The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-07
To MATCH THE
APACHE AGAINST
THE FILIPINO
Scheme of Old Indian
Fighters.
AN ARMY OF. TEN THOUSAND
ARMY OFFICERS SUGGESTION TO
THE DEPARTMENT.
The Oregon Troops Will Be Mustered
Out To-Day-A Branch Post
Office for the General
Hospital.
AN ARMY OF TEN THOUSAND
ARMY OFFICERS SUGGESTION TO
THE DEPARTMENT.

An attempt is being made to revive
scheme suggested some time ago to the
War Department, but on which no action
has ever been taken. 1t was the advice
of the old Indian fighters when the war
with the FilipinOs broke out that lO.UVp
Indians be enlisted and sent down there
10 meet the island warriors with their
own kind of fighting. The idea was to
get Apaches. as they are the best foot
fighters of all the Indians of this coun-
try, and besides they are at home in all
kinds of country and are used TO tropi-
cal heat
There are over forty thousand Apaches
still in the Southwest, and they are all
ready to fight. They have been under
discipline and understand military ways,
although they were never much good as
soldiers in the ranks. They are the finest
scouts and traiIers in the world however
and when they are let alone and allowed
to fight in their own way they make a
formidable enemy.
Army officers who have served with the
Apaches say there would be no trouble
in getting together an army OF IO,uOO.
They could be commanded by white Off
GERS. familiar with their habits and able
TO control them, and having their own
sub-chiefs They could stalk the Fill
pinos as well if not better than the Fill
pinos stalk the white troops now waging
would only be too willing to go.
The plan has been more than once
brought to the attention of the war De
partment. Officers who have served with
the Indians are almost unit on the ad-
visibility of the plan, and although the
task would not be an easy one alr mo L
such an organization. 1t would be the
hardest kind of work. for the Apache on
the warpath is tireless and always awake,
and any officer who goes with them must
do as they do and bear what they bear
1t is the opinion of army officers that
such organization would do more IN
one season than the entire army now out
there could do in three. 1t is indian war
fare. and no one has ever described II as
anything else. 1t can. only be opposed by
Indian tactics, and of those the Apaches
are masters. They are fierce and cruel
but their cruelty can be restrained, ana
there is no doubt about their ability TO
stand the hardships or of their wiling
ness to fight.
To-day the Oregon regiment will be
mustered out of service, and tomorrow
they will leave for the north on, their spe-
Cial train The men will each draw three
months pay besides what is due them on
their clothing allowances, which Will
amount TO from s. to $50 per man.
An official report upon the wounding of
William Holmes of the casual detachment
tant of the recruits. The investigation
showed that Holmes and another COOK
had been arrested by Farrell. the sentry;
and that after they had been released
they went down TO where Farrell was pa
trolling his beat and watched for chance
TO beat him. Farrell defended himself with
his rifle and the wounding of Holmes was
the result Twice Holmes was reported
dead. but he is still in the general hospital
and is doing well.
Colonel Girard has added another feat
ure to the general hospital which Will add
much TO the comfort and convenience or
the patients He applied to the postal au-
thorities for a branch postotfice, and Sat
urday Postal Inspector Erwin went out to
the Preside and started things going. He
put H. w. Clum in charge, and already
mails are being delivered every day. The
office will be formally opened on the 18th
inst, when 1t will be made regular
money-order office. There will be three
deliveries by carriers every day in each of
the thirty-five wards. The office will be
officially known as Branch l, Preside
Postoffice. Colonel Girard is also about
to establish a bakeshop in the basement
of one of the wings of the wooden hospital
on the old parade ground.
A dispatch from Chicago says Colonel }.
B. Sanborn of the First Regiment of the
Illinois National Guard has invited the
Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment. on behalf
of the Chicago regiment of the National
Guard, to stop in Chicago on August 80, it
being understood the Pennsylvania regi-
ment is willing to parade in Chicago after
being mustered out at San Francisco. The
Illinois National Guard and the naval
militia propose to arrange a suitable re-
ception for the Pennsylvanians.