New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-19
A NIGHT IN LUNA'S CAMP.
EXPERIENCE or PARTY OF AMEhi-
CAN OFFICERS.
NEEDS OF THE ARMY AT MAN1LA-DEfoi
BATTALION SYSTEM OF REPLENIsH-
ING REGIMENTS URGED.

ou ohove the surrounding ricefields; II is al
rays free from mud-even In the heaviest
Sounnour of rain Just mile from wnere IL
s,,erees from the town II crosses by orldge
~ white stone a great irrigatng ditch the
country beyond that point being concealed lroiii
tho view of our outposts by the high walls or
the ditch.
On the afternoon of July there appeared on
the white stone bridge coming toward our hhe
under a futterng flag Of white-afterward as
covered TO be a woman's pettcoat- little COM
pany OF about hundred souls 1t was the ia'e
Spanish garrison of the town OF Baler with thei'
xvives children and servants, and meagre lot
~ belongings For months in their isolated
position on the east coast they have held out
against the insurgent bands that have sur
rounded them with a valor and fidelity worthy
Of all praise Originally Of an aggregate
strength Of 100 there were only three officers
and thirty-three enlisted men that marcheu
down the Bacolor road 10 our railway station
They had evidently been able TO make 1arIy
favorable terms with the rebels, for the men
wore in possession Of uniforms in good cond-
ton and blankets Of brightest red' Whle
the little commandante, or major, IN command.
with an eye queerly cooked. was immaculate
IN his blue and white uniform. white cap and
sash OF light blue silk knotted about his waist
They were hurried on the train, so it was i'm
possible 10 hear any details Of their months long
devotion to trust and King; but one may easily
imagine that the little major bore crushing
burden during the days and nights that mis-
handful OF soldiers watched harbor and land ap
proach waiting for relief And then the bitter
ness Of final surrender, the long long march 70
this place heartened only by the thought Of
home made a finale tragic in every detail
Their hearts must have throbbed bit faster
when our men cut loose in three ringing cheers
as the train puffed away-cheers that meant
but one Disqualification for sacrifices made;
duty we'll done.
INSURGENTS GOT THE ARMS.
One thing about the affair vitality affecting
the American troops is the fact that the garri-
son came IN unarmed. 1t means that the in
surgents have thus added to their stores more
rifles. cartridges, and possibly one or more
pieces OF artillery. An additional thought is
that in treating with the insurgents concerning
the surrender OF this garrison-I understand
that Spanish Commission arranged the details
Spain has virtually acknowledged the insur-
gent government. and that is what General Otis
has steadfastly refused to do and has sought
TO prevent others from doing
The reported death Of General Luna, now
thoroughly established as fact, removes from
the list Of leaders the man that was most
to be dreaded. He the most aggressive Of
fcer having high command, withal most viru-
lent in opposition TO any peace plans His was
the fate common to strong among lily dis
ciplined forces personal quarrel; "a dubious
hand" finale.
1t will be remembered that when our troops
reached Apalit q cessation Of hostlities
quested by the insurgents The representatives
who preferred the request having decided TO go
on to Manila from General MacArthurs head
quarters. it was deemed best 10 inform their
commanding officer Of the fact so General Mac
Arthur sent Lieutenant Colonel Wallace, 1st
Montana Volunteers, with the message. Two
surgeons. Major F. ]. Adams and Briga e Sur
geon George +. Shiels. learning Of Colonel Wal
laces intended trip. requested permission TO ac-
company him. and their request was granted.
Equipped with a flag of truce and guided by
trumpeter of the Filipino army who had
companied his officers as an orderly, they left
our lines on their really dangerous mission.
Night overlook them before half Of the six miles
TO go had been covered. outpost after outpost
was encountered. Challenge followed challenge
and our officers could only walt while the
trumpeter answered the double challenge at
each point. first with his voice, and afterward
with call on his high keyed buge. "Republica
Filipino" followed by a curious call. was re-
Quired before 'MaboOtey' good was shouted
from out the darkness by the sentry. and they
were permitted to pass. Reaching Santo Tomas,
the party was conducted to the house occupied
by General Luna. Luna's reception was curl
mixture Of formaty and keen anxiety as
TO the result of his Commissioners visit. Time
after time he inquired "Will your general grant
the armistice?" and Colonel Wallace could only
answer we do not know" After half an hour
Luna directed that the American officers be
taken for the night 10 ONT some two miles
in the rear. their arms returned to them, and
that special guard be established around their
sleeping quarters
LUNA SPOKE FREELY.
Some of his numerous staff spoke excellent
English, but conversation was principally a
polite interchange Of cOmmonplaces. Luna
himself was. however, less guarded. He spoke
with great bitterness of many things; particu-
larly Of our arms emphaticay declaring that
we were violating the laws OF by using
plosive projectiles from small aEns This was
truthfuly denied, and a counter charge as to
the same violation by the insurgents was made
by the two surgeons. but IL finally agreed
upon that both sides had mistaken the peculiar
double report "pac-ow' Of the Mauser and
Krag for an after explosion Of the prOJecte.
THE night was fairly long thank YOU" the Of
fcers said when they returned TO next morn
ing, and yet the numerous fleas In their sleep
ing quarters seemed to have worried them more
greatly than had their stay within the lines OF
q semi rbarous army for a long, dark night.
We frequently hear taunts and gbes in ex-
cellent English from the enemy's trenches. and
truth compels the statement that there are two
scoundrels. formerly members OF our army now
serving in the insurgent ranks. That is there
were two; one was riddled by the fire from his
old regiment at San Pedro Macati. Both were
men who had contracted miserable marriages
with native women, and discharged from
the service In consequence. Ii Is not a rash
surmse that should that fine regiment the Sd
United States Artillery, meet the survivor their
late comrade, now opposed to them, they would
cause certain advocates OF the "rosewater'
method OF warfare TO make a charge OF author
,zad crnelfv q nrisOnerS an imnutafinn AGAINST