Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-25
ONLY A QUESTION OF TIME
Americans Will Soon Establish Their Su-
premacy in the Philippines.
Letter From "A Member of Thirty
Second Regiment of Infantry
Southern LuzOn.

r, so United States Infantry. Mr.. Smith
was formerly a member Of the 9th United
States Cavalry, and saw considerable SER
vice out on the frontier against the In
dams. At the outbreak of the Spanish war
he enlisted once more in the regular SER
vice, and was in the first force of troops
sent TO Cuba He participated in the battle
of San Juan hill and other fights prior to
the surrender of Santiago.
After the close of the war he received
an appointment as postmaster at Mayari
Cuba. several hundred miles from Santi-
ago. This position he resigned. having a
yearning for more adventure, and when the
army was increased for the Philippine cam
paign. he again donned the uniform His
last letter is dated from Angeles. Philip
pine Islands. and was written November
H. The letter in part is follows:
Il landed In Manila some time ago, and
since my arrival l have Travelled through
southern Luzon great deal. I have OBJ
served very closely and am ready to write
about things as L find them. From Manila
to the north our troops control all the
| territory as far as Yarlac, a distance of
nearly 100 miles, and to the south they
hold nearly as much territory. Most of
the railroads are also in the hands of the
guarded by our troops. The railroads are
also heavily guarded especially bridges and
stations.
ITO go to Angeles we embark on the
things, hardly larger than of our
horses, and the cars just large enough to
accommodate twertyfour persons, with
little crowding. Many towns are passed on
the way. There is Malolos, the old insur-
gent headquarters. now held by the 10th
United States Infantry: and Calumpit where
the 2oth Kansas Volunteers did their hard
hghtinS. Then there is San Fernando the
place where the insurgents made several
bold attempts to retake the place after our
troops had captured it. Some of the towns
we passed had been reduced almost to
aShes by the insurgents in their flight.
Ruins Here and There.
Here ana there debris of all kinds can
be seen, much of it being the ruins of
planters houses. who refused to take part
in the instruction. Scattered along the
railroad are groups of men, who guard the
miles of tracks. The insurgents are active
IN burning bridges and wrecking trains, and
take advantage of every opportunity that
presents itself. The country here is not in
state of cultivation was Cuba last
year when our troops went there One can,
however, see large rice, sugar and tobacco
fields and in many instances the natives are
at work tlling the soil.
With all the many large fields blooming
with the sugar cane stalk, the tobacco
leaf and the rice that is almost ready for
boiling, coupled with the abundance of
tropical fruit that can be obtained almost
anywhere, the native is perfectly satisfied,
and is glad that the days of Spanish ty-
ranny have passed into oblivion, and now
they wish that tho so-talled Aguinaldo
government will soon follow. They have
learned our strength and our friendliness
and each day will teach them more until
no other form of government will be ac-
ceptable to them.
Sixty miles of travel on the narrow
gauge railroad brings US into Angeles AS
I stepped off the car I was told that the
enemys line was about half a mile distant
and the appearance of things bore out this
statement Everything was in state of
excitement The little station was sur
rounded by two-wheeled carts drawn by
buffaios, the beast of burden on the islands.
Horses are so very small that they are
never d-except for saddle purposes
THE carts were to receive the supplies
which had come on the train to be dis
trlbuted among the different commands.
They We're soon loaded and sent on their
way to the different camps. The town was
deserted, and, with the exception of Uncle
Sans men in blue, brown and khaki uni
forms, who occupied the streets, half a
dozen people could not be found No one
needs ask why. There is going to be a
fight. The Americans are going to ad-
vance.
4 Gallant Regiment.
1.-THE 32d United States Infantry. COM
posed of stalwart men selected from the
states of Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri, has
just arrived and is to go Immediately to
the front. The regiment is commanded by
WI -oAiS SIaiS IoEHltFiy Oh tHe 5ln
United States Cavalry at Fort Myer and
well known in Washington. He is Just the
right man in the right place. is the phrase
used by the men under him. The War De-
partmeEt could not have selected better
man to command a regiment. His past ex-
perience in the Cuban and Indian cam
paIgns on the western plains has made him
the soldier that he is. He is another Teddy
Roosevelt and a more daring officer can
not be found on the islands.
Might rolls around and a heavy guard
was maintained about the town to prevent
any attack that might be made by the in
sUrgents. Along about midnight the still
ness of the hour was broken by a volley
fired by the enemy into the town. The bull
let's sized and whistled through the air
over our heads. For many in the regi-
ment this was the initiation to Filipino
warfare. Next morning it was noticed that
the insurgents were fast filling their strong
hold, which almost surrounded the town on
the north, with men who were coming, so
1t seemed, from all directions. Later in the
day-and as IS the case nearly every day
a fight took place near a little town called
st. lsadro, only few miles from here 1t
is only question of a few hours when we
will get whack at the diminutive foe.
"A few days ago l met Lieut.. Petty of
Georgetown, of the auditor for the
District. He looks every inch a soldier.
He was just coming out OF a battle. but
looked none the verse after lodging the
Filipino bullets. He told me he did not
mind being in a decent battle but these
Fourth Of July celebrations came around
too often.
"Our troops are being sent out In all
directions, and as they advance they drive
the insurgents before them The Filipinos
are short of ammunition. and as they re-
treat they reload the empty shells Tin
has become quite valuable to them, being
used in making shells. Whenever an in
surgent sees piece, no matter how small,
he picks 1t up.
Natives Dissatisfied.
There is much dissatisfaction among
the natives, especially among the larger
tribes. The Tagalos, the principal follow
ing of Agunaldo, and the Morongs are
now at war, and many battles have al
ready taken place between them The
Morongs have requested the protection of
the Americans, which practically means
that they are siding with US. The Maca-
bebes are another tribe that our troops can
trust, and they are employed as scouts,
rendering invaluable service. The large
following of Chinese (Chinos). which re-
ceived maltreatment by the Filipinos, are
also with us, and many are employed by
the quart armaster department as cooks,
servants and litter bearers. Taking it ali
in all, the Americans have as many If not
more friends in the Philippines than has
ApuinaldO W no Ia now accused of Sto