The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-04


Want if possible 1000 rsiions. Can you get all
these troops and ali these rations over so that
can have Them to load promptly on the arrival
Of the train at the vashout? ! will regulate tho
arrival Of the train as nearly as possible TO ar
rive there at the time everything is ready tO
NARTHUR.
EaunI to the Emergency.
By dark on the night of the goth the
railroad was sufficiently repaired to run
cars by hand to the break, and the raft
which had been constructed. and by means
OF which the deep break was to be crossed.
was completed, but to the dismay of all,
1t was found 10 be utterly inadequate,
and would bear but little weight in addi-
tion 10 the men necessary TO work it.
General Wheeler had telegraphed that
he would get the rations over. and he was
determined TO do it, He and Lieutenant
Cramer OF his staff took number OF men
with axes. swan across 10 the north side.
and in little more than two hours had
constructed a pontoon bridge of bamboo
poles which he fastened in position. BY
O'Clock he had organized a force which
before daylight had carried over $4,000 ra-
tions, weighing $4,000 pounds. and piled
them IN on both sides of the track, so
| placed as TO be most easily put on the
cars.
II was a chilly night. and 1t might have
seemed n little inappropriate for a general
officer. sixty three years old. to be work
ing for two hours in water sometimes up
to his neck, experimenting the construc-
tion of a pontoon bridge but il he had not
done so the 1l4,000 pounds Of rations would
not have been carried across the washout
| that night. and, again. the example Of
! push and energy was beneficial After
the bridge was in working order and the
gang of men were fairly at work General
Wheeler had the satisfaction of telegraph
| ing as follows:
Tarlac. o:4j p. M, Nov 20, 1892
Alvord, A. A. g.. Bayambsng:
am sure that will have 10000 rstions over the
vashout tomorrow morning. WHEELER.
Brigsdier General.
The next morning after the last box had
been carried over he telegraphed as fol-
| lows:
Tarlac. $50 a. H., Nov. n, 1899.
Alvord, A. A. G., Bsyambang:
9OcoO full rations and 1000 native raiions are
now across the washout. Colonel Smith with one
| battalion, Seventeenth Infantry, and myself VIII
await General MscArlhuI's arrival at washout.
WHEELER. Bfigsdier General.
During the morning 900 more rations
| arrived from Tsrlac, and these were
promptly conveyed over the break, so that
by 10 O'Clock 2S,7O0 rations, weighing 1885,
| 900 pounds, awaited the arrival of the train
| from Bayambang. ,f
This operation of General Wheeler is
described in considerable detail, because
it is characteristic of his energy in over
| coming obstacles and what seemed 10 9th
ers insurmountable difficulties.
This marked feature of determination in
General Wheele-'s character was again
shown in his bringing the army train for
ward to Capas. He stood by the roadside
with his staff and hour by hour directed
and FASTENED its repair so that the wagon
train could pass over il. To safely cross
trains through the deep river, the Rio
Cutcut which overlooked a wagon body,
was thought impossible, and General Mac
Arthur directed General Wheeler 10 camp
on the bank and wait until the water had
subsidized Nothing daunted, however he
personally directed the unloading OF
wagons and replacing the supplies upon
bamboo cribbing built up in the wagon
bodies until the entire load was thus raised
above the water BY this means the con
tents of nearly 200 wagons were carried
across the stream in three hours.
Again the enemy we're reported as con-
centrating at Gambling. Scouts were or
dered to that vicinity. All returned with
reports that the roads we're impossible.
General Wheeler reached Panique after
dark on November 81. The same orders
we're given TO him. He swan four rivers.
waded through deep boys for miles. and
reached Gambling. the enemy retreating as
he approached in advance Of his scouting
party.
Treatment of the Natives.
There did not seem to be any settled
Eolicy with regard 10 the conduct OF OH
GERS toward natives. Some were very
harsh firing into towns as they approached,
and sometimes wounding or killing men
who were unarmed. Others refrained from
firing at insurgents in a town until the
Filipinos began shooting Some burned
cities as they entered, others destroyed
parts of cities, and still others refused to
harm any property belonging TO Filipinos.
Some used churches as hospitals; others
guarded them with soldiers. Some put lit
tie OF no restraint upon their men, and in
excusable depredations resulted. DINERS
gave all the protection possible, even being
so strict as TO arrest "A soldier for taking a
few eggs from a Filipino without paying
for them. General Wheeler is, II anything
extreme in his practice of The policy Of
Cancellation. He insists that armed Fill
pinos should be fought relentlessly and IN
ceasingly, out that other Filipino men and
all women and children and the property
of the natives should be rigidly protected.
The Care of soldiers.
General Wheeler's care of his troops has
been specially noticed by the soldiers he
commanded. He inspects their quarters
and is especially SOLICITORS for their COM
fort. When on the march, he always sends
officers in advance to arrange quarters,
and he never enters house or rests a
moment until his troops have been pro-
vihed for. The sick and the hospital ac-
coinmcdations are the special objects of |
his care. Formerly, when In campaigns, |
sick soldiers would come into the |
hospitals wet and weary, and would |
often be compelled TO pass the |
first night in their dripping |
clothing. General Wheeler ordered that |
when a sick soldier entered the hospital |
he should be stripped Of his wet and soiled |
clothing. his feet bathed In hot or warm |
water, and that he should then be clad in |
pajarnas and put into comfortable bed. |
The soldiers clothes were then boiled and |
washed and returned to him when dried. |
Several doctors have asserted that this |
thoughtful care goes very far toward as |
sisting the patients recovery.
When our troops were ordered from Ca
milling to Panique General Wheeler started |
them on the road and remained on the
edge Of the town to see IL insurgents. who |
were reported as secreted in the town.
would follow. About a. mile from the
place there commences a bosgy marsh.
the water and mud being two or three
feet deep. When General Wheeler reached
~