The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-29

examination, one Of these proved to be a
man who had been driver of the hospital
ambulance"
Owing to the use OF smokeless powder
and 10 the light report Of the Mauser, it
was difficult TO locate bushwhackers, and
it became necessary to clear out the sub
urbs of the city completely. In this pro-
cess about score of men were killed
and two hundred taken prisoners. There
was no way of telling bushwhackers from
non-combatants. All were dressed alike in
innocent white clothing, and all possessed
a tiny white flag as a sign of peace. White
flags fly from every native house in the
city, and yet the male members of the
family are nearly all In the trenches, and
during the fight of Saturday night and
Sunday they were not the abodes Of peace
they would have us believe. Indeed, the
Filipino may be said to fight with a Maui
ser in one hand and white flag in the
other. When hard pressed he secretes his
rife and ammunition and makes his APP
pearance waving his white flag in token
or amity and eternal friendship
This bushwhacking instinct is the chief
weakness Of the Filipino army. Individual
hghting never can succeed against organ
lied bodies of troops handled as organi-
cations. 1t lacks the conference and the mu-
tual confidence that are necessary success
fully to resist charge, especially such
wild and fierce charges as the volunteers
have been making over the Filipino in
irencnments the past week. Aguinaldo's
army lacks organization and fire disci-
pine. Such thing as regular voRey fir
ing is impossible to Ii, except for a choice
body of troops composed of men formerly
IN the Spanish army. Individual firing at
will is their almost invariable practice.
knowing this, we were able during the
long hours of last Saturday night easily to
distinguish the native fire from that of our
own, though two miles in rear of the line.
The incessant rattle and the infreauency
OF volleys informed US as distinctly as
though we had been able to see the fight
that nearly all the shooting was being
done by the insurgents. Our men lay on
their arms. seldom replying TO the shower
Of bullets that swept over them, until II
was Light enough to see what they were
shooting at. Then they began 10 shoot and
TO advance, and kept it up until the enemy
was driven from all the intrenchments he
had worked for months to construct. and
from one to seven miles back into the
country.
The Filipino has been given some credit
for bravery in these battles This in a
measure is true, but 1t is not the bravery
OF the Caucasian. He is pugnacious and
quick 20 fight when angered, but mis-
vaIor Is that of passion, not the courage
OF the soldier who coolly and steadily ad-
vances all day in the face of a murderous
fire. So long as he could remain under
cover and shoot he stayed there. even
when his comrades were being killed
around him. but when his enemy rushed
upon him he could not face the conflict.
and hastily retreated. As 70 initiating the
Americans and advancing across the oper
against an intrenched foe. 1t would be i'm
possible for him even to attempt it.
Cruelty Is another characteristic of the
Filipino. He abuses his animals, and has
the Indians pleasure in the mutilation of
his enemy. The insurgents took deligh,
in telling us before Manila was captured
that they were going to kill all the Span
lards In the city, and always accompanied
the remark with a significant drawing OF
the hand across the throat. Each of the
i0,Go0 or more so-called soldiers carries a
knife which is of no value In war excep.
to kill and mutilate the wounded of the
enemy. This was done in the case o.
capt. Young, surgeon of the Utah Bat
terry, and the only reason why instances
have not been more common is because
they have never driven us, so as 10 can
ture prisoners or get at our wounded on
the heid Iney have always moved to the
rear, instead Of the front
Religion they have to a srtrfeIt hut n Is
of the kind that substitute ceremonies
and charms and purchased absolutions for
genuineness of religious feeling. Mar
riages by mutual agreement and for no
speclhed term are common, and girls who
thus live In unsanctified wedlock vhetba,.
the husband be white or black seem no.
10 lose cast among their own people ana
return to them again freely when thoss,
relations are terminated These marriages
GO Far FUow
the padres that the latter exact from az
culprits pecuniary penalty for thus dis
rensng with their services and the bless
ings OF the church.
Whether a people such as this could CON
duet a republican form of government sue.
cessfully. guarantee TO all cIti1ansN -.
rights of person and property, respect tba
laws they themselves enacted. ana eivo
loyal support to their own governr1.s,,
are questions IL scarcely seems necessa ~,
II. L. W.