The times., 1899-07-25
SOLDIERS EXPRESS DISGUST.
NebrnsiSnns Declare That Otis Meth
ods VIII ProIomg the War.

ods VIII ProIong the War.
Omaha. Neb., 24.-Among both officers
and privates one may find spirit of gen.
eral disgust at the manner in which the
campaign has been conducted. They say
/ that upon these lines the war may drag
along for ten years with nothing to show
| for it at the end of that time but
! stretch of devastated fields. with the at
tscking troops more thoroughly knocked
out than the insurgents. They are tired Of
being used for Filipino targets. and con-
denim as thoroughly as they dare the poll
/ cy OF procrastination, which gives the reb
els time to build other fortifcations after
being successfully dislodged from former
strongholds.
These are the strong statements made in
a message received here by local paper
from Gordon Towle, a resident of this city,
and member of the First Nebraska regi
ment, who arrived at San Francisco Satur
! day from Manila. The young soldier. who
! is well known here and regarded as trust
worthy. says further in his despatch, which
| is dated yesterday:
1 When | left Manila the Nebraska regiment was
making active preparations for return home al
/ though still he'd on duty at San Pedro Macat
| and Taguis. There was general feeling among
the other volunteers on the Islands that the First
! Nebraska deserved preference IN being relieved.
/ Its long and uninterrupted campaign and sturdy
| fighting have gained it universal admiration, but
little envy.
Bluff old General wheaton's remark, dcspiser
| Of volunteers though he was, will not be for
gotten; Il shall always be proud TO take OFF my
| hat 10 the Tag of this regiment and General
Otis reply to the eolonel's request that the men
be relieved temporarily for rest: Il cannot spare
| that regiment from the fighting line Al
| though subsequently reluctantly spared, the men
| were hardly relieved from active duty until the
day of emharHation.
Nebraska has paid her share. How much. peo-
pie at home viii never know until their war
rior sons como back. Many have given their
! lives; many escaped with lives which will bur
| den their days rntil the last hour comes, and
not man but has sacrificed years that out
ragged nature viii deduct with compound inter
est from his declining age.
! The welcome orders came in proyidential sea
| son. The invalid report increased appallingiy.
! Doctors were in despair Nearly every man in
| the regiment was afflicted. Malaria. dysentery,
typhoid, acute indigestion. dhobe itch. tropical
ulcers, plant poisoning added their burdens TO
spirits on the ebb and constitutions run down.
Doctors, when they dared TO speak. charged
| the depluTable condition to the weeks Of cam
| paiening with no change Of clothes, overwork,
| bad food, aud food. At San Fernando guam
| titles Of food were condemned, but when con-
/
| Thirty-thrcc Of the boys asked for their dis
charge at Manila. One Of these has expressed
his determination 10 re-enlist, and is looked upon
| as 4 madman.
A grievance which the regiments holds against
the powers that be is the order that hurried five
| companies, without much as time 10 fill can
! teens. from Manila along the hot, muddy road TO
San Pedro Macati, with eNigency of occasion
TO demand it. ON the Sunday when the Nebras-
kans reached Manila from san Fernando they
| were completely exhausted from the march OF
the previous day.
They had left san Fernando Saturday morning
I in marching order 10 tramp through hot sun
fifteen miles to the train at Calumpit. The col
one being OF lengthy limb, ard having no load
! TO carry, set brelkneek pace To the men il
! Was agony. Many together with several off
Gers, fell cut by the way. Canteens were soon
| emptied. with water nearer than Calumpit.
| That night they slept in the dirt beside the
Ialiroad track.
The next morning they reached Manila, almost
1 gone but with the assurance that rest awaited
them. They were met. however. with the order
for five companies TO march at once TO san
Pedro, there to relieve the Californians.