The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-06
HOW THE SOLDIERS FEEL
BOYS IN THE PHILIPPINES HAVE NO
SYMPATHY WITH THE "ANTIS.,
story of Situation There as Told by
One Who Has Observed Condi-
lions from the First.

in Cuba, the other, Leonard M, q member
Of Battery G, Third Artillery, In the Phil
ippines. Major Reeder kindly furnishes TO
the Journal some correspondence from the
latter, together with a Manila newspaper,
which goes to show that the soldiers have
no sympathy with Aguinaldists at home.
He wrote to his father from Railway. Phil
ippine islands, under date of Aug. %. as fol-
lows:
Having a few spare moments / will en-
deavor to acQuaint on with the fact that
L am still in the land of the living, with
no complaints 10 make, excepting the lack
or natives here for fighting purposes during
the midst; consequently, not much active
operations against the insurgents, except
on the extreme outposts, where a few OF
them keep popping away almost constant
~. We made a detour into the country a
rev lays since, encountering an armed
band Of 800 insurgents. They retreated after
a few volleys, suffering quite a severe loss.
Among their dead was a man, evidently an
officer, with a fine watch and several dia-
mond rings and shirt studs The watch
has General Pillars name engraved upon it,
but as to the positive Identity OF the wearer
We cannot exactly determine. The natives
firmly believe 1T TO be the noted insurgent
leader. The American loss was one private
killed. | herein send you a paper printed
al Manila, and to an interested observer
sents the real facts of the situation In a
very clear light. 1t was written by a men,
Der Of the Twenty-third Infantry and struck
me so forcibly as being the exact truth"
From the newspaper article alluded to the
following excerpts are taken:
The happenings at Manila, a report of the
daily engagements between the American
forces and the insurgents. the part taken
by the different organizations and the hero
Ism and fortitude Of American soldiery has
all been duly chronicled by the daily press
here and in the States, and the following
is nothing more than a few haphazard
rorninicnApnAS aud AtoiitA1 rAAectianc on
disconnected events that have attended the
Twenty-third Infantry, and others. since
the Filipino vowed his "mucho grande"
into the sea and wipe the earth up with
them generally.
At present writing. while they do not love
US more, their respect has increased i'm
measurably. Quite a good deal OF talk has
been going on In the States as to how the
S con mitht AVE been avoided Asoneillo
America and Aguinaldo has made the world
resound with his lamentations as to faith
unkspt. promises broken and the il-usage
or downtrodden natives. As to the agree
ments supposed to have been had with the
Tagalo chief. 1 know nothing, but do
Know as regards the treatment Of these
the United States troops, and had every
opportunity OF knowing the truth during
up 10 the time OF the outbreak.
WERE TREATED WELL
In an incredibly short time after the
Americans had occupied the city complete
order was restored and business was re-
sumed as usual. The Spaniards, relieved
from their narrowing care as to what
Yanke Dewey was going to do, and that
their precious selves were in no danger Of
bombardment, pursued their old-time gay.
etEsand amusements. Every citizen of Ma
Mia, whatever his nationality, received the
full and complete protection of the law.
The Filipino was no exception to the rule.
Tney were treated with every possible con-
grievances, brought before the authorizes.
received a careful and prompt attention,
with a certainty of speedy justice and ad-
attained In any civil court. His,rights were
everywhere respected and any Ill treatment
Of him., whether by Spaniard or soldier of
and condign punishment. He never before
had such a market for his produce. and
never before In the history Of Manila did
ne receive such prices for the same. To him
the American soldier was a veritable walk
ing Klondike. who paid whatever price was
askedman experience hitherto unknown to
haggling an hour or two over dos centavos,
or accepting without question whatever a
Spanish soldier cared to fling him after Sc
curing what he wanted.
PLEA IN THEIR BEHALF.
Their plea, or rather the plea of others
in the United States for them. that they
were ignorant and uneducated and did not
understand our ways and manners forms
but slight excuse. From August to Feb
ruary all without arms were permitted to
enter the city. and the majority OF them
took advantage Of ii. Here they had
abundant opportunity Of observing the
equity, justice and beneficence of American
rule. where every man was equal before the
law and a favored class had no existence.
But the Filipino, used to the kicks and
Guns, fmprisonments and murders of Span
Ism tyranny, mistook friendship for fear.
justice for dice and fair treatment for
the awe that their numbers and army we're
supposed TO inspire: Thus readily and will
iuded by their leaders and chiefs, who, find
Ing no money forthcoming from Uncle Sam,
concluded that a conflict would make him,
IKE IL mad the Don afOretimes, speedily
cough up the dinero.
Each day their conduct became more
arrogant till finally an American soldier or.
In fact, even a European was not safe from
their insults. Their publications, which
would have been suppressed under any
other regime than our own, teemed with
lies. misstatements and infiammatory arti-
cles calling the Americans towards, hypo-
critics, liars and every other epithet they
pinos to be satisfied with nothing but abso-
lule independence and crying down annexa-
ton. To your face the Filipino was mucIlo
Amigo, Americana and Filipino equal,
Americana mucho bueno and at the same
time wishing to stick a knife in his pack If
IL was possible to do so with safety 10
themselves.
There are educated men among them. but
they are In the minority. The average in
surrecto Is ignorant, cruel and treacherous,
and cannot understand a Kindness or sp,
preciate a favor. Yet these are the people
that some of our good folks at home would
grant immediate self-government, a govern
ment which, II permitted, would be one Of
constant internecine strife and could but
end in anarchy and chaos, and to which
even Spanish rule would be a blessing.
. .
SOMETHING HAPPENED.
Vague rumors from time TO time had ap-
peared and been discussed. and then drifted
out with the tide Of human events, as to an
outbreak of the insurgents. But, while it
was generally thought We would have them
to fight sometime, IL was believed that they
lacked the nerve to attack American forces,
and their leaders were possessed OF more
sense than TO measure their puny strength
with the great Republic.
On Feb. 4 a snot was fired. The tight
was on. Not a word could be heard about
going home. The panacea for all growls
was at hand The only growl heard was
by those who could not be at the front,
and they cursed themselves heartily as the
most unlucky mortals and organizations.
side by side In a common cause. share with
your bunkie the same blanket and drink
from the same canteen. The boys were In
an excellent mood for the scrap. But the
roor Filipino was not supposed to know
that the soldiers had growled themselves