Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-06-01
HE PRAISES DEWEY.
Ensign Lands Says the Admiral Is
All Right.


warden Of the penitentiary, is home
from Manila where he served eight
months on the Olympia under Ad-
miral Dewey and received his bap-
tism Of fire at the battle Of Manila.
1t will be remembered that he stopped
here to visit his cousin, DR.. Felty, on
his way to join the ship.
Ensign Lands is proud of the goth
Kansas volunteers, and an enthusiast
tic admirer Of Admiral Dewey.
81 think that Admiral Dewey is de-
serving Of everything that has been
said of him." was the response when
the young officer was asked about his
commander. among one Of the
least things that he has done during
the last year was to fight the battle
Of Manila bay. At least, this is not
his greatest achievement He is
even greater and stronger man than
the public gives him credit for being.
Admiral Dewey is almost infinite in
resources. He is extremely popular
with the officers, and, so far as |
know, popular with the enlisted men.
Speaking about his health, the
first ten months it was good. During
the last two months it has been fail
ing. He is just in need of rest, due
to long mental strain. During the
entire year Admiral Dewey never left
the harbor at Manila. He was the
only officer or enlisted man who never
left the harbor. Most of them en-
joyed trip to Hong Kong.
Admiral Dewey does not consult or
ask for suggestions from any one. He
acts entirely on his own judgment,
and attends to everything connected
with the fleet.
"He does not care for ceremony
and loves quiet. As an instance,
when the official notice making him
Admiral was received there was no
citation or ceremony about him. The
notice was received at $50 ON Satur-
day morning, March II. The fleet
was notified that the four-star flag
would be broken at 10 o'clock, when
all the ships in the harbor saluted.
Usually all are called to quarters on
the occasion of hosting an officers
flag, but he did not have this done. !"
When asked about the goth Kansas,
Ensign Lands said: 81 spent nearly
all the time could get away from
the fleet with the goth Kansas and
was out with the boys. | met and
talked almost daily with Col. Funs-
ton and other officers. had lunch
with Capt. Elliott four days before he
was killed and he was in good spirits
aud was enjoying the fighting. Capt.
Elliott was a fine officer and was liked
by all who knew him. The Kansas
boys are fighters and it is my con-
clusion that it was the best of all the
volunteer regiments. The goth stood
the brunt of the fighting and had the
worst ground to 60 over. They had
to be kept in check so as not to ad-
vance too fast for other regiments
and distinguished themselves early in
the fighting
"Gen. Otis offered to relieve them
to give them rest, but they all
wanted TO remain at the front until
the fighting was over. All Kansans
are looked on as fighters and sharp
shooters. As an instance OF their
good craftsmanship, two Of the Kan
sas boys sighted Filipino running
away. One estimated the distance at
400 yards and the other at 450. They
set the sights at 425 and fired, when
it was found afterwards that one bull
let hit him in the back and the other
in the neck"
Campbell Bros. Shows.