Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-13
ECHOES OF THE WAR.

The town Of Angeles, frequently men
toned in dispatches from the Philippines, IN
said to be a much more attractive town.
though not as large as Manila. A private
soldier, writing to the Washington Post
from Angeles, where American troops have
been stationed since August 16, reports that
the troops found there abundant evidence
Of an intelligent we'll governed city The
houses" he says, ''are large and Commod-
ious, a number OF them built Of stone, brick
and frame, while these built Of bamboo are
OF different design than In other places.
There is a magnificent church built OF stone
and finished in mahogany and the furnish
ings OF the altar will compare favorably
with the finest churches in the states There
are no pews in any Of the churches | have
seen in the interior. | should say between
1900 and 1000 could worship in this church
without crowding. We also found schools
equipped with seats and desks similar to
those used few years ago in the states.
There are police station and cells, It
justice court room; there are a we'll built
jail and pillory. They have printed forms
for the payment OF taxes and other pro-
vincial debts; they have been using the stub
book for several years in their tax depart
ment, similar to that introduced in the
collector OF taxes office in Washington. In
the professions there are doctors, lawyers,
dentists and druggists. There are furni-
ture factory blacksmith and wheelwright
shops, and every evidence OF thrift and
prosperity"
According to this observing soldier, the
country as whole Is not to be judged by
Manila and its suburbs. He says while
Manila is spoken of as "the chief city Of
Luzon and the seat OF learning wealth and
culture, the farther north you go from Ma
Mia the appearance Of the country and
habitations of the people show marked
improvement. The land seems to be better
cultivated and the homes are far better
built, making a neater appearance than
those near Manila"
Tho letter concludes with this comment
on the material side of the Philippine uues-
ton; The benefits to be derived by the
United States in conquering this island seem
small in comparison to the deaths and hard
ships endured by the troops There are no
tracts OF land to be taken up; there is no
opening for the laborer or mechanic. Every
available acre of ground is titled and in
buildings suitable for this climate the native
Is far superior, for nothing seems impossible
to him with bolo and bamboo. OF course
the moneyed man has great prospects before
him in investments, but for the Drawn and
muscle of Americas sons that are enduring
the torrid sun and marching through vapors
of malaria and typhoid fever the bright
vision ever before them is to have their en-
listment of three years end, and II their
lives are spared to once more set foot on
the soil OF their fathers and build UP shat
tered and broken down constitutions and
obliterate entirely from their minds a place
called the Philippine islands,"
Dispatches from Washington indicate that
General Samuel S. Sumner, Of Santiago fame.
will be assigned as military attache to the
British forces operating against the Beers In
South Africa. He is now attached to the
American embassy at London. General Sum
ner served with distinction in the war OF
the rebellion and in the war with Spain COM
manded division under General Shafter. 1t
was General Sumner who was in command
of the cavalry division at the storming OF
San Juan hill, General Wheeler turning over
| the command to Sumner when he could nc
longer follow the advancing columns on ac-
count OF sickness General Sumner has the
| ability and the necessary experience in the
field during state of hostilities to make an
intelligent observer and competent reporter
| of active operations in the Transvaal and
elsewhere.