Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-09
FROM THE FIRING LINE
American Soldiers Account of Affairs in
the Philippines.
Insurgents Fight Indian Fashion,
Evident They Must Soon Give
Up the StruRxle.

StbAiCs H. OLitu, WIN Is dlldSueu W SONl-
pany F, a2d United States Volunteers, now
In the Philippines, has written letter to
Mr.. ]. Barton Miller of Georgetown relative
to the condition of affairs on the islands.
The letter is dated November 10, and was
written at Angeles. In part, 1t says:
Il have been on the firing line ever since
my arrival here. The Filipinos cannot
fight. They fire one or two shots and then
run. At night they attack our outposts,
often firing twenty or thirty shots without
doing any damage. The state of affairs in
the Philippines is not what expected. In
stead of seeing whole country devastated,
as Is usually the case during a war, found
1t, especially in the country occupied by the
Americans only, well under cultivation.
with large fields of corn, rice and tobacco.
The people are engaged in their various
pursuits, and perfect quiet seems to prevail.
Contrary to some reports claiming that the
Americans controlled only a small portion
of territory around Manila, our people are
within few miles of Yarlac, the strongest
fortified town the insm gents now control.
And l feel certain that long before this
letter reaches its destination our troops will
have driven the enemy from their strong
hold to the mountains.
THAT the Fiiipinos cannot hold out much
longer becomes more evident each day.
Five Spanish prisoners, who were held
captives by the Filipnos for seventeen
months. made their escape the other day
and came over to our camp. They stated
that the insurgent army is in deplorable
condition. They are scattered here and
there in punches, with perhaps only seven
or eight cartridges to a man. They have
cannon, perhaps as many twenty pieces,
but are very short in shells.
IH-Treated by Frlipinos.
1.-The Spaniards told of much ill-treat-
ment received at the hands of the Filfpinos,
who almost starved them. They said fully
1000 Spanish soldiers are still held as pris-
oners. But one thing was given as certain.
the fate of the American prisoners Is
great deal better than that of the unfortu-
nate Spaniards. The Americans receive
about 81 per day in money for expenses,
and often are given the privilege of running
around the town. There are here a few
of our soldiers who were prisoners, and
they say that they were treated with all
the respect and kindness they could expect,
considering the circumstances of the rebels.
Many of the Filipino soldiers are desert
ing. and under a small white flag make
their way to our lines. But unless they
nave arms to turn over they are sent back
to where they came from. At times our
line of outposts is not more than 800 yards
from the insurgents line. They remain in
sight just long enough to locate our men,
and whenever our soldiers are seen they
are fired upon, and to hear twenty or thirty
shots in succession is quite common here.
As is the saying, every day is the Fourth
of July aroun> here but still each day is
not without its odds and ends and various
incidents.
ION Sunday, the 9Th, we left along about
o'clock in the morning to go to a Philip
pine celebration. At am. the firing be-
gan on our right. 1 was then with the 32d
Infantry, under Col Craig. as brave a man
as ever commanded regiment We We're
passing along a road that covered a large
field the insurgents were expected to cross
We We're Lot permitted to fire. The fight
ing taken nv r.
right. and became heavy. Artillery opened
fire from the distant hills, and we were now
in full-fedged battle. A few Filipino
sharpshooters. filling the treetopS in a
bamboo jungle across the field. We're To-
Gated before they could do any damage and
driven out.
Americans Win, as Usual.
ut was several hours before all firing
ceased. and. as usual the Americans Won
the day, while the insurgents made home
run, leaving a good-sized town to our
troops. About o'clock in the afternoon a
two-wheeled cart, drawn by a pair of buff
falos, the beasts of burden on the islands,
passed us on its way to the hospital car
rying two wounded men, our loss for the
day. The Filipinos lost quite a number.
probably as many as fifty. Their mode of
fighting is Indian-like. They fire a few
shots and then run, leaving well-built in
trenchments behind.
On the Sth another fight took place at
Macalabat. and that town was taken by our
troops. If Lieut.. Gilmore and his men are
not removed from their present place of
captivity our troops will soon release them
The Americans are now very near the
place.
Il will now say something about the
country. There are over 500 tribes on the
islands. so am told, and nearly that num-
Der of languages are spoken. The strong
est tribe on the Island of Luzon is the Ia
galos. AS a rule and from my observa-
t1ons the Filipino is far more intelligent
than the Cuban. / don't mean to say that
they are fit for self-government. They are
no. more capable of governing themselves
than are the Cubans. AS soon as the ma
tives learn that we mean we'll toward them
they will readily and willingly come to U.S.
The so-called leaders mislead the ignorant
by the statement that the Americans came
to the islands to kill off the people and COB
BILE up their property. AS soon as the lead
erS are captured, or their false utterances
are suppressed. better condition of affairs
will Immediately be inausurated"