Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-28
BETTER CONDITIONS AT MANILA.
Friendlier Feeling Now Manifested
TOMnrd the Americans

Lieutenant Eberly. flag lieutenant of the
oregon under Captain Barker has Just ar
rived in Washington from the Philippines
and brings some interesting details of the
situation in Manila Lieutenant Eberly
says that the social and sanitary conditions
in Manila are better than is generally be-
lieved in the United States, and better than
would be naturally supposed after such a.
short American occupation.
The city has been cleaned I'D on an Amer
lean plan, the military authorities engineer
ing the work with large force of China
men and friendly Filpiuos. The Cinnamon
are relied on for the heavy manual labor.
The streets have been cleared of ancient
accumulatlons of Nth. and there has been
house-to-house inspection, which is still
continuing. There has been more or less
native opposition to these innovations but
the people are beginning to see the value of
the new measures and to accept the change
from the old order.
In this connection. he says. it is favor
able sign that the temper OF the native pop
ulation has changed considerably toward
American occupation. When the Oregon
arrived, in March, the native population
was dissatisfied and in ugly humor,
even in the city itself. Cab drivers, hotel
keepers and other semi-pubic servants
rendered service under protest, and even
turned down American trade in some in
stances Now, however, they have found
out they are paid-a thing they did not
seem used to-and finding American official
promises carried out they accept the new
sovereignty cheerfully.
Compulsory vaccination created some op-
position among the natives at first, but it's
beneficial effects being apparent it has also
been accepted. Lieutenant Eberly says
that the health of Manila is excep-
tionally good, and that even among the
troops on shore there was little sickness
from anything but heat prostration.
One of the most important naval moves
has been the distribution of the thirteen
little "tin-clads'' among the big vessels OF
the fleet on various stations. Through
these small craft he says there is eff
fective blockade of the whole OF Luzou,
and some have been distributed to Min
danao, Negros, Cebu and Palawan. The
most of the smuggling of arms, ammuni-
ton and food since the arrival OF the
American squadron has been done in small
schooners known as bankers" which can
run through the island channels where the
fleet could not follow them The ''tin-claf'
patrol boats have been doing business with
these swimmers of the seas recently, one
patrol boat rounding up thirteen bankers
in a single trip. 1t is thought that In a
short time Aguinaldo will be reduced to
supply of purely homemade ammunition.
The soldiers in and around Manila are
now well housed in permanent quarters, or
neipe, which are built on a bamboo frame
work, and are cool and dry Even on the
outworks the soldiers had comfortable
palm huts before the rains set in. end ex-
cept for the intense heat were very COM
Portable.
The rains had not started in earnest
when Capt. Barker and Lieut.. Eberly SAIL
ed for home. 1t was well understood then
that the rains would cut off all transpor-
tation except by railway. and that is given
as the reason for Lawton's abandoning
San Isidro, there being a big swamp be-
tween ii and the railway that is impass-
able during the rains.
The only animal available for transporta-
ton during the wet weather is the water
buffalo, but the army had utilized this
docile beast for other purposes having es-
gpfa - -iFa farF hA
outskirts of Manila, and raising a fine
quality of virus from the buffalo calves.