Evening star., 1898-12-16
SOLDIER LIFE IN MANILA
Washington Boy Describes Experiences in
the Philippines.
Insurgents Maintain Regular Camps
and Discipline and Avoid the
Amcricans-Conhict Possible.

Mr.. Robert E. Smith of 3o9T P street has
received letter from his son Robert. who
enlisted private in Company G., I'd
Regiment of Oregon Volunteers, and who
is now at Manila. The letter is dated Oc-
tober 20, in which he says:
Everything is moving along nicely here.
[ am i'll exec. lent health and fine spirits.
There is considerable fever among the men,
put our doctors seem to understand the
effects of the climate and fever, and L am
glad to say but few deaths have been re-
ported iateiy. While ali would like to get
nome, yet many think it would not be wise
20 send US back to another climate before
next summer. | told the doctors say
mat our blood is too thin for a sudden
cnange of Climates.
The wea iher Is getting hotter and hotter.
fhe naInes anu o-,aniards say that De-
Semper ana January are the hottest months
mere. Wed, II tney can stand il L guess
.he Americans can. We have had .otS of
raIn nurmg the past few days, but this
morning the weather is grand, and the
monkeys are having Regular circus over
my mead. They are very Ugly, but awfuiy
comiCal ana smart. Tne boys call one of
the monkeys BOB, because ne never miss
es an opportunity to jump from tree or
tne ground onto my shoulder.
Like a Spoiled Child.
Fruit is very plentiful here and 1 gem
orally have an orange or a banana in my
pocket, and Bob is not slow to find it out.
one evening he was sick and his actions
were like spoiled child; he tried in every
way o get sympathy from us al. | finally
fixed a nice bed for him under my bunk,
thinking tnat would SATISFY him. At reveille
next morning he was cured up alongside of
me sound asleep, with his head resting
my pnIow. Ine boys stood around looking
at him for some time, and we decided to
,et him alone to see how long he would
sleep We mad breakfast and drill and
c-eaned up around our quarters and bunks,
and Bob never Woke ~ until O'Clock,
when, after filing himself as full as he
could hold with mix and bananas, he scam
pered off to join mis- tribe.
We are constantly on the alert for trouble
with the insurgents. They are constantly
drlilng and armIng, and are studying and
pfacUicIng the American manual and mill
,ary forIa ations. They seen aeter tained o
be independent of any foreign power, and
while not openly aggressive they show by
satisfied with The turn of affairs since we
took Manila and the suburbs.
The better class of natives say they
wish TO have the American form of govern
ment, and they are doing all in their power
to be friendly with us and AVOID troub e.
While they have had many opportunities,
they have shown no disposition to be
treacherous with us. Two of regiment
got lost and were picked up by the insur-
kindly treated and sent under guard to
our lines for fear of moestation from ire
sponsible parties.
In Hostile Array.
I'VE are like two hostile armies facing
each other and waiting for the battle to
begin. The insurgents have their outposts
and pickets the same we have. and it
requires a pass for an American to enter
their lines. and we do not allow them inside
of ours. 1t is the general belief at this
time among the men in the ranks that a
conflict must come between the Americans
and the insurgents, and we believe that the
sooner 1t comes the better for us and the
interests of our government on the islands.
We have TO be positive and sometimes a
little severe with the natives. but we never
Intentionally abuse them.
Every soldier takes pride in his own
.regiment, and beley es it TO be the best.
l am proud of every American regiment
mere, ana l believe every one of them will
show the world that they can fight as well
IN foreign land as on their native heath.
The following is an English criticism
published in the Hongkong Press:
General Anderson is a strict disciDii-
marian, and has his forces well in hand
Drilling goes on every day, including target
practice. The California and Oregon regi-
ments are fine, vigorous. brave lot of
men. 1t does one good to look at them
They mean business. The regulars of the
14th infantry, however, are better drilled
and more seasoned. They do everything
with the same ciock-like precision that
'characterizes The experienced British sol
dler They do not know what fear is ami
cannot understand how the Spanish soldiers
can be guilty of such lamb-like submission
IN surrenderlng as they do
In Good Shape.
We have just received a new issue of
brown clothing, hats and Shoes and are in
splendid shape. AT the end of our barracks
are fine bath houses. and at o'c:ock in
the evening all the showers are turned on
and we all take a bath. We have dress
parade in our white uniforms and white
helmets, on the famous parade ground
one Lunette) that for hundreds of years
echoed to the tramp of Spanish soldiers
an echo that has now died away forever
and with 1t, | hope, has vanished for All
time to come the last act of tyranny and
oppression against the people of the Philip
pine Islands,
THE DINOSAuR OF WYOMING.