New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-20


given was that the sights caught and tore their
clothing If a soldier in the United States Army
were to do this to the sight Of his rifle the
damage would be discovered at inspection, at
guard mount retreat or at regular inspection in
a very few hours and the soldier would have to
get a sight put on at once. The officers of
the Filipino army appear to make no attempt
at regular inspections. and rifles are always
dusty, rusty and in general bad order, so that
when it comes to using them they sometimes
fail or burst l once saw rife burst in the
hands OF a. native soldier and three men were
injured. This was due to using black powder
for about one hundred rounds. and then putting
in smokeless powder cartridge. The sudden
ness with which the ball Of the latter cleared
out the residue Of the former what caused
the barrel of the rifle to burst The members
of the native army ought to have setting up
exercises every morning for year, and they
should drill twice day in the manual and in
extended order movements before they can hope
to do anything serious to a modern army. All
they can do now is to create disturbance by at
lacking their kind and burning the barrios
for the sake of the money and provisions OBJ
tanned.
The native officers do not go to the trouble Of
inspecting quarters and much illness results.
The insurgent army has no means Of transport
ing rations and the officers depend entirely
upon procuring food en- route from residents Of
towns and barros while the men live on the
country The clothes of the soldiers cannot be
called a uniform, for the reason that when re-
cruits are obtained they join the ranks in pre-
cisely the same outfit worn by them while work
ing in the fields. The officers Of the native
army however are chiefly from the rich families
OF the islands, and these provided with their
own horses, servants, etc, and all wear white
clothes bearing all of the devices of their rank.
FOR. GLORY ONLY.
The Filipino soldier seldom receives more than
kicks and cuffs for his services for his country.
The officers are as just stated, generally well
to do and do not require any salary from Agui-
naldo, but the poor privates must take what
they get. There are non-commssioned off,
in the native service whose business it is
TO keep tally of names and estimate at the end
of each month the regular pay account due
each man. and the man is allowed to look at
the muster rolls and payrolls and see his name
down for certain amount of wages, and that
is about all there is to it If 81 Mexican money
is due for the month. he may receive one of the
dollars. and he may receive nothing. according
to circumstances. Ragged, dirty hungry and
tired are these Filipino rebels, and they are a
good example of how bad army can be if the
officers neglect the men and If the country fails
to or cannot pay provide for its fighting
forces
The independent native forces Of guerillas,
many of whom mounted, form organizations
Of renegades usually under the command of a
brigand chief. and have caused considerable
bother to the United States forces in the Philip
pines. These bands roam about with the intent
to destroy, rob and burn. They not deserv-
ing the name of insurgents and when caught
are either shot or sent to prison for life. They
have been known to burn whole towns for spite
against one man. They will surround an I'M
garrsoned town at night and close in on it and
kill all who retard them. Then they proceed to
rob, taking all provisions, horses. carabao
money and movable property. Sometimes run
ners get word to American forces and then the
latter in turn surround the place and close in
on the guerillas. fight ensues and usually
from ten to twenty bandits are killed forty or
fifty wounded, and perhaps our side a dozen
men will be killed or boloed. The peaceful peo-
pie Of the islands against these robber
bands, and the true insurgent soldier despises
them for the reason that many of the depreda-
tons of the guerillas blamed upon the in
Surgent forces.
LIEUTENANT OF VOLUNTEERS,
Philippine Islands.