The National tribune., 1900-08-16
A VOLUNTEER IN PANAY.
Attacking the Insurgent Line at Balantang.
By GEORGE D. RICE, First Lieutenant, 10th Inf u S. v.

ever seen. The blue shirts of the men
could be readily distinguished in the light
Of the opening day, and just as full day
light broke in we arrived at the position
almost in front of the trenches OF the en-
emy 1t was while here that Lieut.. Smith,
of the Regulars, was shot and killed; also
one Sergeant and some of the men. Dur
ing our advance the Americans had in op-
GRAFTON some rapid-fire guns posted on the
towers of an old sugar mill about mile
in our rear, and the shot from these guns
did great execution among the enemy.
The enemy also had cannon, but they did
little else than plough up the ground with
their projectiles. For about one and
three-quarters hours there We're probably
in action. counting both sides, nearly 5000
rifles and several pieces of cannon. The
firing was constant, and when it stopped
the battle was over and the Insurgents
had taken to the hills.
The column of our soldiers which had
gone Up into the interior after the Insur-
gents struck them in force near Leon, and
almost at the same time of the battle of
Balantang. As at Balantang, the native
army was routed. Two defeats in one
day We're too much for the aspiring Fill
pinos, and since those battles the Philip
pine army of the Isle de Panay has exist
ed only in the form of rowing bands of
gucrrillas. Consequently, this battle of
baldnldnS, alIllOuSu uol Holcu loF us liSt
of killed and wounded, was far-reaching
in its effect, and will go down in history
as one of the most effective battles fought
in the Philippine campaign.
SOME OTHER KIND OF WORK NOW.
But fighting regiments of the Philip
pine forces have 4 variety of work to per-
form, and the mere fact that one or more
regiments have cleaned out the enemy in
their districts does not mean that their
work is done and that they may rest.
There are hundreds of bands of bandits
and gucrrillas roaming about the islands
looting and burning. They also kill and
do much damage to crops, persons and
property Many of these bands are made
up of the worst element of the native
army, and some of them are ofliccrcd by
former officers of the Insurgent army.
AS n rule, however, as soon as the native
army went to pieces, the high classes of
officers and men Immediately re-entercd
civil life and gave up warfare altogether
But some of them desired further revenge,
and the others. prompted with desire
for rowing life, or having no other way
to earn n living, joined some of the gangs
of desperadOeS, and these bands are now
the torment of the American soldier.
The latter has no rest, day or night, Ow-
ing to the presence of these bands in the
sections of country covered by his com
mand. Inc bands do not attack our forces
direct, but they watch out for chances to
catch one or more of our men out alone
and bolo them. They also live by loot
ing towns, and almost nightly some town
is burned, making it necessary for the
garrison of American soldiers in the dis
trict to turn out and advance on the burn
ing town. Then the town is surrounded,
and as the men close in, escaping guer-
rillas are shot down and captugei. The
famous guerrilla leader, Montour, who
was formerly an officer in the native
army, was captured this way and is now
in the hands of the Americans in the fort
at 1loilO.
GUERRILLA-CHASING HARD WORK.
Besides the work of equipping to run
out at all times of the day and night af-
ter guerriliaS IN response to the demands
of Presidents Of towns and barrios who
fear attack, there is much of this sort of
work to be done in the natural course of
events. 1t is known that ;he hills ani
jungle are full of rovin;, bands of dcs-
peradoes. and the sooner these men
are captured or destroyed, the quicker
will permanent peace come to these isl
ands. Therefore all are on the alert for
the capture of reported guerrilla bands.