masSa ere of the Spanish in
habitants of the town. None Of the
Filipinos got in.
1.-The Spaniards still held the ground
to the north. Then the white flag went
up in response to Deweys demand for
the surrender Of the place, and there
was q conference, resulting in the sur
| render of Manila. Then it was neces-
| sary for us to guard the bridges. IN
+ dividual Filipinos did get into the
city, but no organized bands. They
were greatly annoyed, for they thought
we had played a Spanish trick upon
them. They threatened an attack, and
we had to keep our men, tired as they
were, on duty. They had to sleep on
of hardships the men did not complain.
Every officer and man was impressed
by the splendid spirit shown by the
volunteer soldiers.
THE next day we had to establish
outpOsts to prevent the Filipinos COM
ing in. We had to establish q line,
within the Spanish line, to enable the
Spaniards to withdraw from the front
and retire to the place assigned to them
to lay down their arms.
MANILA CLIMATE LIBELED.
'The climate Of Manila has been
abused. All the men are In good
health. There were few who did not
appear in good health. They were all
given all the liberty possible and there
was no epidemic. The town was at
| first in bad condition; there was moth