Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-06-03
THE AMERICAN SOLDIER IN THE PHILIPPINES.
WONDERFUL REVELATIONS OF CHARACTER ON
THE BATTLEFIELD
formations Wrought OF
Noncombatants, Well as the Fghters---
Instances Noted by Eyewitness at Maabon.

was raising his gun TO shoot soldier
who had Just passed him, when another
man who had reached him and had
his gun at ready, and was putting it
to his shoulder to shoot, threw the
butt to the rear against the native s
head and keeled him over, and with
the next motion brought the gun to an
aim and fired without looking back to
note the result of his double motion,
and pushed on with the charge.
When the line reached the Malabon
River, where u stone-arch bridge
crosses it, one span OF the bridge was
found to be destroyed, and the insur-
gents were behind breastworks and
stone barrlcades, sweeping the APP
proach to the bridge with their fire. \
small squad of engineers advanced
with planks and bamboo mating, and
while the bullets rained about them,
repaired the bridge. Then column
rushed across, and the natives fled to
n safer place.
/ saw member of the signal corps
stand up boldly on the top Of cap
tured trench, in plain view of the
enemy. who made him n special tar
get, and wave his flag signals as de-
liberately as il on signal drill, notify
ing the artillery Of the position of our
lines and the location of insurgent
trenches that should be shelled. This
is not the first time L have noticed the
fearless work of these unarmed men
in the heat of battle. Others who
risked their lives us boldly as the men
ON the firing line, without the excite
ment of the contest to nerve them up,
were the devoted members of the hos
pital corps. Everywhere they followed
the lines closely, on their errand OF
mercy, giving the wounded such aid
as was possible on the field. and carry
ing them lack to the field hospitals to
receive further attention. Nor was
this done without loss to themselves,
for several were wounded. A hundred
wards in the rear OF the firing line is
as dangerous place as the most adj
vanced line, and it requires high or.
der of courage for man to go into
that hell of bullets, without chance
to fight back, and dress the wounds OF
crippled and dying men.
A case that [ saw well illustrates
the situation. A hospital attendant
had reached man wounded III the
leg. He bandaged the hurt, and
fixed the injured man as comfortable
as possible, to await tho coming of q
stretcher. Then, as last ministra-
ton before going on to the aid of
others, he placed his hand under the
mans back and raised him up enough
to give him drink, and at that in
slant one OF the many bullets that
were flying all around them struck the
wounded man in the stomach, and he
died instantly, in the arms of his sup
porter.
Goodness and lclibcration under fire
are as much responsible for the sue
cess of the American arms as the re-
sstess impulse of the charge when
the advance is ordered. A small party
was advancing up n road swept by
NIauser and Remington bullets from
half dozen barricades and short
trenches. The party was too small to
advance further and so, at 400 yards
range, they continued the fight from
the open against the protected enemy.
Two of the men calmly seated them
selves in the road, crossed their legs,
and began sharp shooting at the scores
Of heads that constantly appeared
above the Notifications as bullets were
rained upon them. There they sat,
discuss ing with each other the range
and tho effect of their shots as de-
liberately rs at target practice, and l
am happy to say that neither OF these
men was hit.
In front of Malabon the general
field hospital was established i'll the
waiting-room OF the Caloocan depot,
and as fast as the wounded were at.
tended to, or the bodies of the dead
we're brought in, they were placed on
the train and sent ut once to Manila.
in less than an hour after the battle
began the first wounded men were
being tenderly cared for at the general
hospital. The scenes at the Caloocan
station were pitiful and heartrending,
and yet they made one feel proud of
his countrymen. Not complaint,
and hardly Il groan, was heard from Il
man, no matter how badly he was
wounded or how much pain he suf
fered from the necessary handling,
and even cutting, OF his wound by the
surgeon. On the other hand, those
not exhausted from loss OF blood
ioked and laughed about their hurts,
and each was ready cheerfully to tell
the bystanders how it happened and
what he saw of the battle before he
was hit. Not few mingled with
their stories praises of the work OF
the hospital corps on the field, and Of
the heroism of their comrades, the
roar of whose guns was becoming
fainter and fainter rs they pushed on
in pursuit of the retreatlng insurgents.
Some came hobbling up, using II rifle
for crutch, others holding one
roughly bandaged arm with the uriin.
iured other. Some crawled painfully
along, shot in the leg or body, until
they were observed and men went out
to bring them in, while others were
| carried in on lltters or the arms OF
their comrades, or walked slowly
and painfully, their arms about the
necks of those assisting them Patiently
they all waited for their turn on
the surgeons table, the more slightly
wounded refusing to take their turn
when others more severely injured
had been brought in later. Oneman,
who had waited long time in this
way, and at last had taken his place
on the table, all others having been
attended to, insisted upon getting up
again to give place to badly wound
ell man just then brought in. A man
with painful but not Immediately
disabling wound in the side joked
with the surgeon and others as the
knife and bandage were busy in get
ting him into shape to go to the hos
pital. When he was ready, he low
f,,I -. L.,