The Irish standard., 1899-05-20
like lions !"

out patrol for the purpose OF finding
and destroying supplies Lett by the Fill
pinos when they gave way TO our ad-
vancing line. The road We followed was
a poor one, winding around clumps OF
bamboo and up and down the ridges
that marked successive lines of resist
ance. All this country is arranged in
paddy fields, where rice is grown, and
every slope is terraced, for the water
must be held on the ground for rice.
At the edge of each terrace is bank
OF earth for that purpose, so that very
little work is required to erect defenses,
few shovelfuls of earth strengthening
sufficiently almost any OF the banks al
ready constructed.
Along the road were here and there
trenches that had been thrown up and
held long enough to cause our forces
loss, but not long enough TO delay their
march, for our forces had no idea of
hating. Instead, whenever opposition
developed, they rushed the place, and
although the Filipinos stand longer than
they did, and have learned 10 fight much
better than when they began two
months ago, yet they are no match for
our men.
Soon we found results Of the MORN
ing's work-horrible-looking corpses OF
Filipinos, already swollen and distorted
by the heat OF the tropical sun. They
lay in ghastly attitudes, with their death
wounds either exposed Or else marked
by blood spots on their white clothing.
1t was difficult to realize that only this
morning those same objects now lying
there were living human beings, while
now man and beast turn aside involun-
tarily and sllun them. Possibly that spot
of smoldering bamboo marked the only
home this one ever had, and its destruc-
ton was almost as quick to follow the
match as was his poor souls flight from
the bullet. And this other hideous
thing, still roasting and suffering in
the embers, had perhaps crawled into
his hut only to perish with it and leave
no trace on earth of his lie or its ac-
complishment.
Have you ever seen anything of this
sort? Well, God forbid 4,iiiat you ever
shall! 1t is our business, I suppose;
it is what we are paid for; but l hope
nobody thinks we take pleasure in it,or
inlagines we can get satisfaction out of
death and destruction OF course, after
entering fight there is nothing to do
but push it as hard as possible, and the
instinct of self-preservation actuates
men i'll deeds the results of which they
deeply deplore. Rage and frenzy may
exist in the excitement Of the moment,
but when that has passed only pity and
sorrow can remain. Poor consolation is
CLEANED from military success while the
evidences of its accompaniment are still
So apparent.
Along the road had been here and
there little groups of nipa huts. They
are built of bamboo and are as light and
airy as they look, with the floor usually
about four feet from the ground and
bamboo ladder leading to the door. The
floors are of bamboo, with cracks be-
tween the strips. The walls are built in
the same way, but the bamboo strips are
set close Or else thatclcd, in order to
keep out the rain. Sliding windows in
the more pretentious structures are re-
placed in poorer ones by matched shut
tiers, hinged at the top and propped
open for light and air The roof of
tlatch made from palmIcaves is close
and compact and steep enough to be
quite waterproof. Many indeed most,
Of tie huts had been burned either by
the insurgents when they retreated or
by our men advancing, and dense clouds
OF rising smoke marked tie lines of ad-
van:e of our troops.
In those left standing we're evidences
oi hasty ligl1t-partialy cooked meals
OF rice and occasionally little meat,
with now and then some puny tomatoes
and punches OF bananas. The furniture
was OF the simplest, consis ing usually OF
Il few mats and some bamboo chairs,
with an old chest or two filed with rags.
But in every house was a crucifix or else
picture OF the Virgin, and many
houses contained several sucl, pieces as
the only decoration Of sir walls.
In a few huts were Still some women,
with now and then all old man coughing
with consumption. Perhaps the cough
was partially affected, for these old fell
lows cannot be trusted, So each one had
to open his mcagcr clothing to show
he had no weapons
But it was growing late, and as we
were mile and half from Our piclets
it was necessary to return 10 camp. Go
ing down the street we met an old man
and woman returning to their home
from some place of hiding. AS we
stopped them to search their clothing
and bundles we must have frightened
the poor old things terribly, for while
he worked hard at his cough she jab
bcred and cried and apparently begged,
expecting I know not what fate at our
hands. When I told them they might
,o tho Door old cro,+,,ro droooed IN