Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-14
FILIPlNOS ARE NERVY MEN
Omaha Lad Returns from Manila and Gives
His Observations,
INSURGENTS HAVE MODERN EQUIPMENT
Charles MuentefcrinE serves in the
Philippine Campaign for six
Months and is Discharged BE-
cause of sickness.

Charles Muentefering, one OF omahas
| popular young men, was the center of an
admiring group of relatives and friends at
the home of his father, 12O North Twenty
sixth street, Monday night. He had just re-
turned from the Philippine islands, after
six months service in the regular army.
Mr.. Muentefering was discharged because OF
sickness, but the long sea voyage rom
Manila to San Francisco, with stops at Hong
Kong, Guam and Honolulu, refreshed and
| improved his physical condition that he was
the picture of health upon his return home.
lmpelled by the desire to visit the Philip
pine islands and actuated by patriotic i'm
pulses Charles Muentefering went to Des
Moines, Ia, last spring and enlisted in the
Fourteenth infantry. He was soon on his
way to Manila and arrived there in April.
He was assigned to Company l and had not
been in the service long until he was wear
ing the chevrons OF a corporal.
"My regiment said MIR. Muentefering,
was in the thickest of the battles south of
Manila, and / am proud to have been
member of the Fourteenth. We were in
General Lawtons brigade, and while we're
talking let me tell you that General Lawton
is almost doized by all the soldiers. II we
had our way he would have long ago been
sity Of retaking towns two and three times,
which had already been stormed, would have
given way to activity and aggressiveness.
Frankly, the boys with whom l came in con-
tact were not admirers of General Otis. OF
course, 1t has been nearly two months since
I was in the service, and from reading the
papers l Judge that there is greater activity
now on the part of the American forces than
there was before. Another thing, there were
two or three months when the rainy season
was in progress which practically did away
with military operations.
"My regiment was doing garrison duty
south of Manila when l left. Company l was
stationed at Las Pinas, about ten miles
from Manila.
Insurgents Are Well Equipped.
"The warfare which the insurgents have
been waging is indeed surprising. They are
equipped with splendid arms and their ar
tillery is of the most modern pattern. Most
of the gunners are Chinese. The Filpinos
are determined, and in my opinion are not
towards. They are lacking in markham
ship, however. When / considered the
vastly superior forces against which they
were pitted l could not help but admire their
nerve. For each firearm in every engage
ment there are two soldiers. When one is
killed or wounded the other springs forward
and uses his weapon. This is the reason that
after the battles so many more rebels are
found than guns. Their intrenchments were
evidently constructed by competent engi
neers, and they have been putting up game
fight In one way they were cunning enough
to take advantage of the Americans. When
ever the battles were going against them
they would hoist the white flag. Military
OF hicg forced he Americans tn cease firing,
When they did SO the Filipnos deliberately
retreated before our very faces, carrying
with them all their firearms and ammunition.
'It is true that the major portion, Of the
Filipnos are not in sympathy with Aguinaldo
and his insurrection, and there are hundreds
of thousands of friendly natives. The Tagalos
are the only tribe supporting him. Since
leaving l have read and heard that the
American campaign has become more ag- |
gressive, and l am certain that the insur- |
recton will be brought to speedy Close |
Occasionally, while in the islands, was able |
to visit Manila, 1t was always an interest |
ing event for me- The city, or at least New |
Manila, spreads over a vast territory, for |
you must remember there are about 100000 |
inhabitants. The merchants are mostly !
Chinese and natives, although some Ameri- |
can energy in commercial circles is now |
being injected. Across the Pasig is Old |
Manila, walled city, an unfaiing point of
interest and education.
well, I'm mighty glad to get home" said |
Mr. Muentefering, as he surveyed his in
terested circle of auditors and puffed fra
grant Manila cigar-the best made on the
islands-and purchased for 50 per 1OO THE
climate may be all right over there for some
people, but don't like it. 1t was too hot
and l was unable to accustom myself to it.
On our marches the heat forced many of the
soldiers to fall out of line in order to re-
cuperate. Guerrilla warfare and campaign
ing in the Filipino swamps didn't appeal to
many of the soldiers and not great many in
my regiment re-enlsted when their time of |
enlistment expired. Many of them liked the
country though, and some have remained to |
go into business over there"