Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-10-14

foot street. Occasionally the monotony
is relieved by an earthquake or a
typhoon. Il was perfectly sober when I
reached these conclusions). This is the
greatest country IN the world-to steer
clear of. 1t is worse than Honolulu.
Fruit here is nearly as dear as at home.
The heat is something awful, but there
is plenty of shade and as we are dressed
in white duck suits and very light under
wear, and are quartered where we can go
into the surf whenever we want to, we
managed to get along first rate. The only
thing that bothers usi IS the grub question
We have hard time getting what we
arc entitled to, as it CONS that North
Dakota hasn't tie money or the "pull'
that suci, regiments as Oregon, CalifDr-
mia, and the GLORIOUS" 18th Minnesota
have. Bus at that we are getting along
better than the majority of them. We
arc-each end every one of us, officers
included-broke, but pay day is not far
off. Everyone is in excellent health,
and, with the exception of a few of the
lovesick ones, in fine spirits.
Well, I suppose You would like to hear
of tho part we took in the capture of
Manila, but in order TO do so I will have
to describe the country surrounding
Manila, as 1 saw it:
I'm the first place it is entirely sur
rounded by timber and. brush, extending
for miles on every side and almost impene-
trable. AT the time of the capture the
Spaniards held about two miles Of this
country around the city, while the in
surgents held the rest, with the exception
of a strip along the ocean front, extend
ing from the enemy's forward intrench-
ment to a small river about four miles
distant, which was in possession of the
Americans. The country in possession
of the S%paniards was a network of in
trenchments, rs they had been working
like bees for some time. Their forward
intrenchment consisted of a high en-
bankment, on top of which was piled
sacks filled with dirt, while every hund-
red yards was a blockhouse, in which
were 4-inch guns and machine guns.
The Americans had one long intrench-
ment running parallel with that Of the
enemy, and about 600 yards distant, al
though neither side could see the other.
There are three roads leading into the
city, one along the ocean front, another
about half-mile inland, and the other
on the extreme right, and it was in these
roads the hardest fighting took place.
We were taken from Cavite on the 18th
to Camp Dewey, the American posses
sion in front Of Manila, and there went
into camp in our ''dog" tents. On the
morning Of the 18th we were ordered to
take "a hours ~rations and relieve the
23rd infantry (regular) in the intrench-
ments. The day passed without Incl
dent worthy Of mention. About 6 D. m.
the Utah battery came up and planted a
4-inch, gun in the road about 400 yards
ahead of us, aiming it apparently al
nothing but brush. About an hour later
the Aston battery came along with six
mountain %howitzers, and disappeared
down the road to the right. This was
the first intimation we had that some.
thing was going to adron" At 10 O'clock
that night we were informed that the
city would be attacked the next day.
While drinking our coffee at six O'Clock
the next morning we were startled by
hearing a terrible explosion, as the 4-inch
gun was fired, and seeing fragments Of d
Spanish block house flying in the air.
This was followed by . volley Of Mausel
bullets from the Spanish infantry in; the
intrenchments which whistled over oui
heads, and drove our outposts, consisting
Of Fern, Wilson, Lobner, Gilhertson,
Radke, Anderson, Louden, ct al back on
the run. The firing ahead then became
general, and inside Of half al hour the
18th infantry which was supporting The
Utah battery, hadSplanted the Stars and
Stripes on the remains Of the blockho,,,lse