Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-07-28
SOLDIERS LETTERS.
Being Materials for the History of War
of Criminal Aggression.
Harvey Stark, of the Hospital Corps;

of Criminal Aggression.
Harvey Stark, of the Hospital Corps:
VI am pronounced anti.expansionist,
and the boys are all anxious to come
home. Out of twenty-five thousand
troops on the island, do not think that
regiment of them would care to re-
enlist, providing their time was out
James A. Reid, Colorado volunteer:
Maybe you think this isn't fine
country-to keep away, from. In fact,
all OF the country around here is lust
lousy with 'niggers.' To the right of
us is the lake. About seven miles away,
to the north and east, Is the little town
Marequina, which will soon have to be
taken. AS 1t is the birthplace Of Rio
del Pillar, one Of 'Agges great generals.
we expect quite fight. NIalabon and
Malolos have not as yet been taken.
Don't know about Maolos, but Maabon
can be taken any time, as it is next to
the pay. We are not nearly as
anxious to fight these people as some
people may think we are, and we do not
enter any of the fights with the same
spirit we did when fighting the Span
lards. If vote was taken to take us
home now or wait six months and dis
charge us here with our travel pay and
finals, which would amount to nearly
five hundred dollars, ! do not believe
that ten per cent. would be willing to
stay, so you see how the men look at
this addition to the United States. The
chances look very slim for our getting
out before our term expires, which is
about fourteen months more, and If the
people don't get us out of here soon
the asylums will be filled to overlooking.
None of the men are the same as they
left home, either physically or men,
tally, and the only thing that will do us
any good Is to get us home. Any one
can have our share of these islands any
time they let us get home. There have
been about one hundred and twenty-five
killed and three hundred wounded all
together, and, when you consider that
these beastly islands are not worth one
American life, you can see what they are
costing.
"Small-poX is still raging In all the
regiments. and every day some poor
soldier is gone beyond recall. Is it any
wonder we want to get home: Well,
have come to the conclusion that
soldiering'is not what it is cracked up to
be, and if Uncle Sam wants any one of
our services he had better keep US as
long as he can now (and | guess he is
doing it, too) We are all living as well
now as can be expected, and will,
probably, through the rest of the service,
but that doesn't blot out any past mis-
deeds. One of our pet expressions now
is, You couldn't tell Us what you think
about the army without using profanity,
could you?' and the answer generally is
in the negative. Oh. yes, we will be
afraid of not getting home soon. If we
don't get away from here before the
rainy season sets in there are a whole
lot of us who will never get back. The
signing of the treaty. or rather ratifica-
ton of it, won't have much effect on the
volunteers here. The Second Missouri is
indeed to be ngratulated, and they can
thank their lucky fstars that they were
not ordered over here"
Private Ruppenthal, Company NJ,
Twentieth Kansas:
"llave been in numerous battles and
skirmishes since Feb. 18th, and with my
own hand set fire to over fifty houses of
Filipinos after the victory at Caoocan.
Women and children were wounded by
our fire."
Colonel Stotzenberg
Il am tired of fighting, and am tired
of seeing my men killed. More of the
men in my regiment have been killed
than in any other regiment in the Philip
pines. Since March % fifteen of my
brave boys have been killed and one
hundred and twenty wounded, and there
are but six hundred and fifty men in
thp regiment -