The record-union., 1899-03-29
RED CROSS ON battlefield.
IT'S FLAG WAVES WHERE Bull
LETS FLY FASTEST.
A Very Interesting Story From Ma
nila Not Heretofore Pub
1ished.

During last summer and fall infor-
nation concerning the work of the State
Red Cross Society and its auxiliaries
formed a regular part of the days news
IN California newspapers. The work
diminished with the inaction which sue
ceeded the adoption of the treaty OF
peace and the daily Red Cross bull
letins ceased
The labors of the State Red Cross
society have not however, been aban-
doned.
The headquarters in san Francisco is
still open and, of the great fund sup
plled by the generous public of Cad1for-
MIA some thousands still remain, from
Which money is sent out to Manila to
be used in the field and hospital work
now actively renewed there by the re-
cent fighting.
Francis A. Blake, Jr., who was sent
out by the society in November last to
straighten out matters and wind up the
affairs in part has kept in constant cor
respondence with the society and a let
ter received from him two or three days
ago by Mrs. w. B. Harrington, State
President, gives rather interesting
view of the situation at the time when
the fighting had just been renewed, and
when Mr.. Blake was just about to leave
after having adjusted Red Cross affairs
as we'll as he was able. A part of the
letter is as follows:
MIR. BLAKE'S STORY.
Just one week ago to-day did the
fighting actually commence, and the
past week has brought about changes
little dreamed Of
The insurgents have been pushed back
on all sides until our circle and out
posts have advanced in some directions
as much as twelve miles Our boys
fought like tigers and made such a
name for themselves for bravery, endur-
ance and strict discipline as will be
handed down to posterity for ages to
come With the thirty-three wounded
last night at Malabon it brings our dead
and wounded up to triie under 200
| never saw such execution in my life
and hope never again to see such sights
as met me on all sides as our little
corps passed over the field dressing the
wounded-legs and arms nearly demol-
1shed; total decapitation; horrible
wounds In chests and abdomens-show-
ing the determination of our soldiers to
kill every native in sight The Filipinos
did stand their ground heroically con-
testing every inch, but proved them
selves unable to stand the dea dly fire
of our well-trained and eager boys in
blue.
/, myself, counted seventy-nine dead
natives in one small field and learn that
ON the other side Of the river the bodies
We're stacked up for breastworks The
block houses filled by natives were
stubbornly held and only taken after
an almost bayonet charge. Here is
where we had so many wounded-our
way is SO different from theirs You
see they seek shelter behind the densely
wooded places, while we must advance
in the open and many times only guess
at their location. l witnessed many
daring deeds of individual soldiers and
officers, absolutely defying death under
"a perfect shower of bullets,
This kind of fighting and pushing for
ward has completely paraIyzed the ma
tives as the Spanish way is simply to
make short sortie, return for sfesta
and smoke, wait a week or a month,
and repeat. A Spanish officer. survey
ing the field, remarked that the Amer
leans used no etiquette" in warfare,
not even allowing their troops to stop
week after an attack This rush is
putting the fear of God and the Yam
KEGS into the natives and 1 think when
Aguinaido's headquarters (Malolos) is
attacked, they will cry enough and sur
render.
New for a little of our Red Cross
experience. The firing commenced
about 8 p. m. last Saturday night and
from the rapid move of our boys and
the continuous volleying we all knew
the spell was at last broken. Our first
move was to get the emergency boys to-
gether. l had our force ready to ac-
company DIR. Cabell while went to the
firing line with Major Surgeon Shields
of the Washingtons. We made our way
TO the outpoSts of Company B, First
California. remaining there with the
Division Hospital Corps, arranging cots
and making general preparations for an
assault. After a four hours wait the
firing ceased with us and the attack
veered to our left flank, so at 1:30 in
the morning / returned five miles on
foot to supply certain badly needed
drugs. This brought me to the hospital
early Sunday morning, and / immedi-
ately detailed one nurse to remain with
our two fever patients here, one to
Fsrmita (the Red Cross Convalescent
HospitaD. and the balance to the Di-
vision Hospital, where they were at
once assigned to the operating room and
the wards our wounded having already
been brought in by the score
Then we prepared for the day attack
Converting our private conveyance into
kind of ambulance suitable for car
rying in our wounded. Dwight. Tanner
(nurses), Night Nurse Burrows and
self went to the front, arriving just as
the firing began. 1t was our baptism
of fire" and an event not soon to be
forgotten. Our forces were shelling a
large stone church, full of insurgents,
who were blazing away from the para
pet at our small force on bridge not
% yards away. when the cry came,
RED Crossi Red Crosst''
We three made dash with cases and
stretchers secured one poor brave SOL