The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-05-19
HOME FROM the. PHILIPPINES.
Alter a Years Sojourn There Rob-
ert v. Carr Returns to This
City.-His Views Of
the Situation.
Situation,

S1Ny' 11S V1CWo VI
the Situation.
After spending a year with his
comrades II the Philippine islands,
Robert V. Carr vas an arrival home
on Monday mornings train. While
at Manila Bob spent most of his
time in the hospital-too much, in
deed, to suit him and marks Of his
experiences can be seen yet, al
though he left that city 36 days
prior to his arrival here.
AS usual he kept his eyes open and
has made it a point to see all there
was to be seen during his long voy-
ages. Coupled with the h%ardships
and unpleasantries of the trip both
ways, Bob has made the tour one of
observation. Interviewed by THE
UNION Monday evening, he stated
frankly that he was more than glad
to get back and that he had had his
fill Of army life in the Philippines or
elsewhere.
Bob reports that when hostilities
began on February 5th the South
Dakotans lined up like old veterns
and there was no tinching any
where, although this was the first
time the boys had a chance to smell
powder and be under fire. He
states that the whistle of Mauser
bullets ha1 a tendency to make the
boys determined and they went in
to the fight as if they e used to
that sort of a thing. The press re-
ports of the gallantry Of the South
Dakotans bear Bob's assertions out
fully.
Questioned as to the intelligence
Of the Filipions he stated that they
were quite intelligent and had we'll
organized schools which yer con.
Quoted in the Filipino tongue
Aguinaldo, he stated, was we'll edu
Gated and was shrewd and farsee
ing. Though small in stature, TIT
Filipino leader has a personal mag
netism which would always com
mand a following,
AS to the capability Of the native
Filipinos for self-government Bo'
stated that were fully as capable O
governing themselves as are tn
inhabitants of any of the Spanish
American republics of Central ant
South America. They are revolt
tionary in their whole makeup, h
says, and would doubtless be III
volved in frequent instruction
. among themselves, but seif-goverr
\ ment would be a decided improve
, ment to American occupation. H
stated that the American arm
+ would doubtless be able to annihilat
the large bodies Of Filipino troops
but that bushwhacking tactic
would be employed by them for til
next hundred years if necessary
repel or hamper American supren
!, acy.
= AS to the commercial value of tt
, islands to the United States, Be
: states that it is greatly everest
mated by the people here. HEMP
= sugar, rice and tobacco are the on
products Of Importance, and he a.
ded that no white man could 60 the
and follow up any industrial pursu
successfully. 1t is by no means
poor mans paradise. He state
n that it might benefit capitalists, wi
J. could and would reap a rich harve
from the cheap native labor OF Il
t. islands, but the Philippines offer'
S not the slightest inducement to Il
e common, individual American eli
zen. As a whole, he considers t.
= acquisition Of the group bad prop
= sition and q decidedly poor inves
:, ment for this government.
: As to the desire of the voluntee
= to return home Bob states that full
two-thirds of them would be glad
of the chance. They have be-
: fairly cared for excepting for t
= trip going over. At that time t
deal was a pretty hard propositio
the food was poor and accommoc
q tions miserable. Part of this
attributed to the lack of experien
of those having such matters
H.. hand.
The volunteers, he says, ha
been keep at the front and ha
i'd borne the orunt OF the fghtin
n while the regulars were held in |
n serve. This is a phase Of the ca
q that has caused much indignant
IN and is accounted for by the fact tn
tx when regulars get killed their plae
at must be filled again in this countl
iii This course means drilling, ira,
ty poration and other expense, /
n when volunteer is killed-"we
he's only a volunteer" to use Bo
-own expression. The regula
who have thus far done little or
active fighting, r armed ":
Krag Jorgensen rifles, while I
volunteers carry the same