The record-union., 1899-05-21


distribution of provisions and every
thing that may be of use in war. The
men often dismantle bridges and tear
down buildings to get the iron and go
so far as to break up carts to get the
axletrees. They also collect unexplod
ed shells fired from the gunboats. It is
also their duty to carry food to the
guards and to the soldiers in the
trenches. Together with those of the
active army and the women and the
children-for class. sex or quality make
little difference-they work at strength
ening the intrenchments and construct
others wherever necessary
The military hierarchy of the Tagal
army includes Generalissimo, Lieuten-
ant General, Marshal, Brigadier Cen
eral, Colonel, Major, etc Among the
higher offices are those of Minister of
War. Chief Chaplain, General Of
Rents, who has charge of the collec-
ton of the contributions paid by the
head of each "barangay," or family,
and the pay of the soldiers, which
| amounts to about 10 cents a day; a
General of artillery, a General of engi-
neers-a half caste, Who is said to have
learned civil engineering in Belgium
and an Auditor General for the War
Department All these offices are filled
by Lieutenant Generals Other Gen
erals devote their attention to the Sc
curity of the lines of defense and the
management of the patrols.
In the interior patrols of about a
dozen men are met with everywhere
They challenge all persons and exam
inc them closely. "Capatid'' (brother)
is the answer given by the natives to
this challenge. The strictest watch is
kept along the defense lines and the
| boundaries of the military zones, small
parties being continually on guard.
Often the posts are established high UP
in trees, on little platforms constructed
and resting on the branches, called
''bantahays" Small guard patrols con-
meet this chain of hidden outlooks with
each other, and so form a continuous
line of outposts we'll to the front of
the intrenchments, and so arranged
as to give ample warning to troops in
the rear.
In case of attack these advanced
guards have orders to fall back after
giving the alarm and thus draw the
enemy to the intrenchments, where the
main force in the meantime has been
preparing for a warm reception. This
displays good military strategy.
TACTICS OF THE TAGALS.
Tagal warriors have instructions in
military tactics" as they term it.
This consists largely of imitation of
what they have seen of the drill and
instruction of the Spaniards. They
march in columns of files of tours, the
ridiculously loud tone of voice. with no
explanation as to the movements to
be executed, and neglecting to see that
the commands are obeyed. The COM
panies have trumpeters, signals being
used frequently for sounding the alarm
from post to post and camp to camp.
Every Tagal is more or less of a must
clan. For night alarm signaling they
use a red paper balloon, Illuminated
by tiny lanterns
Insignia of rank are worn by all Off
GERS. The Generalisimo has a k on
the hat, the letters ~, L, l, b. on the
arm and ON the left breast k with
cross above and below. All other
officers wear the insignia of rank on
the left breast Lieutenant Generals
wear a k in the center of two con-
centric circles, Joined by radial lines;
Marshals a ''K'' in half such a circle;
Brigadier Generals a k in a triangle,
with small circles on the corners; Col
onels two ks with a cross between
and k above the cross; Majors three
ks in vertical line The Secretary
to the Generalissimo, on account of his
exalted rank, has three ks" in a
horizontal line.
Supreme command of the army, as
we'll as supreme direction of the civil
Government, is in the hands of Cen
eralissimo Emilio Aguinaldo, formerly
a Captain in the municipal guard at
Cavite, Viejo.
Every village has a Marshal, charged
with the defense of the locality and
the command of the soldiers He is
directly under the General in COM
mand of the military zone. The SOL
diers are usually devoted to their lead
eTs and believe in them implicitly.
They have an idea that they belong to
an army that can measure weapons
with any other, and to that belief is
due their stout and desperate resist
ance to the American troops. 1t has
taken many defeat for them and
many a sacrifice of American valor to
teach them that they are wrong and
emit 1xy Her.