Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-07


who fired the shot that reused Manila
and sent American soldiers skurrying Tor
their guns on the night of February !? The
answer is not likely to occupy as much
space in history as the opening gun at Lex
ington or Bunker Hin or Sumter. but at
this moment 1t has local as we'll as national
interest. Dispatches which announced the
battle gave to the Nebraska regiment the
credit of having met and repulsed the hrst
attack of the Filipinos, but omitted the
name OF the sentry who started the ball on
its mission of death Freedom. an Ameri-
can publication at Manila, under date Of
February 16. gives the following particulars
of the opening: For several nights an IN
surgent lieutenant had given some trouble
near outpost No by attempting to post
his sentinel within the Nebraska lines On
Saturday night he advanced with rev
men, dlsregarding the challenge of the
sentinel and attempted to carry out MS pur-
pose. Private Graysor of Company d, after
properly challenging the advancing party
who paid no attention, fired, killing the
lieutenant and one private; the insurgents
returned the fire and retreated. These were
the first shots, and then for time the
firing ceased. But within three minutes
after these shots had rung out the whole
Nebraska regiment Was ulluCA pl ms t''N ''N
companies moving at double time to their
assigned positions
Dispatches from Washington announce
the opening of a spirited attack on the
national pension roll by soldiers who served
in the war with Spain. The assault comes
from all sides and is by far the most aggres-
sive yet experienced by the force oesleSeu'
Most conspicuous on the firing line Is the
Thirty-fourth Michigan, which achieved more
notorety than glory at Aguadores BRIDGE
on the sea side of Santiago. The numper
of pension applications so far received from
this regiment is $50, or over one-fourth OF
the enlisted strength of the regiment The
second place belongs to the District OF CO.
lumbia regiment, which has in $50 appltca-
tions Then follow the Thirty third Michi-
gan, the Eighth Ohio, the presidents own,
as 1t is called and the Second Massachusetts.
The number of pension applications from the
Second Massachusetts, which Is the hfth on
the list Is 317. Seventeen officers OF the
staff of the District of Columbia regiment
are among the applicants for pensions
OF all the regiments mentioned the only
two which were under fire were the Second
Massachusetts and the Thirty-fourth Michi-
gan. The Second Massachusetts had num-
ber killed and wounded and the Thirty
1Ourln AlCnlSdn ndu lOuT men hllltu az
Aguadores bridge, and probably a dozen
wounded. The principal cause upon which
pensions are asked is malaria.
The pension office officials say the rush for
pensions by those who served in the Spanish
war is very remarkable, in view of the fact
that, up to 1882, there were number of
regiments which had served all through the
civil war which did not have, all told, 100
applications. 1t is the belief at the pension
office that the pension attorneys are largely
responsible for the large number of pension
applications which have been made.
Traders following the flag in the Philip
pines are prompt to recognize and reward
the gallant work of the soldiers One of
the American brewers doing a land-office
business on the Escolta, Manila, announces
in the Daily Freedom his desire to slake the
thirst and soothe the nerves of the fighters
with copious mugs of beer. With impressive
patriotic words he declares that the boys
who have received their baptism of fire
have gone through the tolls, privations and
horrors of a bloody war in a strange land
and have proved themselves heroes and men
to the very backbone" deserve the plaudits
and the schooners of a grateful nation. |
Accordingly he has shipped to the front and
rendered barrel of beer as a free gift to |
each company. 1t is easy to understand
now why the natives scooted for timber |
and made themselves mighty scarce. Ordi- |
narily the American soldier, with sixty |
rounds in his belt, is dangerous person; |
with several rounds under his belt in addi- |
ton, he is simply invincible Freedom says |
the gift lis boon which we and all who |
are acquainted with the excellence of the
beverage named are sure will be thoroughly
appreciated by the boys who have borne
the 'sturm and drang' of the past fort
night"