The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-09-29
OUR NEW ISLANDS.
Sergt. Laufman Talks OF the
Philippines.
Thinks That With a New General ant
More Troops the Rebels Will
be Conquered.

Sergeant Laufman, late of the Eigh-
teenth U. S. infantry, entertained the
members of Wilkin Post and number
of visitors Wednesday with recital of
his experiences in the Philippines, and
gave his expressions of those islands.
1t was his first public address, but he
proved to be a fluent, easy talker, and
he held the closest attention of all. He
was introduced by w. N. Plymat, who
presided.
Mr.. Laufman explained that his en-
listment was aEjoke, as he and Others
had enrolled themselves as second re-
serve without thinking that there
would be war or that they would even
be called on to enlist. They became in
terested, however, and when the war
broke out enlisted in the Third infan
try at Fort Smelling. The regiment
got sidetracked at Fort Mcpherson, Ga,
and those who wanted to see active SER
vice were given an opportunity to trans
fer to the Eighteenth, and he with
others did so,
Mr.. Laufmans spoke in the highest
terms of Hawaiin Islands, saying
that they'. are undoubtedly the most
perfect spot that the sun shines upon.
He was there two months and saw the
raising of Old Glory. There was not
breath of air stirring, and when the
Hawaiian flag was hauled down many of
the natives shed tears. The American
flag was slowly hauled up, hanging per-
fectly limp. When it reached the very
top of the flag staff breath of air
caught it and blew it out straight, and
the natives all took this to be good
omen.
Sergeant Laufman described the ma
tives of Luzon as barbarous race He
said that the Spanish held very little.
more than a few cities, the country
being held by the natives. He did not
speak in complimentary terms of Gen.
Otis, saying that he spread his men out
so much, trying to hold so much terri
tory, that none were left to make ad-
vances. He thought that with the in
creased forces being sent and new
general the natives will be crushed dur.
ing the next dry season. Mr.. Laufman
said that he believed in expansion to a
certain extent, but did not think that
the United States wants the Philippine
Islands, although it has nothing to do
now but to conquer the rebels and after
wards dispose of the islands. He said
that the climate is such that white
man cannot live there. There are
strange diseases unknown to any doc
tors, and when he left, 5000 of the
troops were in the hospitals, only one
fifth of these being wounded men.
There are no mineral resources worth
mentioning and the distance is too far
to make the islands valuable for their
wood.
Of the 1900 islands, only so or 60 are
valuable, and many of the others have
never been visited by white men. The
Viscayan group is populated with a
superior class of natives, larger, lighter
colored and more advanced than those
on Luzon. Thesultan of Mindanoa has
100, 900 we'll armed men, and if he turns
against the United States we will have
hard time to subdue him. The ma
tive population of the islands is Malay.
with 100, 900 Chinese, who are mostly
merchants, and sprinkling of Europe
ans. Wages are so small that the is.
lands are no place for poor men. Ma
tives will work for SO to $3.50 month.
Nature raises them enough to eat, and
all they need to buy is clothing. The
rebels cannot run short of rations, as
the island is filled with fruits, etc that
support the natives. Arms are SNUG
gled in to the rebels. The island of
Negros is inhabited by people who re
semble our negros, and who are well
disposed toward the United States, ex-
cept for few bands of robbers.
Mr.. Laufman was stationed at Cavite
for some time, and afterwards at Iloilo,
on the island of Panay. He explained
how he and others got so many relics.
He said that when the city of Jaro, hav-
ing population of 9, 900, was captured
all of the inhabitants went away leaving
much property behind which they had
tried to burn, The commanding officer
of the troops gave them ninety days in
which to return and take their proper.
ty, but they did not do so. The troops
then helped themselves rather than see
the goods rust away or become moth
eaten. Mr. Laufman was in the de-
tachment placed over Gen. La Paz's
headquarters.
Sergt. .Laufman stated that it was a
mistake to try to hold several of the is
lands, as all of the troops should have
been used to conquer Luzon, the rulers
in the other islands having agreed to
stand or fall with Aguinaldo. He paid