Omaha daily bee., 1899-07-18
ECHOES or THE WAR.

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The Bee is indebted to Mr.. A. Schlege,
deputy auditor OF customs at San Juan, p.
r., for a copy OF the Fourth OF July edition
OF tho San Juan News, published by S. f.
DeRackin. 1t is a warm number, luminous
with patriotism, colored pictures OF the
flag, the bird OF freedom and pyrotechnics
galore. A notable feature OF the publication
is a glowing peroration on the Declaration
OF independence, followed by the Declara-
ton itself. Recent critics OF that immortal
document should possess themselves OF a
copy OF the News of July 4. They might
gather from it's pages some OF the en-
thusiasm OF new converts and renew al
legiance to the charter of American liberty.
Interviews with soldiers arriving at San
Francisco on the transports Newport and
Ohio show marked unanimity OF opinion
on the question of increasing the army in
Luzon. Without exception they say that at
least 30, 900 additional troops are needed to
bring about peace. Brigadier General Sum
mers said: "Aguinaldo's forces were badly
demoralized when the Oregon regiment
left, Twenty-Five days ago. / am OF the
opinion that peace will have been obtained
before the end OF the next dry season. OF
course, a much larger force is necessary in
order that w may hold the country and
IoWHS evacuated ny JHe TtDelS. L am OF inc
opinion that starvation will cut a large figure
in bringing Aguinaldo's forces to terms. On
account OF the war the rice crop, on which
the natives depend for food, is next to moth
ing this season.
THE general cry when we left Manila"
said he, was that 100, 900 more men were
necessary to bring about peace. There were
no prospects of such result when we left.
The volunteers have wanted to come home
ever since peace was announced. OF thirty
two fights, the Oregon regiment took part
in no fewer than twenty-seven, and we did
not seem to leave much of a lasting impress
sion upon them
Sergeant Major Marshall said 100, 900 more
men were necessary to conquer Luzon
alone.
THE war is not popular among the volun-
teers,'' said he. ''Six weeks in that climate
that country prostrates a soldier. Every
volunteer in Luzon who did not fall into n
soft snap was eager to come home when
peace was arranged. The so-called great
victories have been without lasting results.
When we marched out at one end of a con-
quered town the Filipinos quietly sneaked
in at the other"
Captain Saunders said positively that not
fewer than 100, 900 men must be sent at once
to the Philippines for service at the end
Of the rainy season. Captain Saunders is
commander of the transport Newport and is
thoroughly acquainted with the conditions
in and about Manila.
All the officers and men OF the District of
Columbia regiment that returned from the
Santiago campaign except one man are said
to have applied for pensions. Now it Is
announced that f. L.. Graham and ]. II.
Grifflths, both of whom were officers In this
regiment, have been appointed as officers in
the new volunteer forces being formed for
the Philippines. This presents a perplexing
problem, not only for the doctors who will
make the physical examination of the volun-
teers, but also for the pension seekers and
the people who pay the pensions.
Military law renders Manila safe and
silent at night. A correspondent of Leslie >
Weekly says: Carriages are but little seen
at night. The native driver of a public vehi-
Gle is not allowed out any more than a ma
tive pedestrian would be. Hence. there Is
no carriage to be had, unless you are the
owner or lessee Of a private rig, and even
then you must be either official or sufficiently
near so as to be privileged to pass your driver
by the sentry. Moreover, every time you
are halted in a carriage you must leave the
carriage and advance on foot for inspection
and questioning. Over in the San Nicolas
district, around the port, the ~sentries are
so thick that proceeding in a carriage Is
more tiresome by far than walking. Every
little interval covered necessitates another
halt, explanations. advance, and the same
thing over again, about as fast as you can
enter the carriage and alight. There is no
pleasure in a night ride through the crowded
parts of Manila.
"But the end ~justifes the means. There
are no native uprisings and no possibility of
one. No city in the world is as safe by night
as Manila. Deserted and nearly as still as
the grave it remains, under martial law,
until broad daylight comes around again,
when windows open, shutters come down,
the populace swarms out, and the busy life
Of a great city begins like magic with the
firing of the sunrise gun"