The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-08

~~N~-AOOA AAOAht ClSAlSSU JuOnLuS S6EV1C6
in the Philippines, when questioned le-
gardins the opinion generally entertain
cd by the volunteers Of the general COM
handing the United States forces. Pri-
Vate Keogh returned home in company
with Privates Arthur c. O'Brien, a son
OF Z. D. OBrten, president of the Thir-
teenth Regiment Auxiliary association,
and Max Hampf, Company E, of Mime
apolis. He left Manila July Is, on the
troop ship Indiana, and returned to San
francisco via the Northern route, touch
Ing at Nagasaki, Japan.
There has been SO much criticism of
Gen. OTIS said Private Keogh last night,
when seen at his residence, 176 Summit
avenue, that I have u great deal of hes
itancy IN saying anything about him.
Every volunteer who has returned has
contributed to the popular demand for a
criticism and I couldn't say anything
new. The opinion is general that as the
general commanding he has mismanaged
matters and has made failure in many
ways. There may be matters which the
men in the ranks have not taken into con-
sideration. however, which have contrib
uted to the state of affairs.
almost Immediately after returning I
saw criticisms of Col. Ames' conduct dur
ing the campaign, some of which were
very drastic. This was great surprise to
me, for there was nothing in the colo
nel's conduct previous to his leaving the
Philippines which would have indicated
that his record had not been entirely sat
icfa T
been made here in Minnesota that his re-
turn was due somewhat to cowardice, in
stead of physical inability to remain long
er with the regiment I wish to say, in
this connection, that 1 saw Col. Ames
only the Gay before he left Manila, and
there was every indication that he was a
very sick man. He had been suffering
from dysentery and his remaining longer,
in the face of the hardships and climate,
would have given him little chance of
ever recovering his health. On my arri-
val in San Francisco, three weeks ago
last Friday, I saw him again He had
improved in health considerably His eff
forts during the time since his return
have been directed towards caring for the
sick and wounded volunteers and in look
ing after their welfare. He goes to the
Preside hospital every morning and
makes it his duty to personally attend to
the wants Of the boys. He was very
popular with the regiment and his return
to the United States caused general re-
greet. I am certain that the criticism
which he las suffered is INSTRUCTED. He
is one Of the finest gentlemen / ever met,
and a good soldier.
REEVE AS A SOLDIER.
1.-THE general health of the Thirteenth
during the campaign in the Philippines
has been good. Our sick lists have made
a very favorable showing when compared
with those of other volunteer regiments.
When 1 left, there were but few sick,
though the regiment had Just returned
from a long march and the boys were
completely tagged out The regiment was
stationed along the railroad after return
ing from the march and was under COM
mand of Maj. Bean. Lieut.. Col. FreGer-
icks has since taken command"
How did the Thirteenth take the re-
turn of Gen. C. Nee. Reeve?"
without complaint. 1t didn't bother US
a bit. We respected him as leader and
he was an excellent soldier, but he was
not popular with the rank and file. He
was a martinez in every sense of the
term, and for this reason lost favor with
his men. Col Ames was the opposite in
every respect and had the kindliest feel
ings of everyone. Gen. Reeve might
have held the respect of the boys, as a
man, if he had not been so theoretically
military.
1.-The campaign has developed first-class
fighting men of the Minnesota volunteers.
Capt. Metz in particular has won honors
time and time again. On the night OF
April 10, his promptness and generalship
saved G and D companies from being
completely wiped off the map. We were
on outpost duty along the railroad at
Bacano, and Privates Engle, Conley and
I were on sentry duty. Near midnight
there was silent attack from both sides
at once, and we were completely sur
rounded Private Conley fired and ran
for the reserves, and Engle and I fired
and stopped to load again. Before we
could blaze away again the action was
general all around US, and we were cut
off on all sides. For a few minutes it
looked as if we were 1t, but Capt. Metz
came to the front in the emergency and
by prompt action and a few shrewd
moves routed the enemy and saved his
company Lieut.. Snow who was in COM
mand of G company that night, showed
sterling stuff also, and ably seconded
Capt. Metz. Both officers are exceeding
ly popular and their men would follow
them through fire.
MORE ENERG4 DEMANDED.
During the rainy season, when we
first entered the Philippines, the work
was most trying. We went knee deep
in mud most of the time, and all the
drudgery of campaigning in new coun-
try against every conceivable difficulty
made it very hard. After the rains things
became better, and we have not found 1t
so trying There has been much hard
work, but enough sharp fighting to keep
the blood moving and enough new ex-
periences to make it interesting. The
campaign in the island could be brought
to a close in few months, I think, If it
were properly conducted and directed by
q man with energy and snap. The ISL
ands will form a valuable acquisition
when brought under American control.
They are naturally rich and productive,
and contain much mineral wealth. The
United States has the natives to deal
with, however, and this will present
problem for the wise men in Washington
to solve The Thirteenth has seen about
all there is to see, and has been mixed
in almost all the trouble. However at
tractive Luzon may be, there won't be
many Minnesota men who will regret
leaving there
Arthur O'Brien, of c company, was met
at the station by his father, and went
out to White Bear lake Immediately. He
brought with him several captured Span
ish weapons as souvenirs, and seemed in
the best of health and spirits. Private
Hampf left the party in Minneapolis.
WAS BOUND TO ENLIST.
Private Keogh was granted discharge
from the Thirteenth regiment to enable
him to bring back to the United States
the body of his younger brother, Harry
R. Keogh, company, First South Da-
kota volunteers, who was killed in &C.
LKLhara he older hrnthar enlisted