Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-19
ONE-HALF THE ARMY SICK
Assertion of Military Officer in the
Philippines.
Over 100000 FiIipinos in Manila in
Sympathy with Insurgents-Hos-
pitaI System Criticised.

| well-known Washington man, who is
an officer in the Philippines, writing TO a
| friend here. tells of the outlook there. The
| letter was written at Manila and is dated
| September ., 1899 1t is as follows:
This city is old; looks older than any
| city in Cuba. Everything is so damp that
| mold covers the outside walls of the
houses and the old city wall Tropical
plants of all kinds are found here in great
numbers. There is a beautiful drive along
the bay lined with cocoanut and palm
trees There is also a band stand situated
on the driveway where band plays every
evening when it doesn't rain, which is not
often. Crowds are to be seen on the drive
when the weather is good. and by Deem
Der l. the dry season will set in, when, l
am told ii is beautiful for few months.
There is a good deal of fighting going on
now in a small way-that is, few men and
officers killed daily. Yesterday lieutenant
of the 18th Infantry was killed a few miles
from Manila. Eighteen men were drowned
trying to cross over the river on raft.
These men l brought out. which makes
| fourteen men killed that came over with
ME. AguinaldO has 12.o0O men concentrated
about forty miles up the railroad track,
many of whom will be killed or wounded.
The rebels are well armed and as rule
fight from trenches or in ambush. They
are improving in their craftsmanship.
The country now Is flooded. There is
continuous rain. and 1t makes it hard to
get around, but the rebels are active all
the same. | think great mistake is made
in treating all who come into our lines as
friends. they only wait for a chance TO
Kill our men and stir up strife in our rear.
We have too many of them and they should
all be driven out and kept out until Agui-
naldO and his forces lay down their arms.
That is the opinion of all the officers with
whom l have conversed with privately,
though they don't and cannot make it pub
lie.
One-HaIf the Army Sick.
This island is fertile and rich, if prop
erly handled, but is priest-ridden to an ex-
tent not imagined by the general public of
America. Much time must be taken to i'm
prove the conditions existing here, even az
ter peace is made, and many troops will be
required to keep the people in control and
learn them true civiizati ton. as the aver
age American understands it.
The hospitals are full of people suffer
ing from malarial fever and typhoid fever
How can it be otherwise when men have
to be exposed to rain. and sleep in water
Gay and night, as they do at the front?
one-half of the army here is sick and the
same conditions will exist with the new
trOoDs
The city is under martial law and no
one is allowed out after s o'clock PM
either soldiers or citizens. All places of
business are closed and guards patrol the
streets at every corner. Officers in uni
form only are allowed out. They are chai-
ienged at every street corner and made to
show why they are out. This is necessary
as there are 100000 natives in the city,
all OF whom are in sympathy with the in
surgents. These people don't fear death
and think if they die lighting they go
straight to paradise.