The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-28
WASHINGTON BOYS LETTER
n BREATHEs TINE SPIRIT WHICH
ANIMATED THE VOLUNTEERS.
who Complain Of Slownsss IN the
Conduct OF war ~ Explaining
Conditions Troops Contend with.

4. Mclaughlin, % Company c. wrote his
father. J. b. Mclaughlin. Of Little Rock.
in July last. a comprehensive letter about
the military situation In the Philippines
which has been shown at the White House
by it's recipient. 1t 10 30 truly American
In spirit that II was sent as a special tele-
gram 10 the ST. Louis Glooe-pemocrat by
Its Washington correspondent. The letter
was written late in July, and shows grasp
Of the difficulties encountered by the
American troorA- Following IL the portion
OF general interest:
Now. ! notice . great many papers In
the stAiss do not think Cen OTIS is rum
ming proper campaign; OF, ia other words,
they DO not think he 10 competsnt 70 han
die this Outbreak There 10 plenty Of room
come and go the country and contend with
whAs Gen. Otis has had to contend with.
and It y my opinion they would not Do half
there II from two to three fes< OF water!
How can you conscientiously send light
artillery where a horse can't GOT Now. II
nsi,hsr Cavalry A nor "a artillery s Would 1t be-
expedent 70 send Infantry? 1t has been
my privilege 70 be here. and would ask
10 1s.. rhe o: 81 IA: had
TO vacats: show one where Funston ran:
where LAYTON had to vacate: where that
prince OF generals. Charles A: King. ever
night save the red rocket (meaning at
tackled. but holding our ownc. That was
always his signal when lines were cut.
did IL we'll, and deserve a nations thanks
ana praise, ana not abuse. These are
the men who. after hard march and
4 council Tor the next days campaign, and
who ordered us to rest and eat. and then
D9 not ~ .a iS " in the field Res. yor-
ana Anderson made these remarks to u
on 0uadsloupe road. after the hard fought
battle Of San Pedro. II some OF those
court-nnartialed US II we had not saluted.
1T is all very well for those who run
sround with an umbrella and a gum coat
dry paper. but change the conditions and
place them IN the field In a canebrake or
rice paddle and let them. after hard days
" the morning and put on their clothes Qf
they have been lucky enough to get orders
to take them on). and about the hour OF
midnight. - the heavens are loosened UP
ana the lightnings blase reminds them Of
the Internal regions. let them hear the
order IAN IN: and guess they will then
come TO the conclusion that Gen. Otis
OF war IS not picnic or race track. Let
them think OF 5000 men. 80 per cent Of
whom Are unaccaimatsd, in q country
trail or road fortified with smallpox. lep-
rosy. bsri-beri. Itch. ETC.. left by the enemy
as he 10 made to vacate, with q competent
me force sufficient for the needs OF
the army In time Of peace, and never rails
ed In war; with new diseases for them to
contend with. with q supply Of medicines
not ADAPTED 10 the diseasets-an this and
many other things must be run to suit the
most fastdious. who know all about
war 10000 mics away. and how II should
be run that distance from the seat of gov
eminent.
Now. not one of us Is in any imnedi-
ate danger from death by disease or i'm
proper attention, for we &c; the best at
tention and medical ATTENDANCE that can
be given under the circumstances We
are here In strange country with an un-
civilized people. with ratlons and medicines
10000 miles away from the consumer, in a
land Of typaoons and long rainy seasons
with a vast amount Of water. making
everything impossible at times; our rail-
road transport ation very difficult, at times
impossible. What. in this case. would a
commanding general do? One who Is here
can say very truthfully that he has done
been lost 10 the spanish for years. He has
sacrificed no man to useless danger. and
has given the ether side the worst OF 81.
and now Demands a complete surrender.
as that Ia the only outcome. Superstition
charms. fanaucism. cannot compete with
the american boy and q good gun. The
elements are now in their favor. and they
are working 1t for all II is worth. both the
Ffipinoe here and the ones at home. We
know one thing. that the American SOL
diers honor Gen Otis. as he has shared
did not The one II a soldier: the other,
to my mind, IL a traitor.
The first duty of an American r. to sup
port the government II the government
II wrong. then change ID: not wait until
there are D.oQO men Ia the field ana then
wish that the American arms were defeat
ID. I am glad TO BE- here and 10 come
through this campaign unscathed hut
think OF ~ many Of our boys In blue who
went down under fire. who know died
conscious ~ the fact that they dld .heir
duty and were truly supporting the row
eminent. that they were bringing religious
freedom and free education TO the native
l passed q schoo, house the other Aay
where heard the children taught the Eng
lish langua &c. and then on the Fourth Of
July heard these same children sing our
American national ARA I said: Solder
your warfare Is over. Bullets cannot stand
against books. even though they preached
the frst sermons OF virtue. liberty and pa
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