The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-03
SCORES ATKINSON.
A Worcester Soldier
Writes From the
Philippines.
THE COUNTRY CANNOT STOP.
To Stop Fighting Would
Bring Ridicule on
Uncle Sam.

Timothy Burns If Co. e, Ninth in
fantry, y. S. A, row in the Philippines.
has written a letter to a FREUD in this
city that is unusually interesting. 1t
Is in the highest strain o. optimism.
and the young soldier administers d
singing rebuke to Edwaed Atkinson
and the other political poolles that bark
at the heels of Uncle Sam as he
marches onward toward the orient.
Burns was il the regular army for
five years before the breaking out #
the war with Spain. AT that time
lie enlisted with the Emmett Guards,
and fought Nth the Ninth Massachu-
setts in Cuba. After the surrender of
Santiago and the return of the victo-
rious American troops from the Ali
TILES. he enlisted in the Ninth, and
was sent to the Philippines.
He says: I'VE are having hot times
here. There is plenty of G.,htirg. AMI
the bullets sing and hiss over our heads,
but thus far l have escaped, and
nave hopes of coming through I'M
scathed. l am eager to get home and
see you all again. You cannot under
stand what homesickness means to
Uncle Sans soldiers in these tropical
islands. Home, one of the tenderest,
sweetest words in the language, takes
on new meaning. Still for all that,
am glao that l came here, and /
would not for the world have any one
worrying about me. Save for this
homesickness that steals over us at
times. we are a happy, cheerful lot,
and so far as we can adapt pleasure to
circumstances, we are enjoying our
selves.
Il have the highest regard for our
venerable senator, / IN. George F.
Hoar, but l do not believe that he is
justified in talking as he does upon
the Philippine question. 1t would be
cowardice Of the basest sort in the
United States to sound the retreat at
this time. Our name among the nations
would be a byword and a reproach.
We would be held up to the ridicule of
the world, The finger of scorn would
be pointed at us, and instead of hold
ing up our heads as freemen, we would
be branded as a race of old women.
Let no one give you the impression
that the soldiers now fighting in the
Philippines are disgruntled or lacking
in PATRIOTS support of the administra-
ton. We are all eager to fight Aguin
aldo and his brown Tagals. The feel
ing is not confined to my regiment
alone, but to all the regiments in the
service. If the Tagals would stand
and give us battle, the war would soon
be over, but they fight like the Par
thians of old, on the retreat
1 81 am in Company e of the Ninth
infantry and we have done our
share of the fighting during the six
months we have been on the island.
We intend to do more of it before the
war is over. At this writing signs indi-
cate that the rebellion is approaching
its AppomattoX. When the last mid
night in December sounds the coming
in of the new year, l will be very much
surprised if we are not arranging the
details of Aguinaldo's surrender, prep
aratory to embarking for home
Contrary to general report current
in the United States, the soldiers here
are not in ignorance of passing events
in the giant republic. From such pa
pers as l have had occasion to read,
| have noted as a striking fact that a
large percentage of the people of the
United States are opposed to the fur
Their prosecution of the war the ulti-
mate retention of the archipelago and
It's Incorporation as an integral part of
the Union.
viewing the question from this end
! do not believe that facts justify this
feeling. Many of those opposed to the
pollcy Of expansion are fools, if not
arrant knaves.
This Mr.. Atkinson who has issued
bad better look out for himself. We
are competent to judge what course
Is the proper one for us to pursue
we prefer to cemaiH loyal to the flag
It shall not be dragged in the dust. I
would like to see some of these know
ing Fellows who pose as the interpreters
Or public opinion running for president.
pike water they would soon find their
IeVel and it would be a mighty low level
+oi,
me path of progress. Progress must
level them.
AS they say in the play, Enough
OF this You understand the situation
at home far better than l can be ex-
pected to, so 1 will not weary you any
further with my opinions and theories.
VIII try and tell you something now
OF the Philippines, the heterogeneous
races that inhabit the islands and their
customs
The chief occupation is rice grow
ing, and you can see the men and
women working together in the fields
for 70 cents day or so cents Mexican.
Rice being the main staple of food la
Dor is not so badly remunerated as one
might be led to imagine Course din
ners are as unknown in the humble
home of the average Filipino as the
locomotive was to the ancients
We have 'Aggie' between us and the
coast and a move is on foot to send
three regiments to Dagupan and ad-
vance from the coast this way. Other
regiments the commanders have
planned to send toward the coast 50
that you see we will practically hem
them in and make it hot for them.
The Ninth Thirtysixth and four
pieces o! artillery had a fight at Porac
and captured the place, on Sept. 2S. My
company had the honor of being the
first to enter the place and enjoy the
distinction Of having taken the town
Wen, our gallant boys deserved it.
Il will try and explain to you the
of the battle. We marched at 8
o'clock on the morning of Sept %, out
OF Santa Rita toward Porac, which was
held by the Filipinos. After forced
march of eight miles, we threw out a
+-slSirmish line and the order to advance
+ Wastgiyen. The insurgents opened fire
on WIS and we returned it, killing a few
= ofSthem. We then charged the trenches
end took them after run of 100 yards
Or sn1ore. Our lieutenant, Schofield, is
one of the braVest of men and always
, e be found at the head of his COM
mand.
@'He had given us orders to shoot
I, Down every insurgent we sighted.
~'wflen the commanding general rode
down the firing line and informed him
that his company was ahead of the
dine
I" That's where we belong he shout
ed back, amid the cheers of his men,
and we are going to stay ahead
1--WE advanced and drove the insurg-
snts before rus like so many sheep. We
then threw out an outpost, that is, four
men and a corporal, to see to it that
the insurgents did not come back
4 was one of the men assigned to this
dtity.
bstWe waited an hour and half for