The Green Forest tribune., 1899-11-16
h ths Philippines,
M. E. Russell Writes Again of His
 Journey Across the ocean.
MANILA, PbiLlppine IeIands.

DEAR READERS OF THE YRIBuNh:- Il is my pleasure to write you some two weeks earlier han l expected. We did not come by Hong Kong, China, as was first intended, as We had sufficient supplies on board the Belgian King.
 We are now anchored in the beautiful Manila Bay, where Dewey destroyed the Spanish fleet, await ing barges 10 transport us to land. You have all read so much about this picturesque harbor from the pen ot gifted writers that it would be pres4mp9ous tor=me=to try ta paint the picture in any more glowing eolors. l. seems to me that we have almost been "Gans- portoa to another world, but the grand old flag is still dyiu& above u3 and we are ready fer the duttes tant lay before Hs.
 Perhaps 5 casual reference to some of the in1idents of the seven thousand mile journey will be of some interest to you.
 We passed within sight Of the badrono Islands on October { and 8 number ot us sat up greater portion of the nightto get glimpse ofthe two greaI volcanoes which are on these islands. The Ladrones are the third group ot islands that we sighted after leaving Frisco, the others being the Hawaiian and the Wake. Tho Wake islands are uHiuhabited, the highest point on them being only f2teet above the sea level They are denseIy GOV cred with vegetation and looked very pretty to q fellow who had been on sea so long.
 The Gadroao Islands are inhab- tied 6y canHibaIs, 50 your humble servant had no desire to form any acquaintaHces there.
 On Sundays all duties were sas- pended and the soldiers elgaged Tn reading. We have q library on board which was presented Us by a society in San Fraasiseo. IL has aa ample supply ot novels, magazines, newspapers, etc. How ever, some oflhem are quite out of date, ranging all the way from 1887 t0 1899.
 In our uou-eommissioned officers school, which we kept in session during all the journey, we studied advance guard duty, outpost and patrol duty until we think We are perfectly familiar wlth the ruIes governing this duty.
 As l am the tallest corporal in my company, ] will have the first advance guard duty 10 perform, l am ready to perform it.
 l Was pleasantly surprised to find that was not the only Arkansas ooy in the 34lh. Il was my hap pincss to meet Corporal Fred of Go, C, Yho served with me last yearin the lst Arkansas. His home Is at Van Boren. We have spent some vely pleasant times rchearsing our past experenc 5 while serving in our old command, aod We tbjnk it quite a cojacj- dent. and perhaps some recognition for Arkansas, for us both to be non commissioned officers in the 3+th.
 Our regiment has tvo mascots. One is a Water Spaniel dog who certainly believes that he occupies every inch ot an enlisted soldier. He gees tbropghthe exercises with us every morning and seeus 10 enjoy il to the fullest extent. We call him Honolulu, The other is a Scotch Terrier and his name is Rags, Rags does not enjoy sea life and-aeems very Respondent. He claims no master and will not reciprooate tavor3 shown him The boys say Ire is home.sick.
 Go. B has small Dago boy for their mascot. He is ooIy eight years old and came from St. Paul, Minn. He says he has nc kaowl- edge whatever as Co the where aboujs ot his parents, don't even know that ho ever had any, consc- queutIy it is not strange lhat he is the best satisfied fellow on board the ship.
 Before arriving here tho sea got vnrv r1ugh hence we did not