The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-28
THE HEALTH OF MANILA
Much Better Than Generally Be-
lieved in This Country.
NATIVE PREJUDIoEs OVERCOME.

Lieutenant Eberly Declares the Fiji.
pinos Now Admit the Benefits or
American Sa itaryM ethods and Have
Got Rid of fAnti-American Prejudice.
Washington, July 28.-Lieutenant
Eberly flag lieutenant Of the Oregon,
under Captain Barker. has Just ar
rived iH Washington from the Philip
| pines. and brings some interesting de-
tails of the situation in Manila. Lieu
tenant Eberly says that the social and
sanitary conditions in Manila are bet
ter than is generally believed in the
United States, and better than would
be naturally supposed after such a
short American occupation.
The city has been cleaned on an
American plan, the military authori-
ties engineering the work. with
large force of Cinnamon and friendly
Filiplnos The Cinnamon are relied
on for the heavy manual labor. The
streets have been cleared of ancient
accumulations of filth and there has
been a house to house inspection,
which is still continuing. There has
been more or less native opposition
to these innovations, but the people
are beginning to see the value OF the
new measures and to accept the change
from the old order.
In this connection he says it is
favorable sign that the temper OF the
native population has changed con-
siderably toward American occupation.
When the Oregon arrived In March
the native population was dtssatisned
and in an ugly humor even in the city
itself. Cab drivers, hotel keepers and
other semi-public servants rendered
service under protest, and even turned
down American trade in some In
stances. Now, however, they have
found out that they are paid, thing
they did not seem to be used to, and
finding American official promises car
ried out they accept the new sover-
eighty cheerfully.
Compulsory vaccination created some
opposition among the natives at first.
but its beneficial effects being ap-
parent it has also been accepted.
Lieutenant Eberly says that the health
of Manila is exceptionally good. and
that even among the troops on shore
there was little sickness from anything
but heat prostration.
One of the most important naval
moves has been the distribution OF the
13 little 'tinclads" among the big
vessels of the fleet on various stations.
Through these small craft he says
there is an effective blockade of the
whole of Luzon and some boats have
been sent to Mindanao. Negros, Cebu
and Palawan. Most of the smuggling
of arms, ammunition and food since the
arrival of the American squadron has
been done in small schooners known as
bankers" which can run through the
island channels where the feet could
not follow them. The 'tinclads' patrol
boats have been doing business with
these skimmers of the seas recently,
one patrol boat rounding up 1S bank
ers in a single trip. 1t is though that
in short time Aguinaldo will be re-
duced to a supply Of purely homemade
ammunition.
The soldiers in and around Manila
are now we'll housed in permanent
quarters or neipe houses, which are
built of bamboo framework, and are
cool and dry. Even on the outw0rks
the soldiers had comfortable palm huts
before the rains set in. and except for
the intense heat were very comfort-
able.
The rains had not started in earnest
when Captain Barker and Lieutenant
Eberly sailed for home. 1t was we'll
understood then that the rains would
cut off all transportation except by
railway, and that is given as the season
for Lawton abandoning San Isidro.
there being big swamp between 1t
and the railway that is impossible
during the rains.