The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-24
LAWToN'S STORY
Of His Recent Campaign As Told by
Himself

New York, May PA dispatch to the
Journal from Manila says:
General Lawton is resting with 5000
men at Canadaba after thirty days of
successful campaigning. He said to the
Journal CORES pOndent:
1T panied me when we got into San
Isidro to see on the walls of the prison
there the names of the fifteen Ameri-
cans from the Yorktown.
From Colonel Ray, the Spanish Off
Ger whom we rescued, learned that
one of the American prisoners escaped.
from his captors. His freedom was
short lived for he was afterward re-
captured. He was stretched on the
ground before his fellow prisoners and
twenty lashes were given to him.
I'VE found a letter near San Isidro
written by one of the Yorktown's crew.
saying that they were being kicked;
that their hair was being pulled out
and that they were cruelty treated in
various other ways, and praying their
fellow countrymen to hurry to their
release.
THE insurgents make a practice of
numbering Cinnamon who fall into their
hands and our men, 1 suppose, should
consider themselves fortunate that they
have not been similarly treated, though
the cruelties and indignities heaped
upon them must be hard to bear.
4 would have advanced to Tarlac but
was informed that I was north of the
insurgents main forces. Hence I asked
for kObbe's brigade. 1 can advance and
reach Tarlac in six days unless the
present negotiations between the Fill
pinoS and our commission accomplish
peace. The whole country is nothing
but intrenchments.
Il have had during the last month
twenty-five engagements. Six of my
men have been killed in the field, two
have died from wounds and thirty-five
have been wounded. The losses of the
insurgents were over 400 killed, while
we have taken 900 prisoners.
Il released eleven Spanish prisoners,
established civil government in San
Miguel, Balanag and San Isidro and
safely conducted $40 Chinese refugees
who were in fear for their lives.
In the section traVersed I have des-
troyed 100000 bushels of rice, 165 tons
of sugar and 10000 bushels of corn.
1.-The supplies 1 destroyed would feed
an army of 3d. coo men six months L
gave each of my prisoners a square
meal and then turned them loose after
destroying their arms. There are whole
companies of bolo men at Tarlac with
no other weapons except the primitive
ones they carry.
1T is my opinion that, once the insur-
rectfon is over, little trouble will be ex-
perienced with the natives, who have
been falsely impressed with their own
power by their leaders. The native
priests have given much assistance to
me.
THE country is grandly beautiful and
fertile Few white men have ever pen
etrated into the mountains on account
Of the prevailing fear of the Igorotes
fierceness has been greatly exaggerated.
These mountaineers are really harm
less.
In the provinces of F'uluca and
NeuvaeciJa my men stood well the long
marches they were forced to make and
they are in a healthy condition.
L must mention my brave scouts.
twenty five in number. deeply deplore
the loss of Chiefs Young and Harring-
ton, two as brave and fearless men as
L ever met. The work done by the
scouts has been equal to that OF any
regiment in the Philippines.
In all the towns through which /
passed I established town councils made
up of natives. In San Miguel the coun-
ell elected a mayor and 1 remained
there long enough to see the municipal
government in active operation. It
proved satisfactory.
Ten of the twenty-five engagements
fought by US were very severe. My
small loss was due to the fact that I
f1anked the enemy each time and came
in on his trenches in the rear"