New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-15
Outpost DUTY IN THE RAIN.
AMERICAN SOLDIERS MAKING THE bh'l
OF TRYING CONDITIONS
San Fernando. IuzOn'
philippine Islands. August o

pbuippine Islands August o
And the next day 1t rained nus M w. 80
account Of present happenings In theSe , 4,
ended Tropical rains have their own 80
has often been described. but an aruc'e ''"'
been prepared during such doWnpourS Us ,,,
como unon us within the last month can ohy W."
care avoid telling that on one occasion nearly lon'
feet of water fell in seventy-four nouIs' -
verted into snow, would have peeh p"'''u "
fifty feet thereof ,, 1901, ,o-
,~r,ad only with the greatest difficulty. Men ana
officers wadod and stood in water oftentmes waist
deem shoes were worn only as pr"'e0,'o''
against thorns and lceches. Ponchos ana 'n"' mn
toshes were useful only when worn uhueI 'i'7 '''
nroyised shelters at the posts Of the man Buu'u VI
supports Men stood on post clad IN 'le
clothes possible. so that the reserve s'ocA % e"'
roents would last the longer. 1t was nearly Hhpos-
slble 10 dry clothing, even IN quarters mus '''
troops were situated for one entire week "''"9
shoes. belts gunsngs and all other arl''eS VI
leather midewed IN the moisture iaaen ar III ~"
hours. That rations and stored 'io'''"e
seriously Is equally true.
Men on guard were supplied with food by small
attachments wadine out to them. carrying Tatoh7
in camp kettles or native earthen"are oo"'S' O"'
coronanv cook remarked: II It would only rain
little salt and pepper we would heeu Only I" I.,
things on the fire dry: the rain would do the rest
Oascers visited sentnels posts in dugout canoes
noled laboriouslv over and through canehelds' OF
along paths in the bamboo thickets. Many canoe
upsettins tipped rs load Of cheerful Iaushns
men into the muddy water. All the while the men
dreaded a bit that the insurgents would MAKE e0"u
their oft repeated threat that they would ATTACK
the Americans when the rainy season came ana
show the superiority Of native troops when ihe
going got heavy on two occasions they did, IN
deed open brisk FIRE the outpost but Amer
leans are fair mud horses" and quickly rem
forced the line But the sick list is growing grow
ing Not alarmingy, but steadily ChInauc 'onui-
lions are mainly responsible for this CROWN Dut
the men stare that knowledge squarely IN the race
with never glare Of dread in their eyes TneY
realize that it must be So and 20 with duty 10
be performed uncomplainingly and cheerfully Most
Of the sickness is form OF malarial fever que 10
local conditions and 10 the continual state OF wei
ground and water soaked clothing
PROVISIONS FOR THE SICK.
There are always cases Of diarrhpal troubles
These however. Weld readily TO dry sleeping ar
rsneements and careful diet An excellent pro-
vision for supplying articles Of food suitable 10
such Illness is the setting apart from the PUBIC
civil funds Of the country OF small amount lot
each man even while only sick In quarters
Rog,nental surgeons receive 10 cents day for
each sick man With this may be bought matted
milk canned soups similar additions to me
rations \ further provision to promote heai'h Is
filter supplied by the Quartermaster's Depart
ment 20 every company or detachment. here III
San Fernando artesan water, carefully bolle0 ana
filtered through such excellent machines guaren-
tees purity IN that essential supply.
The troops are quartered in native houses Many
are Of stone exceently constructed. and nearly All
sleeping rooms are raised well above the ground.
All the posts Of the main guard are supplied win
cots Of bamboo. made by the native workmen. one
contract alone called for one thousand. 10 he sup
piled m FIVE days 1t was busy community whlle
mat contract was being filed. Everywhere were 10
he secn he half clad workmon laborng with print,
tive chisols and even more primitive saws anu
''holos"-in America bolo would be called an eN,
agcerated butcher knife. They began cary ana
worked worked In the rain or worked IN the
hroiling sun that at intervals STRAINED down
through the broken rain clouds, ate where they
worked and slept where they ate Iheir women
carried great bamboo poles from the ihicket 10 the
roadside: brought frcpots ana kettles Of earlhen-
ware from their miserable hu,s. ana cooked git't
bowls 81 rice with handfuls OF tiny mnnows caught
in the nearby stream by the small fry or the tamN
or a cot completed, Mrs Macatebe lifted the cot
and balancing II on her head tucked up her scanty
skirts and spashed down the muddy street 10 the
quartermasters etoreyard; and the contractor. not
inc workman. was credited with 30 cents. one cot
was A DAYS WORK for whole family, and Il IS 70
be supposed that the contractor made bit out or
the transaction.