The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-25
THE AMERICAN ARMY
in THE PHILIPPINES

Major General Wesley Merritt in Frank
Leslies Popular Monthly.
Our army in the Philippines is composed
of the finest material to be found anywhere
in America. With the exception of the
Tenth Pennsylvania, they are mostly north
western Notwithstanding, Oregonians
Minnesotians; there is also a Tennessee
regiment and one from Kansas. This is
superb material. The men are anxious to
learn, very efficient in all the duties that
they know of, and among the officers are
some very excellent soldiers. During the
time we were refitting at San Francisco
sent my staff officers out to live with the
different brigades in camp, and instruct the
men and the officers in their duties, and we
found them always tractable, eager to learn
and superior material in every way
In fact, there was very great differ
ence at that time between the volunteers
and the regulars Our regulars were large
ly composed of new troops-that is, the re-
cent additions to their ranks-but they had
officers who were instructed and to an ex-
tent experienced. In number of instances
similar conditions prevailed in the volunteer
regiments. The First Colorado regiment
was commanded by Colonel Hale, West
Thirteenth Minnesota, which regiment 1 ap-
piled for, was a regiment of the national
guard of Minnesota, and commended by
Colonel Reeve, who was national guards
man of marked and superior abilities. Hale
and Reeve have both since been made
brigadier- generals on my recommendation,
and now command brigades at Manila.
The question as to what effect the South
Sea tropical climate will have upon Amerl-
can soldiers fresh from our temperate or
wintry zones is important, but not neces-
sariy alarming. My own observation in
the Philippines was that so long as our men
took care of themselves and followed the
instructions given to them in regard to
clothing, food and exposure to the noon
day sun or the night air. they were re-
markably healthy. We had very little sick
ness. There are no epidemic fevers-such
as yellow fever-in Manila, and the climate
is cooler than that of Hong Kong or the
adjacent portions of China Personally, I
had not a days sickness, and everybody
knew who took care of himself got along
very well. Such is conspicuously the case
with Admiral Dewey and those on his fleet;
sick men there are almost as scare as killed
or wounded. OF course, In the navy they
have the advantage Of living indoors and
carrying their houses with them. The army
is necessarily more exposed. For two
weeks General Greene and his brigade were
in the trenches up to their middles in water
the greater part of the time-that is, while
on picket duty.
But to offset these hardships our troops
in the Philippines were well supplied. 1
heard no complaint of the commissary sup
plies, and, moreover by means of the bam-
boo, which grows in great profusion in that
country, the men made themselves cots,
raised above the ground-an important pre-
caution insisted upon by the doctors-and in
that way escaped much discomfort and
sickness After the fall of Manila, when
the reaction had set in there was rather
a lower average of health-perhaps the men
became less careful of themselves. Yet
while was in Manila which was up to
September, there was very little sickness
not a greater percentage than would be
found among the same number of men any
where.
In brief from what experience and knowl-
edge / have, l am inclined to be as OPP
timistic as ever regarding our flag in the
Philippines I think the present excite
ment and occupation of the troops is a
very good thing, and keeps them from be-
coming homesck. After peace was estab-
lished,, and it appeared nothing more was
to be done, a good many of the men wanted
to come home. OF course, those who
wanted to come home were louder in their
clamors than those who were willing or de-
sired to stay. l have noticed that great
many of the regulars in this country have
asked to join the regiments ordered to
Manila, as being particularly desirable
service. That in itself Is a good sign. 1t
is an indication that we may become very
good colonists after a little experience; and
we have the advantage of some very useful
object lessons in what the English have
accomplished and are now at. 1t is difficult
to sympathize with those who foresee in
superable obstacles in the way of our es-
tablishing a military government on the
lines already laid down.