The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-24
WAVED At SANTIAGO
sMOKE-sOILED GOLD GLoRYn SOU
VENIR OF A ST. PAUL
BANQUET
COL. PHILIP READE,s STORY

Vivid Description of the Land Bat
ties at and Near Santiago Given
to a Large Audience at the First
Presbyterian Church Last Even
ing-Brave Bearing of Third In
fantry Under Fire.
Col. Philip Reade, u s. A, for four
years captain in the old Third regi-
ment under Col. Page, interested large
audience at the First Presbyterian
church, Lincoln avenue and Grotto
street, last night with a reminiscent
talk on the land battles at Santiago. The
lecture dealt with the closing period OF
the Cuban campaign and the stirring
incidents of San Juan. Las Guasimas and
other historic battles furnished subject
matter for a wide range Of discussion.
Col. Reade's manner before an audience
is such that 1t Is impossible to forget
that he is a soldier, and his remarks
were characterized by terseness, at once
graphic and sketchy.
The account of the campaign began
with the departure Of the Third from
this city and followed their course to
Mobile, by transport to Siboney, and
then, through a series Of hardships into
the field before Santiago, with San
Juan and other battles by the way.
Much Of his talk was of a narrative ma
ture and interviewer with the narrative
was goodly store Of anecdotes Of camp
and field. Col Reade paid wholesome
tribute to the volunteer troops, though,
as a. regular, he dWelt much on the
achievements of the regular service.
In the battles before Santiago" said
Col. Reade, 'the United States army
well proved its right Of existence. Facing
bronzed, acclimated and accustomed to
the topography Of the country, our
forces Of half that number Won fight
after fight and carried the, stars and
stripes to the fagstaffs of wnat were
then considered by the enemy. .mpregna-
bic fortresses. Place an Anglo-SaXon
in danger and he at once develops cool
ness, nerve and resource. This ac-
counted for the bravery Of the untried
volunteers and the steadfast courage Of
the regulars. If no other battle stood
out as proof, San Juan alone would suf-
fee"
Not the least interesting part Of the
lecture was q description Of the different
sounds by which the troops were able to
recognize the kind and caliber of the
enemys projectiles. The ping" Of the
Mauser and the steady ''buzz" Of the
rapid-fring guns were well illustrated.
Col. Reade affirmed that the fear which
is supposed to attack troops in going into
battle is myth. He mentioned instances
Of hn No Nhn1n Of IIr1fn Ira
and repeated the remark Of the Irish
sergeant Of the Third when a bullet
struck the pipe from his mouth:
Them Dagoes got our range for
sure
An incident Of great interest to many
III the audience was rectted by Col.
Reade, as he drew from his pocket a
small black rubber cylinder.
In the spring of 1885," said he, ST at
tended a banquet in st. Paul given by
the Sons Of the American Revolution.
Maj. Rukard Hurd presided, and at the
board were a number Of regular army
men. The evening was delightfully."- spent,
and as we sat around the tables Maj.
Hurd presented each-of us in turn with a
small silk flag, encased in q carrying
case.
after the pandemonium of that
charge up San Juan hill into the very
rifle pits Of an unseen enemy, the smoke
cleared away and standing with others,
I unfurled this little flag and waved It
above the heads of begrimed group Of
officers and men, and the cheers which
greeted 1t are one of the pleasantest
memories Of the campaign. On many
other battle fields this same flag waved
and brought cheer to many a brave
heart. It Is my most treasured posses
sion."