The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-09-06
Facts About Philippines.
An Army Officers State.
melC.

high for ability as we'll as accuracy aud
fairness of judgment, uoder date of
July %, has forwarded letter by an
American army officer Of high rank"
which was placed in his hands for the
purpose of publication in the United
States. The letter, signed "Loyal
Legion" is ss follows:
"Baruum oace said: There is moth
ing the American people enjoy SO much
as being humbugged,' and it is certainly
true. The reports and statements
about the situation in the Phillppi es
which We read in papers from the
United States cause as to doubt the
evidence of our senses. We have been
here since last summer. We went
through the almost bloodless campaign
against Manila-w;th our allies at our
backs-and the triumphal entry into
the city, and few months later had
the pleasure Of fighting over the same
road, this time driving our allies out of
the city and its defenses.
s'TheD, since March 25, we have
been fighting pretty steadily, fighting
at oue place or another most Of the
time. our force probably averaging
about 25. 10000 men, or 10000 effect
ives and what has besn the result that
We know Of up to this time?
eve have lost by wounds and death
fully a thousand men, aud including
the sick, have some 1000 in hospitals
We have always, or almost always,
been able to drive the Filipino troops
on. of the towns or works We have
attacked but, as We have of late
mcnths pushed out TO some distance
from our lines to make suchattacks, re
have had to fail back each time to our
OVID lines tbs because our forces are
too weak to hold advance points and to
guard our base-Manila.
s.Ie effect we have advanced our
lines against stubborn foe, AID in the
face Of great difficulties, about 80 miles.
All that men could do with such an
inferior force, and in the face of sropi-
cal seasons, has been doae. Now We
are at about the end Of our tesher
To conquer these islands will take at
least Is, 600 men. So far, their losses
have probably been lcss than ours.
We koow what our losses are 10
fight, and we get pretty good idea OF
the eoemy's, as we usually remain for
the time being in possession of the
field. The reports published in Amer
ica underestimate our losses and vastly
overestims.e the enemy's. We have
always had to attack them in chosen
aud fortified position The odds are
all against US.
,Again, the enemy can supply their
losses at once. With their armed
troops they always have half as many
AGAIN who accompany them to relieve
their troops Of labor; aod whenever
a man falls, one of these bolo Sword
or large knife) men takes his place,
These natives can march all day 10 the
heat of a tropical sun, with handful
OF rice in their kuapsack for food and
sleep ou the ground in these terrible
rslus without the slightest injury. The
Tagal tribe alone plumbers about 4OO,-
900 people They have been fighting
for the greater part of 800 years, of
aud on. That indicates what kind of
people they are Yet the world is led
to believe that We can easily subjugste
those islands Cat present We have only
a very small part Of one of them) With
an army corps. or about 80. 900 men
Every officer Of experience With
whom have talked has placed the
number Of troops needed at between
$4,000 aud 100000 men. Thirty
thousand men will have to be rein
forced by many more thousands ii they
are lef, to perform this great task. In
the meantime We will lose thousands
every year by disease-meu who will
break down, if they don's die, or bave
to be sent away.
"Ancther point How are these
troops to be relieved by others? The
medical authorities ali state that white
troops cannot remain in this climate
more than two years at farthest; aud
now the whole of the United States
army is abroad except half dozen
regiments.
There is one more point to be con-
sidered. Now that We have burst our
bounds and gone iu for conquest Of
foreign territory, We must be prepared
to bold what ne have taken agaias; sDy
foreign foe. For this ve mus: have
large regular army. 1t must be a
traioed, disciplined force. always
available. There is 90 other possible
solution OF this difficult problem. If
ws should no. doom our little regular
army to destruction; and court dishonor,
We must face this matter boldly and