The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-09
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Great Britain will take over the isl
ands 1t a well-known fact that pc
titons are now being circulated at Ma
Mia among the foreign merchants,
Americans included, addressed to the
British foreign officers praying that
body to take over the islands, suggest
ing an exchange for Jamaica.
The American population has sent
two of its number-Dr. Donclson, who
has been in Manila for twenty-five
years. and r. D. Wood, who lived there
thirty years-to Washington TO lay rep
reservations of some kind before the
authorities there.
Thanks to Mr.. Press Censor the
American people don't know how heavy
the white mans burden is in the Phil
ippines The situation is pitiable. All
the time the American troops have
been there they have gained but forty
miles from Manila. where they are en-
camped, not attacking but ever waiting
to be attacked. At Uoilo the insur-
gents are intrenched just across the
river at Juro. There are over 1000 Ten
nesseeans there, but they are unable
to keep the rebels as far away from
IIoilo as were the 500 Spaniards who
were lighting them back before the
trouble between the United States and
Spain"
The hospitals at Manila are full all
are crowded, and it was pity that
the steamer Relief was sent away for
the accommodation of many Of the vic
Tins of General Otis incompetency. l
learned before leaving Manila that or
ders had been sent to all the regiments
to keep their sick under their own can
vas unless they needed surgical assist
ance
What the situation will be when the
rainy season, which is just about to
begin, is in full blast is awful to con
template Malarial fever and dysentery
viii carry off the unfortunate soldiers
in punches 1T is pitiable. for they are
On a whole a fine body Of fighting men;
individually AS good men as ever made
up an army, but they lack discipline.
Why it was laughable to see the
lack Of discipline When 1 was ashore
one time l saw private step out Of the
ranks to get light from an officer
cigar. This was but one instance that
came under my ken. There were many
others. Time and again ! heard prl-
Yates consign their officers to warm
places when a command that did not
please them was given. They will need
better discipline than that before any
thing can be accomplished.
zone thing / noticed about the Amer
lean soldier, he never carries enough
ammunition.
rs the friction still existing between
the army and navy. you say? 1t IS as
bad as ever Because Admiral Dewey
quoted q British officers remarks-un-
complimentary remarks-about the
army. the soldiers and sailors are at
outs. and like scholars of two rival
schools they keep it up. AS for the
propositlon put forward by some
writer's on this side to starve AguinaldC
out. that is absurd. The willy Filipino
leader cannot be starved out. He is
ever getting supplies and ammunition.
steamers are landing arms ana car
tridges and supplies, often in close proX-
unity to the patrolling warships- And
I am sorry to say the Americans them
selves are in many instances sendlns
in the arms and ammunition with
which their compatriots are being siam.
America and Japan seem to send out
the greater number of the tilibuster1ng
expeditions.
Summing the whole matter up IN n
nutshell. Otis is responsible for the sad
entanglement of affairs. He should at
once be relieved and a capable soldier
sent in his place He is silly old 1901,
an old woman who does not know the
slightest thing of the management OF
a campaign. and il is pitiable thing
10 see how he is sacrificing his brave
soldiers at every turn
Two other passengers who arrived
direct from Manila by the Empress
were Corporals Sleznger of the Tenth
Infantry band. stationed at Jaro, who
is on four months leave, and Bugler
Chamberlain of the Fourth Infantry
Slezinger says the natives receive a
bounty for every Americans right ear
they bring in. and the dead are shorn
of their ears wherever found. He
caught a Jap with four ears in the
trenches at Jaro and bayoneted him.
He says the hospitals at Manila and
Iloilo are full, and confirms Commands
st. Johns story of the sick being kept
with their regiments While not saying
ANYTHING of Otis, he said General Mer>
rift was the choice of the volunteers for
the command of the troops there. He
says the California Volunteers We're
praised on every side by the regulars
for their splendid form under fire.