The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-12
A SOLDIERS TALES.
One Serving in the Philippines
Touches on Many Things.

One Serving in the Philippines
Touches on Many Things.
From the Pittsburg Commercial-Gazette
william J. Callahan, who was first lieu
tenant of Company E, Eighteenth Regi-
ment. during the Spanish-American war,
and is now clerk of Company Fl, Third
United States Infantry. stationed at Bali
nag, Luzon, p. l.. has written several let
ders to Capt. George D. Bilderback of Com
pany II, Eighteenth Regiment, an abstract
of the latest being as follows;
II takes at least three months to re-
ceive letter from the United States in
the Philippines. 1 am enjoying he best of
health at this writing. We are quartered
In fine Cd Spanish church and convent
in the finest town on the island. What 1
mean by the finest town is the most ele-
waited and driest. Elevation is an import
ant thing as the rainy season is now at its
hight. The niggers' or gugus,' as we
call them, only bother us occasionally now,
but we must always be ready for a sur
prise, as you can never tell when the
treacherous devils VIII pounce upon you.
This town is twelve miles from Malolos,
where a big battle took place last May,
and Is Aguinaldos old home Consequent
~, we are In a hotbed of insurgents, who
are mixed up with the amigos and who,
If an outbreak took place, would make
things warm for US.
THE insurgents are poor marksmen. al
ways shooting high, and after a few vol
leys are poured into them viii leave the
most impenetrable trench ever built and
take to their heels making us fight them
on the run. When this town was taken IL
was only after a four-mile running fight
You would be surprised at the GOODNESS Of
the American troops under fire. You can
hear all sorts of funny remarks when the
bullets are whizzing over their heads, such
as Things are getting warm over here,
Everything seems to be coming our way,
Take that on me, Niger. one down. one
cigar etc. We expect to be moved to the
north line soon to chase up 'Aggie.'
The native drink here Is vino pro-
nounced 'beano, and its effects are awful.
More men get into trouble over that stuff
than enough In one week It will eat
through a cantecn so you can judge what
ii is like. Dog meat Is eaten by the poor
natives, while their mere lucky brothers
eat caribou and horsefesh. Snakes and
toads are also eaten by them. Dog soup Is
sod on the streets and In the market here,
and costs 7 cents Mexican, per cup. can
talk the Tagal language with any of them,
and am learning Spanish pretty fast.
1--WE gather IN about twenty prisoners
every three days, when they are sent into
Manila In carts with dhe wagon train.
Ladrones. or robbers abound in these
parts, and occasionally give our outposls
much trouble. Frequently we find co,lec-
lions Of money and rice being made In
town to be sent to Aguinaido. quite a num-
Der Of Americans hold commissions in
Aguinaldos army They are soldiers who
have been courtmartialed and sentenced
to serve long terms of imprisonment. Not
caring TO serve their sentence, they watch
their chance to escape. and. being unable
10 leave the island, join the Filipinos They
are often the only ones to fall in battle or
else they are only ones left dead on the
field"