Arizona republican., 1899-04-17
Does Not SmOOthe His WTinkl0d
Front at Manila.
NOT A PICNIC, SAYS OTIS
Forces of Destruction Cenfered
About the Old Stone Churches
Which Afford Natural Forts for
the NatiVeS-ChineSe, the ScaV-
cnderS of the Battle FieIdS-In-
SurqenfS Lightly Equipped.

Correspondence of the Associated
Press.)
Manila. March 19-(Via San Fran
cisco, April 16.)-War has become so
commonplace an experience to Manila
that the average citizen no longer
thinks of becoming excited over it.
Every night some point of the horizon
is crimsoned by the reflection from
burning huts kindled by soldiers to
deprive the insurgents of hiding places.
Every nights quiet is shaken by firing
from the line encompassing the city.
Every morning brings its pitiful con-
signment of accomplishing wounded
to the hospital.
Manila forms an American oasis in
the island of Luzon. Around the city
stretches a thin line fifteen miles long
of entrenched soldiers. The Filipino
goes into the field unencumbered with
useless baggage. Following the course
of their retreat beyond Guadaloupe
church went souvenir enthusiasts who
hang about the American army, but
tin cooking utensils and empty cart
ridge shells, whose pattern prove that
the insurgents have the very latest
style of rifles Trousers or drawers, a
shirt worn outside them, a straw hat,
cartridge belt and rifle, a section of
bamboo filled with rice, a handful of
green peppers tied in handkerchief,
sometimes sandaIs-these form the
equipment of a Filipino soldier.
No finer county for defensive fight
ing and no more embarrassing for Of
fensive operations than the land around
Pasig lake could be imagined. The
Chinese are the scavengers of the war.
Like vultures they hover in the wake
CT the army, focking down upon the
ashes of every hut and ruins of
churches to dig out stuff that no white
man could possibly use. Being beyond
save gain, they are admitted to the
camps and employed as servants. Some
of them peddle water and cigarettes on
the line. One, more daring than most,
crept about the trenches of the Kan
sas regiment under a hot fire and did
a good trade. When competitors ap-
peared he fastened to point out to
them a spot where a soldier had been
wounded, seemingly impressing on
them the dangers of their position, for
they ran away.
The forces of destruction are con-
centrated upon the churches. They are
all solid stone buildings OF stone, so
the natives use them as forts. Some
church has served as the keystone of
nearly every Filipino defense, and the
American artillery is compelled to bat
ter them. The Caloocan church is a
picture of the havoc of war. There
General Macarthur has his headquar-
ters. The roof, a sky blue fresco
studded with gilt stars, has jagged
holes where the shells from Dewey's
ships came through. Within the chan
eel rail is the office of the staff and the
pulpits are used for desks. The rail
holds string of saddles, a telephone
hangs beside the statue of a saint,
while the telegraph ticks necessarily
in an alcove. Cots and hammocks fill
the body of the church where soldiers
are sprawled out smoking and reading
when off duty. A hospital occupies
the chapel in the corner. The soldiers
do not lack reverence, but everything
must bend hefore their work.
General Otis has put stop to the
plans of the officers who wanted to
bring their wives and families to Ma
Mia. He said: This is not a picnic
nor a G. A. r. encampment; this is
war;