The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1899-11-16
Letter frcm Manila.
Manila, Oct. 8, 1899.

Manila, Oct. 3, 1899.
will nov write yon something
about my experiences and observa-
tlons in the country over which the
Grea, American Eagle is preparing
the way for the establishment OF the
glorious American civilization.
| do not like the island very we'll;
it rains most of the time, but they
have vast undevelopsd resources
which the prohibitory and procrasti-
mating policy of Spain did but little
to develop. Her staple crops are sug-
ar, rice, and abaco specie of banana,
hemp and the tropical fruits grow
more or less in abundance.
When man gets hungry for
banana, he can 60 ROD or two from
his tent. tear bunch from the palm
and hang up in his tent, in two or
three days they are fit for eating.
have found fruit wh,ch looks
very like nice budded peach, just
to look at 1t makes your eyes light
up aud your mouth moist, but to
tast or smell it, gives you quite a
differen, sensation, the riud OF it smells
like old llmburger cheese, the meat
tastes like papaw.
The rice buffalo Is the most i'm
portant animal, it is used as beast
of burden.
The native looks like mixture
of American Indisn and negro, he
is about two thirds or three fourth
as large as an American, esids be-
ing a skilfui and willy general, he is
an orator and statesman. In one of
his speeches he said "Americans have
not forgotten the great Monroe,
"America for Americans" WHICH is
equally applicable in our case.
"The Philippins for the Filipinos"
be practices the Fabian TACTICS, which
il of great advantage to him, bis
men seem peculiarly adapted to
such a mode; American bravery and
strength lie of little value in fighting.
l was in one battle, l was not in
the front, but l heard the men yel
ling and firing, knew from this
they had Joined battle with the ..:.reb-
els, it was much like hound start
hare, we were soon in hot pursuit
of the enemy, which fed over the
woody hills aud through the swamps
like so many hares, one by one our
men fell by the way side Gagged OUT
| was one of the nineteen of our COM
pany who staid with it till the wind
up, which found the game far enough
away to be comfortable, and much
refreshed over the morning scamper
thus they mako US very uncomfort-
able,
There is some sickness in our corps
especially dysentery as result OF
which I am quite emaciated in cem-
mon with great many of my COM
RAIDS, who look like ghosts.
We have target practic every day,
an as result of which we are crack
shooters, which is attested by the
long lists of casualties among Fill
pinos, You seq ln American papers;
every day we have call to arms,
when We have to get into the trench
es as quickly as possible, this call is
likely to come any time during the
day or night.
am in the first division of the
eight army corps. This division Is
commanded by Maj. Gen. Lawton,
who is one OF the ablest Americans
generals on the island. He and Nc
Arthur and Wheeler make a trio,
which is hard to beat.
Something has been said of the
civilization of the Filiginoes, it is
said on good authority that the
eight million Filipinos are as civil
zed as the twelve million Mexicans,
and superior to the Cubans, Bortori-
cans Irdians and Negroes in the
"states," they are probably as well
fitted for self government as any OF
the Oriental peoples. and their stan-
dard of morality is probably higher.
Many blessings are sbowered up
on Aquinaldo, one ofthe greatest and
recent OF which was the presentation
to him by his wife, of fine son,
who he has chr,stened in honor of
the father of our country, George
Washington Aguinaldo.
J. Albert Loomis.