The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-07
Was Wounded at Bigaa River,
Then Contracted Fever.
Thinks the Country Belongs to
the FilipinOs.
Isn't Fit For Any One Else
Says We Don't Want 1t.
Praises Funston and Uncle
Sam's Kind Treatment.

Newton. Sept. John E. Ballou who
was with Co. I of the Twentieth Kan
sas in the Philippines has returned
home. His discharge specifies that he
was in all the enga gements of his regt-
ment from February 4, 1899, to March
20, when a Mauser bullet stopped his
brave career. His record is clear and
his conduct is marked excellent"
While making the charge at Bigaa,
village on the river of the same name
he received his shot 1t was a Slight
flesh wound between the elbow and
shoulder. A rag was tied around it and
he was sent to the rear. He paid little
attention to it and meeting the Nebras-
ka boys, he turned and went to the lines
again. A sergeant captured him and
sent him back to the ambulance wagon
and soon after he went to the hospital
at Manila. The wound healed rapidly
and he was able to make trips on the
Manila aIoocan railroad, back and
forth between the hospital and the lines
of battle On the 9th Of April he was
booked for a long term in the hospital,
as he contracted malarial fever. He was
a member of the hospital brigade" I'M
til July 10, when the hospital ship Re
lief sailed for home. He was one of the
passengers.
Ballou speaks in praise of Funston,
who is considered by the soldiers the
''gamiest'' officer in the army. Major
Metcalf the present colonel, was the
commander of Ballou's battalion; the
boys all liked him and were overjoyed
at his promotion to colonel. Major
Whitman, being a regular army officer,
seemed to lack that Kansas quality o.
mixing or perhaps he would have had
a higher place in the affections of the
soldiers.
Banou says he saw Admiral Dewey
quite often while he was in the hospital
Every day the admiral would visit the
hospital, passing through the wards
and dropping words of cheer to the
suffering soldiers. The kind look on the
great hero's face was an inspirat ton TO
the boys.
John will always remember him. One
day while standing guard at one end of
the hospital building, Admiral Dewey
happened along. He said: We'll, my
boy, why are you standing here in the
SUM" Il was stationed here, sir, by
my superior officer" was the reply.
We'll YOU go over there and stand in
the shade, and if any officer says any
thing to you, you send him to me"
Nothing was said.
During the whole time he was in the
service. Ballou never saw General Otis.
Quite often he saw General Lawton who
is an active man along the line, keeping
in touch with everything.
BallOu is not expanSiOnist. He
thinks the country belongs to the Fill
pfnos and as it isn't fit for anybody but
Filipinos and Chinese, we don't want
it. A white man can't live there, on ac-
count of the heat, the wet seasons, the
low prices of labor and social cOndi-
lions The Chinese are in the country
in great number, doing all sorts of Ia
Dor at rfdiculously low wages. They
live on rice and fish. the same as the
natives, hence it costs but a trif1e to
keep soul and body together The Chin
csc are also employed at letter-bearers
in the American lines
BaIlou has nothing but praise for the
treatment of the soldiers, both in the
field and hospital From the time he re-
ceived his wound to the time he left
the Relief, nothing was spared for his
comfort. His wants were looked after
Immediately and he remembers no time
when he suffered unnecessary pain. The
boys were well fed and clothed.
The Philippine soldiers are, at heart,
brave men, but the subordinate officers
are neither educated men nor we'll
schOOled in sOldiery. They are not of
the same stamp of men as the high Of
fcers. When they lose their heads"
and run, the men under them can do
little more than follow suit"