The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-14
Gen. and Mrs. Fred Funston
Here to Say Good By.
Will Leave For San Francisco
on Wednesday.
THE HALL INCIDENT.
Discusses Col. MetcaIf's Part
In GuiguintO Fight.
Afraid War Will Be Over Be-
fore He Gets Back.

General Funston and his wife will
leave Topeka Wednesday for San Fran
cisco. General Funston will take the
first transport for Manila and his wife
will remain at her home in Oakland.
Today General and Mrs. Funston are
visiting at the home of Mr.. and Mrs.
c. S. Gleed on Greenwood avenue, Pot
win The visit is a quiet one. Both are
resting after the ordeal of the numer
Gus receptions they have attended.
They came from lola this morning and
were driven directly to Mr. Gleed's
home. There was nothing in General
Funston's appearance to indicate his
rank excepting his military bearing. He
was atti-ed in a neat fitting black cut
away coat which is always buttOned.
He is always erect. Even while sitting
in a chair he sits erect and never
lounges In appearance and manner
he is the same as when he returned
from Cuba as a citizen. From colonel
to brigadier general made no difference
IN ms manner. IN greeting ms manu-
clasp is just as hearty and his manner
just as cordial as though he We're
private in the ranks instead of a hero
and brigadier-
land suit for libel, he said i will do
nothing further about it so far as the
archbishop is concerned. If I take any
action it will be against the papers that
author of these libelOus reports It was
a man by the name of Fox, a camp fol-
lower He deserted from an English
sailing ship and followed US during the
campaign. He was fined three times in
the provost court for drunkenness and
disOrderly conduct. At MaralO I found
him in a private house and ordered him
under arrest as he had no business
there. The paper that printed his story
said it was from q reliable newspaper
man. His connection with the press
q
pigeons used by McCutcheOn and Bass,
two of the correspondents in the Phil
ippines.
Fox slowed himself away on board
the Tartar when we left Manila and
when he was discovered refused to
work. Colonel Metcalf placed him on
bread and water for two weeks and he
swore vengeance against US both He
has made no attack on Colonel Metcaf
but made this one on me.
General Funston was seated in an
easy chair when told of the accusations
made by Lieutenant J. F. Hall, claiming
that neither General Funston, Colonel
Metcalf nor Major Whitman were in
the GuinguintO fight. He says that,
queried the general, partly rising in his
chair. why. we were all there. The
facts are these. On March % we had
two sharp engagements The engage
ments were two hours apart. Colonel
Metcalf was wounded in the first en-
gagement in the foot. He stayed with
the advance for two miles and a half
after he was wounded, although the
surgeons ordered him to the hospital.
He was not in the last engagement,
but was in the first He left the hos
pital and Joined the regiment while yet
on crutches. 1t was for this and for his
general excellent service that he was
promoted.
I was in command of the regiment
and it was not until a month later that
I was wounded. This was our severest
engagement. We lost p men killed and
wounded and in Is minutes. Three kill
ed and 10 wounded. Metcalf was among
this number wounded. I do not under
stand How Lieutenant Hall can make
these assertions when they are false.
Major Whitman and Lieutenant Colo
mel Little We're both on the firing line
that day.
In speaking of the charges made
against Major Rafter. the surgeon of
the regiment, General Funston said,
Major. Rafter did his duty. The COM
plants were made by discharged regu-
lars who We're disgTuntIed because they
We're disciplined While on the trans
port. Major Rafter was given no
chance to defend himself. He was call
ed upon to testify regarding the Off
GERS mess. on the transport, but moth
ing was said about these charges"
In speaking of the Kansas City re
ceptiOn, General Funston said: Kan
sas City did everything handsomely.
There was not an unpleasant incident"
When asked how long he would be in
the Philippines, he said: Il am afraid
it will all be over before I get there.
still I shall be glad to have the fighting
come to an end. 1 think that the war
Will soon be over