The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-09-19
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TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 10 1894

An Army oticsr Asserts That Our
Losses In tuzon are Larger Than
Those Of the Insurgents.
The Manila correspondent of the
New York Post has forwarded let
ter written by an American officer OF
"high rank" which was placed IN
his hands for the purpose of pubica-
ton in the United States. The let
ter. signed Loyal Legion" is as
follows
"Barnum once said, There is
nothing the American people enjoy
so much as being humbugged,' and
il is certainly true. The reports and
statements about the situation in the
Philippines which we read in papers
from the United States cause US to
doubt the evidence OF our senses. We
have been here since last summer.
We went through the almost blood
less campaign against Manils-with
our allies at our bscks-and the trl-
umphsl entry into the city and few
months later had the pleasure of
lighting over the same road, this time
driving our allies out Of the city and
its defenses.
"Thep, since March %, We have
been fighting pretty steadily, fighting
at ons place or another most of the
time, our force probably averaging
about %. 900 men, or 20, 900 electives;
and what has been the result that
we know Of up to this timef
1--WE have lost by wounds and
death fully q thousand men, aud, in
cluding the sick, have some 1000 in
hospitals. We have always, or al
most always, been able to drive the
Filipino troops out of the towns or
works we have attacked; but, as we
have Of late months pushed out to
some distance from our lines to make
such attacks, We have had to fall
back each time to our own lines; this
because our forces are too weak to
hold advance points and to guard our
base-Manils.
"In effect, We have advanced our
lines against stubborn foe, and in
the face of great difficulties, about 30
miles. All that men could do with
such an inferior force, and in the
face of tropical seasons, has been
done. Now we are at about the end
Of our tether. To conquer these is
lands will take at least $4,000 men.
So far, their losses have probably
been less than ours. We know what
our losses are in fight, and we get
q pretty good idea of the enemy's, as
we usually remain for the time being
in possession Of the field. The re-
ports published in America under
rate our losses and vastly overesti
mate the enemy's. We have always
had to attack them in chosen and
fortified position. The odds are all
against US.
again, the enemy can supply
their losses at once. With their arm
cd troops they Away have half as
many again who accompany them to
relieve their troops of labor; and
whenever a man falls, one Of these
(bolosword or large knife men takes
his place. These natives can march
all day in the heat of tropical sun,
with o handful of rice in their KNAPP
sacks for food and sleep on the ground
in those terrible rains without the
slightest injury. The Tsgsl tribe
alone numbers about 100000 people.
They have been fighting for the
greater part of 300 years, off and on.
That indicates what kind of people
they are. Yet the world is led to
believe that We can easily subjugate
these ISLANDS (st present We have
only very sEs.. part of one Of
them), with an army corps, of about
80, 900 men.
every officer of experience with
whom have talked has placed the
number Of troops needed at between
$1,000 and 100000 men. Thirty
thousand men will have to be rein
forced by many more thousands if
they are left to perform this great
task. In the meantime We will lose
thousands every year by disease
men who will break down, if they |
don't die or have to be sent away.
Another point. How are these |
troops to be relieved by others9 The |
medical authorities all state that
white troops cannot remain in this
climate more than two or three years
1t the fsrthest; and now the whole Ct
The United States army is abroad ex.
cept half dozen regiments.
"There is one more point to be
considered. Now that we have burst
our bounds and gone in for conquest
Of foreign territory, We must be pre-
pared to hold what we have taken
against any foreign foe. For this we
must have large regular army. 1t
must be trained, disciplined force,
always available. There is no other
possible solution Of this difficult prob.
lem. II we would not doom our lit
lie regular army to destruction, and
court dishonor, we must face this
matter boldly and act promptly"