Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-06-26
FREELAND, Pa, JUNE GO, 1899.
Noble (?) Work In the Philippines.

Nouic W "ofh III bho
The North american, OF Philadelphia,
q staunch Republican newspaper and
formerly an advocate OF expansion and
so-called imperialism, in an issue last
week prints two letters purporting to
be written by a soldier in Manila to a
friend Of his in Philadelphia which con-
tain statements so monstrous that for
his own credit as well as for the good
name of humanity one would gladly be-
lieve them to be falsehoods, were it
readily possible so to esteem them. The
brutality and diabolism expressed in
them are unmatched and not to be ex-
ceeded by anything of that sort possible
to be run across anywhere.
The writer is a Pennsylvania, not
long ago travelling salesman in Phila-
delphia, who had strayed as far as
Seattle, and there, the war breaking
out, had enlisted in the First Washing
ington Volunteers. The North Ameri-
can, in introducing the letter, says:
Startling, revolving information con-
corning the war in the Philippines has
| just come to light. If true, it places an
gnominious brand on the American
soldier. 1t holds him up as a wanton
marauder, savage, unmerciful con-
queror. 1t accuses American military
commanders Of wilfully prolonging the
war.
This soldier tells at length, with great
swagger and gee, his exploits in "kill-
ing lots of niggers," as he says, and in
looting and bnrning towns. In one
place he says:
We burnt over two thousand houses.
smashed some fine, big plate-glass
mirrors and chandeliers just to hear the
noise. tell you, this war is fine, and
like il don't get shot. Smashing,
burning, and killing; it is fine.
Plenty more Of this sort is there in
what he has to say. He tells too, OF
like exploits OF his comrades. He con-
fesses that even he, however, is haunted
at the thought that he is a woman-killer:
These women here are devils, and
fight like men. This was the first one
killed, though l didn't like to, but had
to.
Then he tells OF robbing the dead
picking their pockets, and stripping
them OF their ornaments and clothes
And he has the following to say OF hi.
military superiors:
They are offering all kinds OF induce
ments for us to re-cuist in the regulars
but no more in mine. Our regiment /.
all shot to pieces, and we expect to b,
home in July. These fat-headed officers
are trying to make big war out of this
so they can get promotions, glory, and {
chance to rob the government. II the,
would give Dewey his way this wa
would be over in a month, but the,
don't want it to be over so soon-goot
graft for lot of - -, who 81
in Manila and never 90 near the firin:
line. If they would once come out o
their holes, l think we would have som,
new generals here. King was the onl,
one here any good, and he got disgustet
and went home. Our colonel, w. II
Wholley, is now brigadier general, bu
they won't let him do anything.
In its comment upon this specimen o
correspondence from the front, tn,
North american adds in conclusion:
From the foregoing it will be seer
that either Roberts 1.-THE name of tn,
soldier writing as abovel is fit for {
severe court-martial or bastard worl
has been done in the Philippines.