Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1899-06-09

more Of them.
We were then ordered to proceed I,
the mouth of the river and go into camp
For an hour and half in single fill,
we followed a trail running along tn,
river bank, when we arrived at the
camp ground, and a desolate spot it was
The grass was waist high, the grounC
inclined to be swampy. We had t,
make the best of it, with not even
shade tree for protection. We stayed in
that camp two days and three nights
and during that time we cleared out the
obstructions in the river that the enemy
had placed therein to prevent our lake
gun boats from entering. The n. Da-
kotas and Idahos had crossed the river
and gone below and captured two more
| towns
This finished the work laid out for us
to do, so as quickly as possible we were
all hurried on board the cascoes prepar-
atory to returning to our quarters in
Malate for a rest and to recuperate.
In all the five places we captured there
was no looting done by our men, nor any
firing of buildings. We also posted up
ia conspicuous places copies of the COM
missioner's proclamation printed in
Spanish and Tagalog languagns. Hence
the nickname "Bill Posters" We killed
what meat we needed. While at the
mouth of the river we were twentv-four
hours without bit of hardtack or bacon
and when we got it we sat down and eat
the bacon raw with the hardtack. We
were also short on coffee.
After boarding the cascoes we started
for "home" arriving there the next day
after ten days field campaign. Our
personal appearance was not very neat
as we marched through the streets of
Malate, but we soon had our bath. shave
and clothes changed, supper and then
we were as good as new. We stayed two
days and nights in our quarters, when
we were ordered to take our old places
in the trenches which we now occupy.
We have no idea what our next move
will be or where. do not know how
the boys on the north line are, or how
they have Jared since February 3, Us ]
not seen any Of them or heard from
them.
The above is all the raw, pure facts
concerning the Lawton's flying trip
across Lake Laquna dc Bay. 1t was
written under very great disadvantages.
| think that the Volunteer Regulars"
will be discharged some time in the
month of May--probably about the
10th. There are sixty-six in my COM
pany who will take theirs. This will
give you an idea OF how the boys feel
about returning, shall take the first
boat thereafter and travel directly to
my native land and let China and japan
go TO the other place, for l have had a
complete fill up of the Orient and have
no desire TO linger longer. have been
in several foreign countries but find
that there is no country equal TO the
United States of America for thorough
American. The manners, customs and
food is 30 different in foreign lands,
coupled with the constant feeling that
you are an alien-these combined make
one long for his native land.
| think the insurgents will keep up
guerrilla warfare for many months, and
will cost the United States untold
trouble, expense and loss of life. IL is
impossible 10 get on all sides Of them at
once. They fire a few shots, then run
away, and as 10 pursuing them it would
be too much like the "snail and the
fox" There are no railroads or other
conveniences for transporting supplies
and necessary equipage for any extern
siye inland campaign. The rainy sea
SON is about upon us and before long the
roads, what few there are, will be inn
passable. The thunder storms in trop-
ical countries are holy tcrrors | assure
you.
The insurgents are not capabale OF
governing a dog. They are ignorant
bigoted, approximations to an alarming
degree, arrant towards withal. The
United States have an elephant on its
hands, and it will be long time before
the revenue of the country will balance
the expense Of holding il. think,
however, that there is a prosperous
future for these islands, rs their natural
recources are great and varied. Itwm
take a large amount OF capital and
American push 10 iullp develop them
Almost anything will grow here, as the
soil is very rich and productive. The
country around Santa Cruz near the
lake is the finest and most beautiful l
ever saw in any country. Immense
groves Of the cOcOa-nut palm, tall and
stately, adorn the bases Of the noun
tains. Unlimited territory for corn or
cattle raising lies in this section. But il
would be long time before market for
consuming these products could be de-
veloped Sugar, hemp, rice and tobacco
are the principal present productions,
The latter is produced in fine quality,
but is mostly manufactured into cigars
and eigaretts for domestic and foreign
use.
l have been collecting curios ever
since | arrived TAT Cayite. | had a
splendid lot OF rare shells, As we'll az