Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-09-07
AT THE FRONT NEAR MANILA
Experience of a Delaware Sol
dier in the Philippines.
IN WATER WHILE ON GUARD DUTY
The Filipinos Greatly Afraid OF
Artillery.


Willard Hall Mcdowell of this city,
a member of Go. NJ, Sixteenth United
States Infantry, which is now in the
Philippine Islands, has written an in
teresting letter to friend in this city
from Caloocan, under date of July
ed, of which the following is portion:
"Our regiment arrived safely early
In the month and was sent at once to
Malata, where it remained in the bam-
boo barracks until July 9Th, and on the
following day, after a march of eight
miles arrived at Caloocan, which is
five miles above Manila and are now on
the firing lines guarding the approaches
to the city, but have as vet had no
trouble whatever and only waste a few
shots occasionally at night on the out
posts. We are right below La Iona
Church, where the worst fight on the
island took place and which is now
used as regimental headquarters. The
canteen is right alongside in the grave
yard.
1.-THE rainy season is on with
vengeance, and to say it pours at times
is putting it mildly. During the heavy
rain it is impossible to see ID feet. IL
rains steady for y hours and ceases for
IL or IA and then comes down again for
big rice field and it is common thing
while on outpost duty at night to stand
in water up to our waists, SO you can
imagine what we have struck.
"Guard comes every other night, but
we don't mind that, having nothing
else to do, as all the work around camp
is done by Cinnamon and teams. Ten
men and live teams are assigned to
each company, but they have to be
logged all the time and wherever they
go soldier is sent with them, as they
are afraid of the insurgents, who cut
their throats, as soon as they catch
them.
1--WE will be held here until the
rainy season is over, which is in Sep
TENDER, and then be sent up to San
Fernando, where all the insurgent army
seem to be at present and then from all
accounts the American troops are going
to either make them give in or drive
them into the sea.
1.-THE Filipinos will not stand up and
give You good square fight, but come
sneaking around ut night. As soon ms
one Filipino is killed another picks w
his gun and starts in. They are afraid
of artillery
1.-The Filipinos do not appear to care
much for their dead. Most of the
corpses are placed in vaults, whole
rows of them being in lines three high
and the friends of the deceased nav
rent by the year. III they ever get
behind they are allowed GO days to pay
up and if they don't pay then the first
corpse that comes along is put in the
place Of tine one for which payment
has ceased, and the latter is taken out
and the bones thrown in a pile with
some other unfortunates and left to be
beaohed by the sun. | have seen in
two different places bones and skulls
six feet high, most horrible sight.
The bodies which are buried have %
cement lining placed over the top Of
them and seem to be laid right on the
ground, without any earth upon them
at all.
1T is common thing to see the
men running around with scarcely any
clothing on, having nothing dry to
wear.
Men are not permitted to pass
through the lines and all women and
children who go through are watched
and compelled to give a satisfactory
account Of themselves if any questions
are asked by the soldiers.
''We get fresh meat out here on the
lines seven days out of 10 and fresh
bread every day, which comes out upon
the train, and are living very fair,
considering the time we have to get it
on account of the impossible roads
across the rice fields. Bananas and
many other kinds of fruit grow all
about us and all we have to do is
pick it.
Many of us were surprised at the
size of the island, it having taken us
two days on the Grant to come from
the northern part of it to Manila, and
we~are now long way from the south
ern end l,for one, wish tie rainy season
was over, SO We could end this fight
and get some kind of shelter over our
heads.''
According to Mr.. McDowell's letter,
ae is in the best of health. He expects
to remain in the Philippines at least
until the war is ended.