Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-11-20
He SCORES OFFICERS
Moline Boy Severely criticises
Supporters in a Letter to
His Folks.
DIsGUsTED WITH THE ARMY
Protests Against Cutting Off OF
Extra Pay to Volun-
teerS.

A Moline soldier in the Philip
pines writes letter home which is
published by the Dispatch of that
city. 1t is as follows:
Il am back in Balinag now, but
have been up in the mountains. Our
company ran into little fight up on
the hike. We killed Is goo COOS and
wounded large number. Our cap
tain (Schreiber) was the only one of
cur force wounded. He was shot
through the left breast above the
heart. 1t is a very serious wound,
but not necessarily fatal.
The boys fought like demons after
that. 1 can assure YOU there is moth
ing that makes soldier want to ami
hilate the enemy so much as to have
one OF his comrades or an officer shot
down. The bushes, grass and pools
of water were. one mass of blood when
we arrived at the place the enemy had
held, and the fact that they left the
dead indicates that their forces were
Idemoralized and large number prob
ably wounded. 1t is very fortunate
that we escaped with but one wound
| ed, even though he be an officer.
have Just as much respect for the
officers of this regiment as have for
a pig, excepting a very few, who are
gentlemen by birth, not made so by
shoulder straps.
The instructors had planned
general uprising TO take place just be-
fore the amnesty proclamation period
had expired, but it did not amount to
anything and they got the worst of it
all the way through.
Clothes Allowance Denied.
transports, each capable of transport
ing a full regiment, would leave here
with volunteers in Novem Der for the
states. We will be in the first or sec
ond batch to go. | never was so much
disguised with the army in my life as
now. The comptroller of the treasury
has decided that we are not entitled
to the :wo months extra pay given
to the volunteers for foreign service
last year in the SpanishAmer icau
war. The majority OF them were in
the service sin months and we will
have completed more than II months
on this island before we 90 back. 1t
is shame and disgrace to the
American people that the soldiers who
gave up positions, friends, and in fact
everything dear to them, to fight for
the flag, should have even the pittance
that was allowed for the purchase of
civilian clothes taken away from
them.
The food has been such that one had
to eXpend the major portion OF his pay
for food, and this constant hiking ont
in the mud and rain and the fact that
our darling oil GERS (Dlank them) have
made US stand inspection between
times that would do honor to presi-
dents review, has SO depleted our
clothing accounts that, instead Of
having a nice little sum saved on
clothes, we will be in the holssrather
than otherwise. 1t is disgraceful
exhi bition Of greed all the way
through, making the men dig for a
company fund for the mess and from
which l have never derived any bene-
tit whatever.
They say that republicyare migrate
full. i can say in AL sincerity that |
most certainly believe it. | have tried
to suppress my feelings in the past,
but since the last straw has come /
just cannot refrain from saying what
1 think to you, for should | publish
our grievances itwould me IN general
court martial as has been done to some
of the volunteers who aired their woes
too much.
Soldiers Court MartIaIed.
There are AZ men in the gHard |
house here now awaiting court mar
tial for debts, although the army |
distinctly state that sol |
dier 's,pay shall not be held for debt. |
The poor fellows would come from
hikes half starved and would get |
credit for food and they went beyond |
their depths. The fresh meat has |
been unfit to eat for some time past |
and has been condemned. and the |
bacon not having been properly cured.
was found to be full of magots. 1t is
pretty hard. but now 1 feel better
that l have relieved my mind.
The trouble in China, as far as we
are concerned. is over. Our troops /
have been ordered back to Manila.
We lost heavily to the Chinese, bat
retaliated later on.' Il