Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-09
HOl DAY IN MANILA,
Which Caused Our Troops Much In
convenience.

THE WAY ARMED WITH KRAG-
JORGENSON RIFLES, WHICH
ARE EQUAL TO THE MAUSER.
HOSPITAL PROVISIONS MADE.
Manila, March S.-3:55 p. m.-The
temperature to-day at O'Clock was
81 degrees, but the cloudy air was like
steam, and the troops were greatly in
convenienced on the line in spite of
the temporary shade afforded by mat
ting and bamboos wherever feasible.
There were fewer prostrations, how
ever, from the heat
Our troops to-day are not compelled
to remain in the open country to the
same extent as yesterday, when they
were engaged in clearing the jungle.
The rebels seldom appear in the open,
except in the cool of the morning and
in the evening. Our soldiers probably
will feel the heat less when they are on
the move.
The following lights on the coasts of
L
re-established: Manigonizo, Zigantes,
Calabazas, Sietopecados, Iloilo and
Luzaran.
The French second class cruiser
Jean Bart has arrived here.
REGULARS HAVE GOOD RIFLES.
Washington, March 8.-A fact in con-
nection with the regulars who are now
reinforcing Gen. Otis in the Philippines
that is having considerable satisfaction
to the War Department is that they
are all armed with the ''calibre 30' rifle,
commonly known as the Krag-Jorgen-
son. There has been more or less I'M
easiness over the fact that volunteers
on the firing line around Manila were
at decided disadvantage against the
natives, owing to the fact that~the Fill
ipino sharpshooters, armed with Maui
sers, could lay out of range of the
Springfields with which our volunteers
were armed and pot them to an extent
that was limited only by the bad
craftsmanship of the natives. This was
not only the source of good many
casualties among our troops but had
bad moral effect on them, since it was
very trying to be continually under
fire from an enemy who kept discreetly
out of range.
With the arrival of the regulars this
situation will be completely changed.
The reinforcements all have the cali
bre 50 rife, which is practically just as
good gun as the Mauser, while in adj
dition our regular troops are sharp
shooters almost to a man. This is
largely owing to the fact that for years
the target ammunition allowance in
our small army has been about Sc per
man per annum, an amount no Euro
pean nation has ever thought of spend
ing This does not say that there are
not many excellent shots among the
volunteers, and though the War De-
partment has no definite information
on the subject, there is little doubt that
the best shots among the volunteers
are armed with the new rifles already,
1900 stand of these guns having al
ready been sent to Gen. Otis. while
there are 5000 more awaiting his order
at Benecia arsenal. There have been
some reports recently of the wounding
of some of our own men by explosions
of the Springfelds, and it has been sug-
gested in the War Department that pos
sibly this was the result of trying the
new smokeless ammunition in these
guns But this is discredited by the
ordnance bureau, which says that al
though there have been shipments of
smokeless ammunition for the Spring
fields, that it is not likely the volun-
teers have yet received it. In addition
the charge of the smokeless powder
has been accurately gagged so as not
to overtax the resistance of the old
Springfield mechanism.
CARING FOR THE WOUNDED.
New York, March S.-The fact that
the soldiers who are wounded in the
trenches around Manila and elsewhere
in the Philippines need care has not
been overlooked by the New York
branch of the Red Cross Society. More
than $4,000 worth of clothing. medi-
cal supplies and delis cies have been
shipped to Manila and many nurses
have been sent thither.
Within a week there will be thor
oughly equipped field hospital for Gen.
Otis troops. This hospital will be I'M
der the management of Miss Margerie
Henshall who was detailed by the
New York auxiliary of the Red Cross
Society to take charge of the work of
relief in the Philippines. Miss Hen
shall left New York on the U. S. trans
port Grant, which is due in Manila
bay within the next three days. Train
ed nurses went with Miss Henshall.