The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-12

Cebu. Cebi, Jan. 14.-On Dec. II the
First battalion of our regiment ar
rived here from Iloilo and immedi-
ately went into camp at Cebu. We
had expected this battalion for some
time. as we didn't have soldiers enough
TO garrison the island. The soldiers
here were fast breaking down on ac-
count of SO much duty. We are glad
to have rcinforcements join us.
Christmas and New Years passed
very quietly and we had nothing to
mar the memory of these two days.
All we did at our camp was guard
duty and police around the camp. or
course. many of the boys wished they
were home and wondered IL they would
still be here a year hence.
On Dec. - battalion Of the Forty
fourth United states volunteers ar
rived here from Manila on the trans
port Hancock and Immediately went
into camp at Cebu, relieving a bat
talon of the Sixth infantry. who went
from here to the Island of Negros.
Preparations We're at once begun for
our last battle. so on Friday, Jan. ..
three companies of the FOrty-fOurth
and NJ company of the Nineteenth
moved north Of the cncmy'S forts,
while d company of our regiment and
two companies of the Twenty-third
started south Of the forts, and three
companies of our regiment came out
to our camp to join us.
We left here on Saturday. Jan. 6,
under Major Leaf. of the Nineteenth
infantry. with two threc-inch noun
tain guns, and started for the east
side Of the forts. so we practically had
the forts all surrounded, as the bay
is on the west of the forts.
OPENING OF THE BATTLE.
On Sunday. Jan. I. the battle started,
but we did not do much on this day.
as we had to lay low on account of
the natives having the range on us,
but on Monday, with the mountain
guns, we succeeded in driving them
from the forts and capturing fourteen
of their strongest works. We had
four men wounded. one of them, Will
lard II. Bell. who was wounded twice,
is from our company and will lose
one Of his legs. We killed over 100 of
the insurgents and captured many of
their guns and much ammunition. We
also took thirty-eight prisoners. We
have the enemy pretty well beaten
here now and we are expecting them
to surrender every day. We are in
hopes that they will surrender, as
there Is not much fun in chasing over
these mountains looking for them.
| am having good health and am
standing the warm weather as we'll
as any one Here but will be glad when
the insurrection is stopped. so that
we can go back to the states. / fear
it will be sometime yet before we go
back. as they are going to send us
back to the Island Of Negros as soon
as the fighting is done here. We We're
all sorry to learn of the death Of Gen.
eral Lawton. as he was a friend to
every enlisted man and one of the few
officers man could approach without
getting called down. 1t is the spring
of the year here now and the natives
are planting more corn. tobacco and
sugar cane than they ever did, as they
expect us to guard it for them. The
bandits and outlaws of the mountain
have heretofore come down and taken
whatever they wanted, so they have
GREATEST OF THE GROUP.
This island is the greatest of the
group. nearly all of the trees have
son son on them, as the natives call
food. and the juice of the trees will
make a man intoxicated. The Juice
of a cocoanut tree has a taste some-
thing like cider. and will make man
drunk IL he drinks much of it. 1t is
the most popular drink here at the
present time with the soldiers. 1t is
called TUDOR and costs a ducco a drink.
a ducco Is native cent.
The Island of Luzon is at the pres
ent time in somewhat Of a turmoil.
General Otis is pushing things there
ms fast as any man can. but it is
doubtful whether he can bring the war
TO close before the rainy season
starts in. He is doing as well as any
man could with the forces he has
had and l am glad to see The Tribune
speak for him. 1t seems hard to have
to fight these people here, but they
will have 10 be suppressed by some
body and IL is the place of the United
States to do 1t now.
The Macabebes are somewhat civil
ICED people. but the Tagals are more
like the American Indian, but, of
course, they are not so brave or SO
tricky. but they will all fight until
they are cornered up or are all wiped
of of these islands. All of the Scran-
ton boys here are in good health.
William j. Boyce.
Company X, Nineteenth Infantry