The Portland daily press., 1899-08-01
COST OF PHILIPPINES.
Opinions OF Returning Nebrnskans o.
Otis and His Task.
tSan francisco Dispatch to the New YorA
Herald.

(San Francisco Dispatch to the New Yorh
Herald
Officers of the returning Nebraska
troops expressed themselves quito freely
upon the situation, and it was noticeable
with what unanimity they condemned
Major General Otis bitterly and
vehemently they assaulted the aged com.
mander, asserting without mincing
words that he was entirely incompetent.
why said captain of Go. K, Eat
the rate affairs are progressing now, it
VIII take ten years to subdue tire Filipi-
nos. What IL needed 10 an active, ener-
get!c, capable man; an officer who will
not send out regiment to win one battle
and then withdraw It."
II don't think you will see any OF us
returning to Manila very soor," said Col.
hiulfofd In response TO a question. ''Just
one man In the entire regiment reen-
listed. Only IS remained In the Philip
pine TO engage in business
1.-The Nebraska had as much work in
this war;" continued Col. MuIford, las
any regiment, volunteer or regular. Our
death roll In the Philippines from gun
shot wounds, accidents and diseases is d2.
Including the i'll and wounded who are
recovering, we dropped, all told, 204 men.
On the Hancock are more than 100
wounded soldfers.'
Lieut.. Col Eager spoke freely of the
condition of affairs In the Philippines.
''There is great deal of lighting yet
to be DONE" he said. al Is fighting of
the Hardest and most narrowing kind,
tao. Really Ii amounts to bush whack-
ing, such ms the American soldiers were
required to do against the Indians in
early days In this country"
Tine fiiipinos do not light we'll In the
open. They Go not stand voliey firing
we'll, Tut they ira persistent, and 1t will
be- hard to make them lay aoAn their
arms. They know the country and the
junglee 80 well that they have great
advantage. They light once in the be sh
and then retire only 10 Ieappear mt some
other place.
ait viii take at least 90 years to en-
tirely pactfy them. The coast cities will
probably fall easily before the American
troops, and our focres will have no diti-
Guilty In occupying and holding them;
but back In the mountains there are in
numsrabie wild tribes who will Il light for
ever, moving from place to place as fast
as they are driven from their hiding
places.
Personally, do not cara to give my
| opinion AS to the wisdom OF lighting for
| tho islands. / have no objection 10 stat
Ing, however, that ali the men think the
price we are paying for our new posses
sions is far in excess of what they are
willing now to rehaqnish the struggle to
any other power that inight desire 10 take
up the burden.''
The tugs oiroled about the Hancock
and cheer upon cheer Was given and the
freedom OF the city extended tho troops
In SO lar as military re .ulations per-
united.
On the Hancock were $50 men, together
with the staff Headquarters and hand.
Among tho officers we're Major f. A.
Grant, Liaut. o. Grant and Private JOS
eFh n. Grant, ell OF tho Grant family of
Itch, and ala are mesa bers Of the famous
Utah battery. During the tights about
Manila the Utah battery played a most
conspicuous and gallant part
Majar Grant was a captain in the vol
unteer service and was promoted for
bravery. The battery work to which re
IL attached carssf surprise TO the foreign
officers who watched the movemsp is of
the mericans about Manila. It operated
with marvellous aocars ey, it's men we're
heroic In their etferss aDd never did cns
Of them shirk duty, no matter what the
daaeers might be.