The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-17
IN THE PHILIPPINES
1T RAINS EVERY DAY AND THE WHOLE
COUNTRY Is FULL OF WATER.
The Camps are Flooded. Clothes are an mex
pensiye and Unimportant Item
With FiIipinos.

DIR. l.. Il. Grandy, native of Ok
ford. North Carolina, and graduate of
the University of North Carolina, who
moved to Atlanta several years ago,
went to the Philippines as contract
surgeon. He is now captain and as
sistant surgeon, and has been assign
ell to the Thirty-fifth regiment, which
is preparing to embark for the far-away
land.
DR.. Grandy was a major surgeon in
the Third Georgia regiment and went
to Cuba Prior to that time he was
engaged in the practice of his profession
in Atlanta.
His letter, which is dated Las Pinas,
published in the Atlanta Journal, is
as follows
Il shall begin now to fulfill the prom
Use made when / saw You last, to send
you some lines from the Philippines.
This seems AN opportune time, for
spare moments are plentiful. 1t is the
rainy season. it rains every day and
the whole country is under water. So
little is doing, / ann temporarily assign
ed to battalion of the Fourteenth in
fantry, stationed here. This is ON an
important road going south from Ma
Mia. Our troops occupy it for about
ii miles. The battles of june 18th
and June 10Th occurred here. The
Filipinos retreated further to the south
ward. They are now south of here,
said to be about 1000 strong. We hear
rumors of contemplated night attacks,
but nothing seems to come of theia.
This is General Lawton's brigade
though General Fred Grant is in COM
mand just at present.
II received a pleasant surprise yes
terday. The surgeon general cabled me:
You are commissioned captain and as
sstant surgeon Thirty-ifth regiment ;
This was the first amy of us knew at
this place about the new regiments
being called out. OF course | cabled
acceptance, and have written my thanks
to the surgeon general. The new Iegi-
ments, we understand, viii all be sent
to the Philippines, so | will await the
coming of the Thirty-ffth.
THE ten new regiments are needed
here if we wish to rout completely and
finally the Eilipinos. With volunteer
regiments going home ON every transport
our available fighting force is reduced.
The Filipinos are good soldiers; they are
well organized, well intrenched aud
abundantly supplied with ammunition.
They fight hard and bravely. They
bear their wounds without complaint
and face death with stoicul indifference.
They are ON their native heath and can
stand any amount of campaigning, and
all seasons are alike to them.
ut is now the rainy season, and mill
tary operations ON both sides are sus-
nended. Warming has been sent along
the line for us to be prepared for Il flood
ut any time. The camp OF the Thir-
teenth infantry, five miles from here, is
already flooded, and the tents are stand
ing in two feet of water. And the rains
have just begun. Our men are very
comfortably housed in native tents. so
we are safe from foundations. The last
engagement occurred about II miles
north of Manila, near San Fernando
Little damage was done ON either side.
1.-The little town of Las Pinas is
typical Filipino village. Narrow streets
and no sidewalks. Bamboo houses with
matched roofs These are full of wo-
men and children; very few men. The
latter are nearly all in the army.
Clothes are an inexpensive and uninl-
portant item with the Filipinos. The
women wear little, the men less, and the
children still less, frequently none at
ALL And as to comfort, that's where
they have the advantage of us, hampered
as we are by the customs of advanced
civilization"