Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-02-04

Bruce E. Baker, of Moundsville who
enlisted in the regular army service
at the Wheeling recruiting station,
was discharged near Manila, after
three years service, on November
21st, 1899. He returned home yester-
day, and last evening called in the
Register Office. Barker has seen SER
vice in Cuba and Luzon, and although
serving the full term for which he en-
listed, returns with eyesight impair
ed, necessitating the use of glasses.
II would not re-enlist for service in
the Philippines for $500 month" he
said," "If had to undergo what / have
experienced there. / was never hap
pier in my life than when saw my old
home again" Barker alleges that al
though discharged in November, he
was compelled to wait more than a
month before he could get transporta-
ton home He and AS others were
assigned to passage on the City of
Pekin, and were not permitted to
leave on any other vessel. He alleges
that their detention was a scheme to
induce the men to re-enlist, and he
further states that he was unable to
reach home except with the aid of
money sent him by his father. Bark
er's father, who was present, corrobor-
ated this statement Barker has
brought suit against the government
for a sum approximating $500, and
states that similar action has been
taken by the soldiers who returned
with him.
THE men in the service are all dis
satisfied he said, and there is no
more unpopular man on the Island of
Luzon than Grandma Otis, as he is
called by all the boys. Recently when
Otis went out riding, not less than fif-
teen shots were fired at him, but miss
ed the mark, owing to the long range
Otis is cooped up in his palace, which
is surrounded by a heavy guard. l
don't believe the people in America
have any idea of his utter incapacity,
as he has established censorship on
mail and kilograms. San Francisco
newspaper correspondents were de-
ported for telling the truth, and came
back on the same vessel 1 was on
Otis is blamed by the, soldiers for
the insufficient rations, and other I'M
necessary hardships, and for permit
ting the sale of food which the govern
ment intended should be apportioned
to the troops. The soldiers cannot
live decently, if at ALL upon the food
that they receive. | have known of
several suicides among the men. This
shows their utter despair. I also
know of seven men who deserted our
ranks to accept commissions in the
Filipino army. The F'ilipinos do not
know anything about the use of artil-
aery, but the deserters are teaching
them.
They will never capture Aguinaldo,
and will never end the war until Gen.
Wheeler or some other competent man
replaces Grandma Otis Otis is
miserable failure. Why, we have on
several occasions made important adj
vances and then been called back al
lowing the insurgents to Occupy their
old positions and requiring us to fight
the ground over again. Is it a wonder
that the men are disheartened? Is it
wonder that some are driven to sui
eide, and others to desertion? Otis
kilograms don't tell the truth about
our losses, either
And after all this fighting, what
has been accomplished. On the South
line, our troops have not been able
to advance more than nine miles out
side of Manila, That's glorious pro-
gress, isn't it? The American army
will not be successful until Otis is re-
placed by somebody in whom the SOL
diers have confidence"
Private Barker relates an incident to
illustrate the temper of the men. Col.
McCaskey had small flag hung above
his window, 40 feet from the ground,
and issued an order to the sentinel to
shoot any discharged soldier who pass
ed under it, and refused to salute 1t.
The las discharged men walked under
the flag, and defied the sentinel to
shoot, while the Colonel Immediately
revoked the order.