Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-20
A SOLDIERS VIEW OF OTIS.
Says That He Has Done Well in the
Philippines.

Says That He Has Done Well in the
Philippines.
]. B. Mclaughlin of Little Rock, Ark, who
has called at the White House several days
to see the President, has received an in
teresting letter from his son, F. E. Nc
Laughlin of Company c. LIST Washington
Volunteers a regiment which will shortly
reach this country from the Philippines.
The letter was written late in July, and
speaks highly of the management of the
campaign by American officials. The por-
ton of the letter of general interest is
follows:
Conditions to Be Met.
''Now notice great many papers in
the states do not think Gen. Otis Is run
ming a proper campaign, or in other words,
they do not think he is competent to han
die this outbreak There is plenty of room
for them to try and do better. Let them
come and see the country and contend
with what Gen. Otis has had to contend
with. and it is my opinion they would not
do half as well. How can you use cavalry
when there is from two to three feet of
water? How can you conscientiousy send
light artillery where horse can't go?
Now, if the conditions are so that you can
send neither cavalry nor artillery, would
it be expedent to send infantry? II has
been my privilege to be here and 1 would
ask these great generals. who are out of a
JOD, 10 name Il place where IeH- oll5 mas
had to vacate: show one where Funston
ran; where Lawton had to vacate; where
that prince of generals, Charles A. King,
ever asked for aid or used any other sign
at Eight save the red rocket (meaning At
tackled, but holding our ownD. That was
always his signal when lines were cut.
These men did what was ordered, and
did it well, and deserve nations thanks
and praise, and not abuse. These the
men who. after hard march and a great
victory. came into the lines to have
council for the next days campaign, and
who ordered us to rest and eat, and then
said to Boys. 1 am proud OF you. Do
not salute us in the field. Rest yourselves
for the morrow's work Gems. King and
Anderson made those remarks to US on
Guadalupe road, after the hard fought bat
tie of San Pedro. If some of those croak-
ers had been there they would have court
martialed US If we had not saluted.
1T is all very we'll for those who run
around with an umbrella and a gum coat
on paved streets to talk that way on dry
paper, but change the conditions and place
them in the fled in a canebrake or rice
paddy. and let them. after a hard days
fighting, lie down on damp bed. get up
in the morning and put on their clothes
Gf they had been lucky enough to get
ders to take them Off, and about the hour
of midnight. as the heavens are loosened
up and the lightning's blaze reminds them
of the Internal regions, let them hear the
order Fall In and I guess they will then
come to the conclusion that General Otis
Knows what he Is DOING, anu Indt tHe HGlu
of war is not a picnic or race track. Let
them think of $4,000 men, 80 per cent Of
whom are unacclimated, in a country they
are strangers to, with every pass or trail
or road fortified with smallpox, leprosy,
ber-beri, itch etc, left by the enemy as
he is made to vacate, with a competent
medical force sufficient for the needs of
the army in time of peace and never raised
in war, with new diseases for them to con-
tend with. with a supply of medicines not
adapted to the diseases-an this and many
other things must be to suit the most
fastidous, who know all about war
10000 miles away, and how it should be
that distance from the seat Of govern
nent.
Best Care Given the Troops.
Now, not one of US is in any immediate
danger from death by disease or improper
attention, for we get the best attention and
medical attendance that can be given under
the circumstances. We are here in a
strange country with an uncivilized people,
with rations and medicines 10000 miles
away from the consumer. in land of ty-
phoons and long rainy seasons with a vast
amount of water, making everything i'm
passable AT times; our railroad transporta-
ton very difficult, at times impossible.
What, in this case, should commanding
general do?
zone who is here can say very truthfully
that he has done his best. He has gained
territory that has been lost to the Spanish
for years. He has sacrificed no man to
useless danger and has given the other side
the worst of 1t, and now demands a COM
plcte surrender, which only their pride and
superior numbers make 1t hard for them to
accept. They might well surrender. as
that is the only outcome. Superstition,
charms, fanatcsm, cannot compete with
the American boy and a good gun. The
elements are now in their favor and they
are working 1t for all 1t is worth, both the
Flipinos here and the ones at home. We
know one thing: That the American SOL
diers honor General Otis, as he has shared
the campaign with US; that Atkinson &
Co. did not. The one is soldier; the
other. TO my mind, is a traitor.
The first duty of an American is to sup
port the government. If the government is
wrong. then change 1t; not wait until there
are 10000 men In the field and then wish
that the American arms were defeated. 1
am glad to be here and to come through
this campaign unscathed, but ! think of
50 many of our boys in blue who went
down under fire. who know died conscious
of the fact that they did their duty and
were truly supporting the government;
that they were bringing religious freedom
and n free education to the native. l
passed school house the other day where
l heard the Children taught the English
language, and then, on the 4th day Of July,
heard these same children sing our Ameri-
can national airs. / said: Soldier, your
warfare is over. Bullets cannot stand
against books, even though they preached
| the first sermons of virtue. liberty and
DatriOtiSm'"