New-York tribune., 1899-07-22

six days from Novaliches to San Isidro ana
across to the railroad at San Fernando. As a
result. the regiments composing the two forces.
whether volunteers or Regulars. have become
sadly reduced in effective strength. and even
those men cassed effective are far from able
to undergo further prolonged and arduous SER
vice unless they be freshened by long rest ana
have diet OF more easily digested food. such as
the railroad now brings over the thirty-six miles
from Manila to this place, The daily loss Of
strength due to fatigue and excitement mas not
been restored by proper food. or rather a. not
easily asslmilated food has been the only diet
available TO recruit the strength so constantly
sapped by the intense heat and great physical
effort In addition. there has been a serious
outbreak of dysenteric troubles caused partly
by the food and partly by the quantities Of fralt
eaten by the men. Soldiers are curiousIy ike
schoolboys in their devotion to fruit trees melon
patches and swimming holes, and all the deter
mined efforts of commanding officers TO reduce
the evils Of fruit and prolonged spashlng in slug
Gish streams are thoughtlessly set at naught
by men who fight like devils OF morning and
Of an afternoon play like boys when chores are
done.
ELEPHANTS AS PACK ANIMALS.
The transportation facilities are wholly ac-
countabe for the character Of ratIons avalahla
for the troops away from the railroad The
rations here and of excellept quality, and
an easily arrived at solution OF the problem
would be the adoption OF caravans OF coolie
bearers to accompany column or. since Amer
lean horses and mules cannot stand this cIi-
mate a herd OF elephants with their attendant
mahouts is not an impossible nor Utopian substi-
tute for the exasperatngiy slow water buffaloes
and carts. Neither would such pack train
be more strange to the eye or give a greater
shock to American ideas and customs than ala
those same dull perverse caribaos when first
the soldiers saw them. The elephant carries
from 500 to 1.OOD pounds on his back: lives upon
rice and grass. both found in abundance In the
Philippines and easily procurable; Is scarcely
disconnected by small calibre ride bullets;
Is of high order of intelligence, and since the
days of Jugurtha or before. has played part
in the theatre Of war when located In tropical
lands. The initial expense would Of course be
large. but the sick report Of a regiment that
has won the greatest praise Is to-day, June :,
80 per cent. and that is more than heavy enough
to warrant even an extraordinary outlay II
proper food could be furnished thereby. Surely
the plan is feasible. and is Of dazzling possibili-
ties when one considers that six miles day,
under these burning skies, is the limit for the
caribao when drawing but 800 pounds. a little
more than a days rations for an infantry COM
pany. Conservative England uses coolies. ele-
plants cames in Burmah, India or the Sou
dan. OF their experience Americans have bor-
rowed khaki clothing and cholera bands, and, IL
elephants are needed. let them borrow these
also.
The last two weeks have brought but little
actual fighting to he Second Division. On Nay
"a a force Of Insurgents reoccuped the trenches
to the westward Of this place and neat little
combination movement, directed on the TANKS
of their position, while the artillery opened on
their centre, caught them mapping. The attack
on their left was made by the Kansans, and
Montana took them on the right. After sharp
advance over bit Of swamp. Kansas mad tapped
the trench, and Montana closing IN at the same
time, the affair became rout Tne neld papers
Of the insurgent commander were captured and
the victors enjoyed reading an elaborate set Of
instructions from General Mascardio relative
TO the retaking OF San Fernando, ana grim were
the faces Of the men when 1t was known that
the general plan OF the insurgents was hence
forth to be one Of ambuscade and guerilla at
tacks Something like 125 Of that particular
body will not take part in SUCH anairs. An oc-
casional firing at night on the outposts mas been
the only diversion since that time. These at
tentions usually occur at about 8 O'Clock, ana
the one on the morning OF June 3 was very
energetic. The insurgents further interested
the Americans on that occasion by opening up
with field piece, firing percussion shells. with
an occasional shrapneL Their knowledge OF the
range was good. but darkness had caused them
caused damage. This feld piece Is in all prob
ability an eight centimetre breecAI loading
Krupp taken from the Spanish and has not
hitherto been in evidence
EARLY MORNING ATTACKS.
This early morning rising is exceedingly haras-
sing and is good tactics on the part OF the
enemy With Mauser bullets ripping throngn
the nearby bamboos or occasionally striking the
thin walls of the headquarters building with
vicious spat even though they come from
point mile away, sleep is an impesslbility, so
the men grumblingly turn out.1 Stan. oiflcers
mounted on those absurd native ponies gaUop
off in the misty darkness TO the outposts 10
gather ND the necessary bits Of information fo-
the ''old man: a group Of sleepy eyed. frowsy
men tumble out of a nipa hut and shuttle on 10
make a patrol to the front to make contact
and ascertain the strength of the disturbing
force: the native dogs outrivalling those or
Stambou in number. howl and yap loud and
ceaselessy; the sharp chill in the air that every
night brings to follow a scorching day strikes
deem as one seepily awaits the coming or the
cook with coffee. An hour passes thus Ihe
patrol comes back disgusted The enemy has
fled. The dawn runs swiftly; up pops the sun,
the thermometer follows fast. and another DAY
of binding blistering sunlight, with intervals
OF heavy tropical rain and its succeeding steam.
ing is at hand. We here are not perhaps OF
those who only stand and wait" and yet there
ia much Of waiting in fighting the Fillpinos.