The San Francisco call., 1899-08-24

Lutte of courtesy. He sent out a mes
senger 10 apologize for not returning
the courtesy, and then he knew that
the United States had come to seize the
island. The seizure was bloodless. and
two days after the Peking and her es-
cort continued their journey.
The island OF Luzon was sighted at
10 o'clock in the morning on June IS,
and at 8 o'clock in the afternoon the
United States cruiser Baltimore joined
the fleet. She had been out seven days
patroling the ocean and watching for
The long g-eXpected transport ship. on
June 80 at o'clock in the afternoon the
Peking entered the harbor of Manila
and cast anchor off Cavite The long
journey was over. The battle fields of
the Philippines We're before the Califor-
mans. On Saturday. July > the troops
were landed and were assigned to duty
in the Cavite barracks
The Americans We're preparing for the
fall Of Manila. on July "a the active
work Of war began. Three companies
of the First Battalion We're sent to per
form outpost duty on the Pasay road
Affairs We're becoming critical The
strain was day by day becoming
greater. on all sides it could be seen
that he clash Of opposing armies must
soon come and on the night of July 81
the summons came. 1t was the last
earthly call to some of the volunteers
and it was one that none will forget.
Within a very few minutes the sol
diers Of the First California were on the
march. At l o'clock in the morning
they were within the zone Of fire Along
the Pasay road they went the rain
pouring in torrents, the wind bowling
dismally through the trees and swamps
and the shot and shell Of the Spaniards
making devilish music in their ears
How the Californians conducted them
selves that terrible night is told in de-
tail elsewhere.
After that night the Californians saw
active, desperate service. Two days
they were on duty at the intrenchments
and on August the entire regiment
was sent 20 the front on August 13
came the attack on Manila, which the
Spaniards still held in stubborn posses
sion At 9 o'clock on that day the First
Regiment left camp to become the re-
serve. The Californians advanced rap
idly, the First and Second Battalions
moving directly to the front in line of
skirmishers and Il. Third Battalion in
column. The other battalions. in bat
tie formation, were f1oundering through
paddy fields, the men at times being
nearly waist deep in water. On reach
ing the intrer .hments it was found that
some Of he Colorado troops had ad-
vanced and were we'll on the way to the
Spanish line
Colonel Smith Immediately moved the
regiment by flank to the beach and then
directly to the front. Before reaching
the Spanish battery on the beach the
CaIfornians were forced to ford a
swiftly running stream. This was done
under heavy fire from the Spaniards,
whose aim fortunately was very poor.
The First Regiment was now within
the outer line Of the Spanish works.
The advance had been 50 rapid that all
the American troops of the support and
firing lines had been left behind. but
still the Californians moved on toward
the city. The onward march was now
impetuous and the column was not
halted until il was at the very wall
of the old city. Throughout the march
the Californians We're subjected to the
concentrated fire Of the Spanlards.
The First Regiment was marched
across the Hanging Bridge" into the
city and won the distinction Of being
the first to enter. The boys from Cali
fornia We're there fully an hour before
any of the other American troops. This
fact was disputed, but it was officially
published as a fact and so stands in
the records. That night Californians
stood guard at the gates Of Old Manila.
In a strange land they had won strange
honors and had proved themselves
worthy Of the great State they repre-
scented.
For months after the capitulation of
Manila the boys from California en-
loved a respite. They were housed and
fed well, had opportunities for amuse-
nent and recreation and were free from
swamp camps. They had perhaps the
hest quarters for the American troops
and they were thankful for the conces-
sions given. At this time all Of the
were together. The First
Regiment and Batteries A and d OF
the Heavy Artillery were comrades,
hut It was not to be so for the whole
~ the Philippine campaign. The War
was to send the First Reg
ment in one direction and the batteries
In another and the two were not again
TO meet until they did SO on the ship