The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-08
STORY OF WAR.
State Journal Correspondent
Describes In Detail
No. 1-1G. nut.
Many Interesting Things Seen
From the Firing Line.
EXCELLENT COUNTRY.
Army Marches Through WaV-
ing Fields of Corn.
Thrilling Account of the Rushes
of the Twentieth Kansas.


Manila, May 6.-Since my last COM
munication the conditions of affairs
here has changed radically. Today. as
1 write, the signal corps wires are hot
with the information that San Fernan-
do is in ashes. and that Gen. I-awton
is advancing on San Maguel, Is miles
northwest of Calumpit. Gen. MacArth-
ur is on the move and Gen. Wheaton
will bring up the left flank before An
geles tomorrow.
The American front is now over %
miles long, reaching from the marshes
along the bay to the foot hills of the
mountains and is sweeping everything
before it. Skirmishes are of daily and
nightly occurrence.
Wild rumors are afioat that Aguin-
aldo's government is making overtures
for peace, but the movements of the
American troops do not verify them.
It is generally supposed in Manila that
Gen. Otis will continue a vigorous cam
paign against the rebels until Dag
upon is captured and the Filipinos
are driven into the mountains. where
they will of necessity surrender to the
savage tribes. 1t is hoped, however,
that by the time our forces have taken
possession of the territory west of the
mountains between Manila and the
northern terminus of the railway, the
Tagalos will be ready and anxious TO
lay down their arms and come under
the starry ensign of Uncle Sam
The territory through which the
American forces are advancing like Il
blue and brown wave of steel is
wild and beautiful region from a scenic
standpoint. Rolling hills undulate for
miles away to the big, ugly mountains
of San Mateo. The entire country is
thickly wooded, excepting an occasion
al low plain covered with tall grass.
Numerous streams and rivers rush at
a terrific rate down towards the bay;
gurgling, seething, foaming through
deep, rocky chaSmS.
Trans pOrtation of commiSSary sup
plies and field ordnance is a serious
difficulty to be overcome by the much
worked military engineers, whose al
most super-human efforts are simply
magnificent in their energy and prom
ptitude.
since by Gen. Lawton, led his men
through a country more beautiful than
I ever thought was possible to exist
Much of the land is little cut up by
Dlow or sickle. A few brown rice
fields, and once in a great while lone
ly nepa hut are all that mark the
elapse of time since this region was
first visited by Magellen'S romantic p1-
oneers The views is diversified by
clumps of brush, and the hillsides are
dotted with graceful mango, cypress
and regal palm trees Here and there
tiny brooks Wend their crooked ways
down to the angry, roaring waters of
the Rio Grande de la Pampamgo- The
songs of the birds among the luxuriant
the early twilight hours some of these
notes remind one of a reed organ; it is
as though the branches of the trees had
grown into a sylvan pipe organ, played
by the gentle winds from the west
where the sun has just gone down be
hid old Corregidor. One can never tire
of the gracefulness of the bamboo trees
in the western horizon: the Wavy
fronds are like frost ferns outlined
a gainst a VermilliOn background as the
sun is sinking into the China sea.
Between Baluag and San Simon sea
of Del Rosario are fields of what is to
the Kansas boys the grandest sight in
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. corn
Thousands and thousands of acres of
maize in every stage of growth, stretch
away just as far as the eye can see
Along the roads and trails are great
cribs of the ripened grain; ears uni
fOrmIv from nine inches to a foot long
and two and three inches in diameter.
I never knew that corn could be sue
cessfully cultivated here but Pampamga
Province exhibits just as good corn as !
they grow in Kansas and that is say |
ing a great deal.
A native guide, who was leading Gen. |
Lawtons division on BaIuag. took the |
several miles in the wrong /
one day When it was dis !
cans into a jungle to be ambushed, he |
was arrested for his treachery and |
taken before the general
See here, you chocolate colored devil, |
do you know that you and your friend /
the Padre who is with you ought to be I
shot2'
.'Bueno. Senior Americana" answered |
the sneaxing culprit and with his friend, |
the priest. he kneeled down under a |
huge green umbrella to prepare for
death by confession The black eyes Of !
the priest blinked and blinked as the !
confessor whispered his tranSgresSiOns
into his ear. Munching a bareback. he
finally arose and addressed the general: |
We are ready to die, Senior"
raj I'd
and explained to the TagaIo priest that |
while he should be punished by death |
FOR his actions, yet the general would |
pardon him this time if he would take
he troops in the right direction on the
best road. This the chocolate cOlored
1eVilS' promised to do and did
The Fighting Twentieth Kansas
as it is known to the Eighth
army corps, is doing splendid work, and
heir achievements will fill some of the
brightest pages in history.
On the 2Sth of February General
Wheaton advanced beyond Calumpit |
With the Montana regiment and the
Sunf1ower state lads under Colonel Fred
Funston Coming to the Rio Grande
liver it was found that the rebels had
destroyed all the bridges and were
Ieeping up a rafting fire from behind |
leavy earthwOrkS on the opposite bank. !
Hastily constructed RATS Were built by
members of the Kansas regiment and |
1ut in the river. Privates Edwin White |
Ind VIM. Tremley of B company jump |
ID into the water and swan across.
.arrying the end of a strong rope which
hey tied to a tree on the other side !
Iauser bullets spattered like rain drops
IN all sides of the brave boys but they
Kept pushing ahead. fearful of nothing |
The Rio Grande river is noted for its |
earful current and just at the place