The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-05-24

at Malolos, but the order was immediately
countermanded, and | remain ut quarters
here.
Since our advance upon Malolos, the op-
portunlty has presented itself to survey
the country more, and to ascertain its value
with greater particularly. At the present
tlme, the valley along the railroad from
Mania to Dagupau, is the principal part OF
the island OF Iuzon inhabited aud under
cultivation. This land is level, omen. re-.
markably fertile, and has been thoroughly
cultivated, but az matter OF course in the
present state OF affairs ia greatly neglected
Outside OF the valley, there is comparative.
y speaking, very little commercial indus
Try carried on, not because the productive
properties of the soil are lacking, but on &C.
count OF the lack of adequate transporta.
ton facilities and a fostering government
sweet corn OF the very best is grown, but in
small Quantities, as there is little demand
Tor IL here. Vegetable products such as
oaoosge, lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, etc,
are Of very good quality, and supply such
demand Tor them as there is. Both white
ana sweet potatoes are grown but of very
poor quality. Cocoanuts grow wild in
great abundance. Bananas are small and
snow lack OF cultivation and proper atten-
Ilon, put they have very fine flavor
Pineapples are not found in the market. but
are frequently seen growing in the gardens
without attention or cultivation. Oranges
are OF very poor quality. Peanuts are a
product OF the island that remind one of
nome more than any other. The lack of
quality in any OF these products seems to
me to be due TO the absence of careful and
improved cultivation. There being no ex.
port trade, there is no demand, aud hence
no stimulus. demand Tor export would
soon work healthful change in these CON
ditions. During the dry season, cultivated
fields are irrigated. Water can be found
anywhere in the valley at a depth of ten to
htteen feet below surface in the dryest sea-
son. wells are found in almost every To-
cality, and every farm has its pumping sta.
tion, the pumps being operated by horse or
buffalo power. The farms that supply
grass for all of the horses in the city are IT.
rigated by steam pumps.
Inc towns within our lines or occupied
by our troops are sadly in need of a good
administration. While the main country
roa1s are good in the dry season, the streets
IN the villages are absolutely filthy, notably
in the quarters OF the Chinese, who, as a
rule, are the principal tradesmen. Some Of
tne houses are very pleasant dwellings and
richly decorated within, although the sur
roundings outside are always neglected and
IN disorder. Well constructed stone houses
are found occasionally, they however are
owned by foreigners.
Inc manufacture Of pottery, such as lars
tillng for roofing and paving, and bricks. ia
quite an extensive industry. All OF the
cooking utensils used by the natives are of
fires in and use for stoves.
The natives who have been drawn away
from their homes by the retreatinR insur-
gents are beginning to return through our
INES In great numbers, each one bearing a
white nag and bowling very gracefully to
every American soldier he passes, doubt
less through fear of bodily harm, which
they have been led to believe (by their own
people) would be dealt to them This lib
erty and liberality results in permitting
some evil disposed Filipinos to enter our
lines, and these occasionally do harm when
the opportunity offers. However, this does
not occur as frequently as might be ex-
pected.
Outside of the movement on Malolos, the
army has not met with decided resistance.
although it has made important advances.
The capture of St. Cruz insures the control
OF the Lake region and all OF the country
south of Manila, where difficulties are
likely to be met, except the country south
OF our lines and Cavite, where no moye-
ments whatever have been made since the
fifth OF February. This, however, is of
little Importance.
The dire necessities of the insurgents
have driven them to extremes in procuring
hre arms, but they have shown little inpen-
uity in this. The ordnance we have found
in their possession, with all the appur-
tenances necessary to efficiency, shows that
they have been incapable of using IL. Can
non, guns and even pistols made OF wood
and ,gas-pipe, have been found in their
hands.
1t goes without saying, that such Weapons
are only dangerous to the users They
nave been known to use old salmon cans
hlled with nails, and old iron, as prof .ctiles.
Dec isionally they fire round shot wrapped
with rags TO make them fit cannon OF too
large calibre. None OF these projectiles has
come near enough TO the mark to cause any
very grave apprehension on our side. On
the retreat they lose their guns with the
greatest facility, but usually cling to their
ammunition All their guns are promptly
destroyed by our troops when found AS
we nave made no advances for the last two
weeks, it is probable the Insurgents have
intrenched again Their intrenchments are
we'll laid out and we'll constructed, hut
they cause but little delay to the steady adj
vance Of our troops
The non-combatants claim that thew ara
compelled to work in the trenches while
the insurgent soldiers loot their homes.
The insurgents are daily becoming more
their firing is more effective, especially
when they are allowed to remain in one
place for any length Of time. They appre-
ciate the merits of the Kraag rifles, and
when they find themselves confronted by a
company or detachment using these arms
they quickly seek cover, and make their
presence felt through the muzzles of their
Mausers, rather than over their breast
works. this arm being quite as effective in
range and accuracy as the Krasg Since il |
Is known that they practice at the target |
there is conclusive evidence that their pow |
der supply is plentiful. Nor do they, up to |
this time, show any lack OF subsistence. |
Yet they accomplish little or nothing, sim |
ply because they are poor soldiers. Their |
officers are OF much better material, and |
will continue to fight as long as they can
WELD any influence over the men, and thew
have no scruples about the methods they
use. 1t is simply selfish ambition on their
part regardless Of the welfare OF their own
people. When truth does not avail them.
hey resort to lies from lies to CONSUMPTION
and in many cases death. The truth, how.
aver, is of 80 little value to them that they
seldom resort to it, and it has not been
They have paper OF their
own. which seeks to aid their cause by pub
ishing their own great victories and our
errible defeats and losses This cannot
wall much longer, because it will be made
elf-evident to the natives that they are be.
ng deceived.
1t is to be hoped that in the near future
m opportunity will present itself whereby
he natives will have a chance to control
heir own local government, and learn for
hAmaalVAa a hat