The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-17
WAR IS A COMMONPL LACE
Manila an American Oasis on the
Island of Luzon.
CHINESE THE SCAVENGERS
they Hover Over thu Wake of the
Army Like Vultures-Forces of De-
struction Conferred on Churches.
War Is Not Picnic

Correspondence of the Associated Press.
Manila, March 10, via San Francisco
April 16.-War has become so common.
place an experience to Manila that the
average citizen no longer thinks of be-
coming excited over it. Every night
some point of horizon is crimsoned by
the flames from burning huts. kindled
by the soldiers to deprive the insurg-
ents of hiding places. Every night
quiet is shaken by the firing from the
line encompassng the city. Every
morning brings its pitiful little consign-
ment of accomplishing wounded to the
hospital. Manila forms an American
oasis in the island of Luzon. Around
the city stretches a thin line - miles
long of entrenched soldiers.
The Filipino goes into the field I'M
incumbered with useless baggage. Fol
lowing the course of their retreat be-
Nond Guadeloupe church went the SOU
Venir enthusiasts who hang about the
American army, but they found nothing
more than a few tin cooking utensils
and empty cartridge shells, whose pat
very latest style of rifles. Trousers, or
drawers, a shirt worn outside them. a
straw hat, cartridge belt and rifle. "A
section of bamboo stalk filled with rice,
handful of green peppers in a hand
kerchef-'these form the equipment of a
Filipino soldier.
NO finer country for defensive fight
ing and no more embarrassing for Of
1enslVe operations than the land around
Paslg lake could be imagined. The
Chlnese are scavengers of the war.
Like Vultures they hover in the wake
of the army, tiocking down upon the
ashes of every hut and the ruins of
churches to dig out stuff that no white
man could possibly use. Being beyond
suspicion of any interest in the hostjl-
tiles save gain they are admitted to
the camps and employed as servants,
Some of them peddle water and cigar
ettes on the line One more, daring
than most, crept about the trenches of
the Kansas regiment under hot fire
and did good trade, When competi-
tors appeared he FASTENED to point out
ITO them the spot where soldier had
been wounded, seemingly impressing on
them the dangers of their position, for
they ran away.
The forces of destruction are rom
centrated upon the churches. They are
all solid buildings of stone, SO the ma
1lVes use them as forts. Some church
has served as the keystone of nearly
every Filipino defense and the American
artillery is compelled to batter them.
Caloocan rs picture of the havoc of
war. There General Macarthur has his
headquarters. The roof, a sky blue
fresco, studded with gilt stars, has Jag
ged holes where shells from Deweys
ships came through. Within the chancel
rail- is the office of the staff and the pull
pits are used for desks. The rail holds
string of saddles, telephone hangs
beside the statue of a saint, while the
telegraph clicks necessarily in an al
cove. Cots and hammocks ill the body
of the church, where soldiers are
SPRAYED out smoking and reading
when off duty. A hospital occupies a
chapel. The soldiers do not lack rev.
erence, but everything must bend be-
fore their work
General Otis has put a stop to the
plans OF officers who wanted to bring
their wives and families to Manila. He
says: This is not picnic nor a G. A,
r. encampment. This is war;