Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-06-19
in THE PHILIPPINES.
Buster" Noble Writes Home
from the Firing Line.
Says that It Is No Easy Job to Whip
AgunaIdo's Forces.
The Situation, Last May, as Viewed by Regu-
lar Army Soldier.

A letter received, last week, by Mrs.
Nellie Noble of this city. from her son,
II. II. Noble, shows that the young
man is now in the PHILIPPINES in the 9th
Infantry, and is fighting the natives of
the island. Some idea can be learned
of the situation there last May as the
soldier saw it.
The following extracts Of the letter
were kindly furnished the Journal by
| Mrs. Noble:
Cobocan, Philippine Islands.
May II, 1899
| Dear Mother:
| thought while | had time | would
write and let you know | am in the
! land Of the living. | am feeling well
and | hope you are the same. | am a
long way from home, but | expect to
! get back some time if one of these Mig
gers don't get my scalp. We left san
Francisco the 24th of March and ar
rived in Manila, the oath of April. We
stopped there two weeks. and then we
We're ordered up to the firing line. We
| have been here ever since.
| They talk about the United States
army having a snap to lick the niggers
on this island. Don't you believe it, 1t
keeps us all the time doing it, but of
course we will i'll time do it. We expect
TO keep them going until they sur
render.
We captured the city of Malolos, the
other day, and you ought to have seen
the dead niggers after we got through.
like this place all right only it is
awful hot. | expect to see Foss in a
| few days. He is on the way here now.
! suppose he will be surprised to see me.
They say when Aguinaldo surrcnd-
crS or is captured, that they are going
to give all the soldiers a chance to get
| their discharge and go home if they
want to. l don't know what | shall do
in that case. l viii let you know in my
next letter for | think the war will be
over by that time and | really hope it
will. for it is awful to see the men
getting killed and wounded
| Since | have been in the army | have
had good luck. | have not been sick Il
day but | suppose you thought some
! thing was the matter that you did not
| hear from me. Don't you worry about
me at all for it is just luck: If one of
| those little pieces of lead hits me the
| gig is up with me, but l am in hopes
not to be hit.
There are about 10000 American sol
diers here and there are more on the
| road. When they all get here we will
| make it hot for Mr.. Agsie and his mig
gers. There are lots of them coming in
every day now and want to surrender,
| but we drive them back. We won't let
them unless they bring their guns with
| them. They are getting too warm a
reception and they want to so back to
/ their work, but many are afraid of
| surrendering for the fear that Aguin-
aldo will cut off their heads. When one
Of them talks Of giving UP, Aggic cuts
| off his head 50 all are afraid of him.
But if we catch him We won't DO Il
| thing with him.
| guess | will close now as l am out
in the field and it is going To rain ana
| when it rains here We know it. The
| rain storms Of the South are not in it
| with this place. We expect a great
! fight to take place, next Sunday, and it
! is thought it will cnd the war in the
| Philippines Cor the present
/ Answer as soon as YOU get this.
BUSTER.
! My address is II. Fl. Noble. co. A, 9Th
| u. $ Infantry. Manila. l.. l.