The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-05
In the Philippines and its Effect
on Troops;
WILL BE IMPORTANT FACTOR
In Determining tho Character Of tho
Military Movements During the
Next Six Months-If tho men Take
Good Care of Themselves 1T is Said
no Extraordinary Serious Results
VIII Ensue-Experlence OF Troops
Last Summer. vi

WASHINGTON, April r4.-War de-
partment officials look. upon the ap-
proach of the wet season in the Philip
pines as likely TO be an important. IL
not a decisive factor In determining
the character of the military move
ments during the next six months. This
period Of rain and storms is no new
and untried danger, for the United
States troops were In the trenches
., around Manila through much OF the
worst part OF the wet season last sum-
mer. Major Simpson, chief of the
bureau OF military information, was
then on the staff OF General Greene,
and learned from experience how. far
this wet season affected the health and
comfort Of the men, and retarded MILL
tary operations. Generally speaking,
he says the men were up to their knees
in mud and water during July and
August, when our trenches were drawn
around Manila. But while this was
a great personal inconvenience. it did
not cause any material increase in the
sick rate. About the worst feature was
that the stretches of Quasmre made 1t
next to impossible to execute military
movements on large scale.
The wet season does not begin, as a
rule. until June, so that It is about two
months before its effects will be seri-
ously felt. The present months, April
and May, generally come under the
head Of the hot season. which Just pre-
cedes the drenching rains of June. The
hottest weather is in May. although 1t
never goes above 100 degrees. + Gradu-
ally this merges into tho heavy rains
and violent storms of June. the wet
season lasting for six months. The
season does not come on abruptly, but
Is gradual transition, until everything
is In condition OF soak.
Last summer, the first expedition of
United States troops landed about July
!. and by that time the wet season was
well under way. The men were sent
into the trenches for twenty-four hours
and then relieved. In this way two
regiments would be moved up every
morning. and for that day and night
would stand in the knce-deep rain and
mud. It would have been difficult, If
not impossible. to have kept,troops ex-
posed to such conditions FOR any ex-
IRENE time. ~
The Astor battery was one of the
bodies serving during the part of the
rainy season. Captain March, one of
the officers of the battery. was here
recently. and in speaking, OF the sick
rate during the rainy season, said that
1t was Kept down to four percent. This
Is considered very low, even, under ia
vorable circumstances. and Is taken to
Offset some OF the serious reports as
TO the effect of the rainyFseason. This
low sick rate is in part attributed to
the srict sanitation enjoined upon the
American forces. Malaria and typhoid
abolnds. so that our troops were made
10 drink boiled water. Major Simpson
says that at no time did the malaria
or typhoid assume an epidemic form.
II IS the general belief that General
Otis Will complete his present cam
paisn before the wet season opens, and
conftnc his efforts after that to holding
the ground already won. Keeping up
communication, protccting$his tanks
and waiting for the dry season to give
MIN another period of active opera
ton. s--'--