The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-20

0ONC@4AASAI ". -. VldH O1NG.
In all probability Major Richard w.
Young, the organizer ard leader of the
Utah batteries, will not return to the
army service in the Philippines. This
announcement was made by the major
last evening TO The Herald, in reply to
a question as to his intentions of re-
turning to the Orient. Every citizen
in Utan viii join in the hope that the
worthy officer Will remain in his native
state.
L was appointed associate justice of
the supreme court of the Philippine
Islands while in command of the bat
talon OF Utah artillery a few weeks
ago said Major Young last evening.
Inc court not being fully organized
at that time, General Otis declined to
permit me to accompany the batteries
on their homeward journey, but con-
scented to my return home after the
court was organized. y couple of weeks
after the batteries left Manila L was
permitted to make the homeward trip.
did not in any way seek the ap-
polntment to the judiciary, nor do 1
wish TO make the Philippines my home.
II Is my pleasure to resign, but ! con-
GUIDED to accept General Otis option
10 return on leave of absence and then
decide whether TO remain here or to re-
turn. l feel that my future is identified
with Utah, and l desire that il should
be- However, should 1 go back to the
philippines, it will be to stay not eX-
ceedlng a year, and l would then re-
turn mere to resume my law practice
Really, L am in great doubt about go
ing back TO Manila, and the probable
tiles are shall remain here, now that
l am home"
His Estimates of the Batteries.
Asked to state his opinion of the
Utah batteries, 4 and 3, Major Young
said: TINE people of Utah can rest as
sured that no organization in the Phil
lpplne Islands, regular or volunteer, has
won greater honor or been regarded as
more efficient than the Utah light ar
ullery. Very many people were con-
stantly assuring us that we were the
best volunteer organization on the
islands. From my own experience as
chief of artillery of dhe Second division,
and from the testimony of competent
regular officers, l am able to assure our
citizens that the Utah batteries are
up to the highest standard of excel
lence- We are, perhaps, the best known
organization in all the volunteers, on
account of having served with nearly
every one in turn.
The two Utah batteries and part of
Captain Dyer's battery of the Sixth ar
tillery constituted the divisional artil-
lery of General MacArthGr's division,
operating north of the Pasig river, ana
We, the Utah batteries. handled as
high as thirty different pieces of ord
nance at one time-our own guns, some
Nordenfelts captured from the Span
ish, mortars, Hotchkiss revolving can
non and Hotchkiss mountain cannon,
gatling guns, sea field pieces, navy six
FOUNDERS, etc.
Praised By Macarthur.
General Macarthur. who is a mag
nificent soldier, was always enthusiast !
tic over our work.
Major Grant was commander of sew |
eral gunboats during nearly the entire |
period of the campaign, having with /
him a few Of the members of batteries I
y and 3 as gunnerS and his battery |
being commanded in the field by Lieu |
tenant Critchlow, now Captain Critch- !
low. Lieutenant Webb was under Cap |
tain Grant. and their services We're |
most distinguished. Major Grant was 4
a most conspicuous and highly regard |
ed officer in the Philippines, and his /
departure created a vacancy that was |
impossible to fill.
1t is a unique distinction for the |
Utah batteries 10 have won laurels on 4
both land and sea.
Keynotes of Success.
IF 1 were asked what l attributed
the success OF the Utah batteries TO, |
would say that it was due to the su-
peIioT average intelligence of the men
and the fact that their training in min
ing camps, on farms, in stores and
shops and with livestock had qualified
them for the character of work that
had TO be performed. The ability and /,
popularity Of the line officers formed T!
no small part in the aggregate.
Il notice that battery y is credited /
with having participated in seventy
battles and engagements and battery 3 |
in only twenty-nine. This is mistake /
Practically the number of battles and /
engagements fought was about equally
divided between the two batteries.
Some Mooted Questions.
Gould the war with the Filipinos /
have been avoided? l am unable TO /
answer that. Whether or not some Of /
our consuls in Asia and Admiral /
Dewey" said Major Young, held out /
hopes to Aguinaldo of independence TO /
his people, as the insurgeut leaders /
adherents claim, is a much mooted /
question
In my own judgment" continued the /
major. the only moment since the bat
tie of May l, 1898. when the United |
States could have WITHDRAWN from the /
islands was Immediately after Deweys |
victory. and before General Merrltts /
expedition landed. The necessity of |
substituting our own authority for that /
of Spain was imperative after we had |
destroyed SPANS power, and it would /
have been imprudent to have left the
islands and the vast foreign property
interests there to the tender mercies Of
the Filipinos.
War Was Inevitable.
Neither the administration at Wash
ington nor General Otis desired war.
of the Philippine forces upon our troops
at Enthusiastically a state of siege,
with frequent insults to what they re-
garded as the cowardly Americans. AT
last the inevitable collision occurred.
MY own judgment is that the war
must be fought to finish; that is, the
rebel forces must be conquered and
their leaders compelled to accept such
government as the United States may
see fit to give to the islands. This
should be a government in which the
largest possible measure of indepen-
dence is given them.
Questions to Settle Yet.
There are many highly educated
gentlemen among the FilipinoS who
might be entrusted in various branches
of the civil service. At present the
supreme court. of which l am a MEM
Der, is composed of five FiIipinos and
three Americans the former. being In w