The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-21

to Colonel Funston and ms men. NO
other troops participated.
The Twentieth Kansas regiment mas
been engaged by the enemy over 10
times and on every occasion 1T has eV-
idenced the superior ablllty anu COZ
headed bravery of its officers ana mel
Truly the boys from Kansas are ngHt-
ers AS citizens they are quiet ana law
abiding: as soldiers they are lighters
from the ground up. All hail to them!
DESCRIBES THE ISLANDS,
Judging from articles which nave APP
reared from time to time IN America aLll
journals the people of the United STATES
have a very vague idea of what ths
PhilinDine islands really are IKE anu
of the nature of the people In co iise
ouence It might not be out OF place
at this time to give few OF the mos it
interesting details. information Whlch
1 have obtained from various sourc t43
including observation conversation with
old residents and from Spanish military
records OF Manila 1 will say nothing
OF the islands in general VIII speAN
as briefly possible ..
The Philippine archipelago constitutes
a portion of MALAYSIA, and consists OF
group of islands over 1,2OO IN numoei'
not including the smaller ana less m
Dortant ones The principal ISLANDS OF
the group are LuZon, on whlcn MAMMA
is situated in the north, ana M1noahao
in the south: MindOrO abar, Negroes
Cabr Jeite Bohol and Iloilo are also
important islands. The entire arch-
pelago has a superficial area somewhat
greater than Great Britain oelng APP
proximately 100000 square miles, FROM
north to south the group mas an extern
sion of over 900 miles and from east
to west about $50.
I.uzon the largest of the ISLANDS anu
the scene of the conflict between Spain
and America, has an area OF 6O,ooo square
miles The interior is mountainous
there being three distinct mountain
ranges running from north to south
The highest peak is Mt. Bayabas, with
an elevation of 5000 feet. The noun
tains are of volcanic origin, and ernP-
lions are of frequent occurrence ne
volcano of Mayor is the most important
and one of the notable volcanoes of the
world. 1t has been in constant eruption
since 1916 and sixteen times mas violent
Iy erupted since that date In 1893
Mayor completely destroyed the city
of Molinao.
bon is Mt Taal, a grand upheaVal OF
rocks and molten lava whose activity
has frequently destroyed small villages
built within short distance OF ITS base,
Many other minor volcanoes are more
| or less active in the central part OF
LuZon.
RIVERS ARE NUMEROUS
AS is natural in a country where the
! rainfall is excessive, streams are num-
erous The largest river in LuzOn is
! the Rio Grande de Cagayan. which is
J nearly 80 miles long, draining one OF
the most beautiful and productive val
leys in the world. For many miles IN
! land this river is utilized as means OF
| TRANSPORTATION. it being naVigable Tor
/ quite good sized craft. However. during
| the rainy season, such navigation Is
rendered extremely perilous by Hoatlng
| logs of great size. Other rivers OF
| I,uzon which are greater or less water
WAYS are Tarlac, Camaling and Abra-
| The Pasig river which empties into Ma
| Mia Bay at Manila has its source in the
Iaguna de Baye. which 1t drains II
( is naViga Bile from mouth to source ana
| American gunboats are now patrolilng
/ the entire course, a distance OF twenty
| two miles. In volume. the Paslg is the
| largest river in the island and is re-
markable for its rapidity of current.
I Iaguna de Baye is the largest body or
/ fresh water in the island. having a cir
| conference of nearly $50 miles. 1t wa
! ters some oe the richest districts of
! I.uzon including those from which come
| the best quality of Manila hemp.
| SEASONS AND CLIMATE.
In the Philippine Islands there are
| three well defined seasons of the year
/ The first comparatively cool and free
| from rainfall, begins in November and
| last until the middle of February: the
| second warmer than the first with
! violent monsoons and electrical dis
| plays. lasts until the middle of May;
| the third season from June to October.
| inclusive, is marked by a copious rain
| fall.
The first American troops arrived
/ here during this season of '9S and were
| subjected TO much discontinue and
| danger from malaria by having to wade
/ through water and sleep on the wet