Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-08-10
In the Palace,
Headquarters u. S. Government.
Manila, p. l., June IS, 1899.

Manila, p. l., June Is, 1899.
take great pleasure in writing to let
you know that | arrived safely in Manila
on May 21, and it was relief to step
on land again. We arrived in the ba,
on May 10, but were anchored there
two days before we were sent ashore.
We were stationed at first at o place
began to serve Uncle Sam in the Philip
pines by eating hard tack and corned
beef and sleeping on the ground.
| was very much surprised and pleased
to meet John (Forty) O'Donnel here.
He belongs to the Twenty first infantry,
which was then stationed at the Bridge
of Spain on the way to New Manila.
about five miles from us. | did not
have much time to talk to him, as | was
on detail putting up tents. and some
time later, when | tried to reach his
regiment, | was held up by the sentries
of the Fourteenth, hot having the
special pass which is required to get
inside the firing line.
GUARDING GENERAL OTIS.
There is so much to write about, and
so little time to do it, that | scarcely
know where to start. As you will no.
tice by the heading of this letter, we
are stationed in the Palace, in the
walled city of Manila. This is the
headquarters of Major General Otis and
the American government on these
islands.
Our battery is doing the guard over
the Palace and the treasury building,
and part of the guard at what is known
rs Fort Santiago, on the Pasig river
We are not altogether moved in here
yet, as the Second Oregon Volunteers
whom we relieve, just moved out today
Besides our guard five privates and a
sergeant were detailed to sleep here
tonight. That is why | have chance
to write. Since coming here, nearly a
month ago, we had to sleep on the
ground and could not get an opportunity
to write.
Our detail tonight is composed of
Sergeant Silas d. Emory, Va; Privates
Robert Shields, Wilkcsbarre; Charles
Hosford, Massachusetts,; Jesse Booth,
Forty Fort; James McCabe, Wilkes
barre, and John Conaghan, Freeland.
SOLDIERS ANXIOUS TO FIGHT
In few days the whole battery will
be here and | think we will like our
new quarters better than those we had
at Luneta. We are about four miles
from the firing line. They have u little
scrap out there every day and our boys
were anxious to get out Guarding the
Palace and treasury building is not the
soft snap one might think, as the city
is full of Filipinos and it is question
when they may take the notion to break
loose.
From what have seen of the country
| believe | will like it first rate. | be-
ieve If man takes the proper care of
himself it is as healthy as any other
part. One must be careful, however. of
his diet, and it is my opinion that the
government might improve the privates'
'"''"h9 " ilpIt SdlbdDlb
for tropical climate. Soldiers in
Manila ought not be fed with the same
class of food as those in Alaska. Fat
pork, beef and meat soups are not what
men should get in this country,
ALWAYS ON THE MOVE.
While at Luneta we had to contend
with another evil. Our camp was con-
tinnally on the move 1t was put up
tents and take down tents and move all
the time. In fact If fellow strolled
away from camp for few hours he was
liable to find the place deserted when he
returned. That is why l have not
yet looked up the other Freeland boys
who are trying to keep the flag waving
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