The evening times., 1899-11-07
pRAIsEsFoR THE SOLDIERS.
An Omesr Writes N Interestis9 Let
tar From Manila,

An OmeSr Writes IN Interesting Let.
taF From Manila.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. IA letter wal
received here today from Capt Edwerd @
I Smith, volunteer officer. In which he
| gives some interesting facts concerning
the conditions IN thc Philippines. Aftel
noting the severe hardships which the
troops epdqsd while they remained in q
depressihgly y-inactive state during the WI
season, which proclaims lack Of orders
the writer proceeds with a eulogy OF the
private soldier:
There Is a grim satisfaction In the rare
good. fortune of having cast your adven-
turous lot with men of such strong
stamp. Whatever shafts of criticism may
be aimed at the conduct Of affairs over
here, none, in all justice. can reach tie
deyii-may-care fellow with the rife. Ee
has fought many a fight when suffering
| even more severely than the restless ma
tive, who had every advantage except
American backbone at his command.
Upon his shoulders has fallen the work
of three men ever since he landed. and,
with force scarcely one-hah as large az
Spain deemed necessary to garrison the
archipelago properly. even in time Of
peace. he has done more for this suff
necked people than did Spain In her oen-
turies OF occupation.
I'VE know nothing of what view con-
servative Americans entertain of the situa-
ton. for modern journalism has ceased to
reflect that view. But even should the
consensus OF intelligent opinion regard
General Otis as the peevish old grandma
that certain newspapers make him out to
be. or. on the other hand, should II fasten
upon the present Administration as being
responsible for the unsatisfactory Itate Of
Affairs. the fact remains that at no time
has this numerically insufficient force ever
been found wanting in single soldierly
quality.
"A combination of circumstances rather
than particular. events has induced this
most trying ordeal in our national life.
High officials underestimated the intelli-
gence of these Tagals. and were inclined
to beiittle the cause which they have es-
poused.
The rank and file OF the army required
bitter experience to teach them that the
active Filipino is a three-to-one better
fighter than the Spaniard ever was. Ger
tainly the readiest way out Of the difficulty
is to simply confess that We all misjudged
this affair slightly. and that the lesson is
not TO prove valueless.
But dismissing public opinion from the
situation, because it can hardly be dealt
With otherwise. it seems assured that the
war is to be vigorously pushed. The SOL
dier's view has always favored such pro-
cedure. and his desire IS to keep after
these wiry brown men either until they
sue for peace or until there isn't enough
of them left for them TO sue for anything.
Were these three elements of national
strength, public sentiment. politics and the
army TO unite in strong pull and a pull
altogether short work would be made Of
this insurrection. The reason for so much
costly dillydallying is a shameful lack OF
thought and action.
The men, of the line have realized more
readily, than any one else that army and
and public are of different
minds, hence uncertainty. perplexity. and
doubt. This realization has tended TO
breed a dangerous spirit. The soldier has
almost reached the state when he doesn't
care a continental what the Presidents
policy Is or what opinion the public has
Of him.
His mind is fixed on one thing, and
that is the licking of these brown rascais
He will attain this end even if he saps
the public in the face and Is compelled 10
sever his connections with Washington. |
His fighting blood is aroused and fight he
Will so long as high-keyed Mauser barks |
on his. front or Remington slug 'spurts' |
through the jungle at his side. Campaign |
ing IN the Philippines has little Of theory |
about it, In fact. it Is rough. dangerous |
work with the American soldiers almost |
superhuman power.
My regiment became acclimated and !
learned TO distinguish Mauser from a |
Remington with General Hall in the Mari |
yuina district. Graduating from this rough |
preparatory school. il fought its way |
through the fertile Rio Grande territory to
The mountains. under Major Kobbi and |
General Lawton.
Later 1t became part Of General Mac
irthur's valiant but small garrison Of San
against which Aguinaldo led tie
.ntire northern wing Of his army in four
desperate but Intellectual attempts to re-
axe the city. Within the past month II
las plowed through all the mud and flood
hat a rainy season could produce in a ter
ible advance with Generals Wheaton and
iacArthur from San Fernando 10 Angeles.
1t present it shares rigorous outpost duty
With the plucky Twelfth Infantry, sup
,orted by two batteries Of the First Ar
illery.''