The evening times., 1899-07-25
Views OF 4 VOLUNTEER
A Letter Written on the Firing
Line at Mariquina.
Not Anxious to Remain In the Philip
pines-Great Slaushter of Filipinos
In the BushwhaeI<inE Campaign.
Mortality in Western Regimen nts.
Inducements offered to Re-enIist.

Some accounts Of the affairs in the Phil
ippines, as told in letters received in this
city by friends of soldiersiwho are now or
have been with the army in the islands in
dicate that the recent round robin of the
newspaper correspondents was justified by
conditions.
A private Of a Western regiment in a
letter to friend in washington dated at
Mariquina, village near Manila, on May
II, points out in very plain language, the
hardships which the men are compelled to
endure and their anxietylto return home
In one place In his Communication the pri-
vate in question c0ngratuiates his friend
who belonged to the regular army and
who was discharged before his regiment
left for the Philippines. that he did not
remain in the service long enough to par
ticipate in the campaign against the Fill
pinos.
I'VE are not gaining anything" the let
ter continues, except a lot of dearly
bought experience We have the honor. OF
course, of being veterans and when we
return to the States, the militia will, no
doubt, present arms, the bands play, and
the crowds cheer, but we are paying dear
ly for 1t. Since February we have been
on the firing line almost continuously, but
have not had much real fighting. BY fight
ing, l mean pitched battles. We have,
however, had our hands full of bushwhack-
ing. We are camped along line of bluffs
overlooking the Mariquina Valley, and our
duty consists in holding the city water
works and pumping station against all
comers. Our camp is four miles in advance
OF the lines and we have line of patrols
to keep open communication with the city
We are surrounded by natives, but they
N q Wa Anal Ilxr Ia,r a. -
last three weeks have remained quietly in
their corner. refraining from moIesting us.
Along other parts of the line they are
as active as ever. We have an occasional
skirmfsh. but that is all. The volunteers
from North and South Dakota, Oregon,
Nebraska, and Minnesota have thus far
borne the brunt of the fighting. and have
done it well. This has been a volunteer
fight so far. and they have all done equally
we'll The fighting along the lines has re-
| suited in succession of victories for our
boys. and the slaughter of natives has been
awful. far more so than the people in the
States have been led TO believe
The true state of affairs in the islands
Is quite different from that given in the
newspaper accounts. We have grea deal
of amusement in reading stories of how
the rebels are armed with bows and arrows,
spears, and other barbaric weapons, when
the lTuln OF tne matter Is tney are better
armed than We are. Unfortunately for
| them. they are poor marksmen. or there
| would have been quite a different story to
| tell
The regulars are arriving, but Cen
| eral Otis seems to be afraid that they
! might get hurt or soil their nice uniforms,
| for they are nearly all doing guard duty
| or are in reserve. Volunteers are fighting
with Springfelds against men armed with
| Mausers. while at a safe distance in the
| rear follow the regulars armed with
| 'Krags. Half the Nebraska boys you
know have been killed or wounded. The
authorities are offering great inducements
| to get the men to re-enlist. but their ef-
| forts have thus far proved unavailing Not
more than two or three from each company
| will take advantage of the offers. All who
| re-enlist are promised travel pay and other
| allowances amounting to about $500 but
! they don't bite worth cent.
We shall probably be- relieved on the
/! firing line in a few days. and shall prob
| ably be on our way home by the 'ast OF
| June at the latest" t.
In referring to the character of the
| guard duty which has regiment is called
upon to do the soldier in question speaks
| of it in the following somewhat humorous
| terms: "Our guard duty is the genuine ar
| ticle. and my neck will be two inches long
| er in the morning than it is now because
OF my having to rubber around after mig
gers in the bushes" -