Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-05-09

wounded several, but in every case the Ia
galos got killed or badly wounded by the
victims. They came around, proiessed
great SORROW and laid all the blame on the
Maesbeebes. In n short time they real.
Eed the difference between American aud
Spanish soldiers.
Mumpher says we we're the aggressors.
Why, on Aug. 2I, 1895, man OF Battery
G, Sixth artillery, was killed by Filipino
soldier and another badly wounded on the
Gale Arsenal in Cavite. Early in Febru-
airy member OF the South Dakota regi-
ment had his head and shoulder slashed
open by two Filipinos, who got close to
him on sentinel duty by processing friend
ship. During the months OF December and
January there was scarcely night or day
they did not Ere on some portion OF our
line or make a hostile move with their
army. Any one OF these actions would
have justified US in attacking.
Mumpher calls it criminal aggression,
because they were forced to leave the sub.
urbs OF Malate, Paco, Singalong and Pan
dacan, where they were massing large forces
to crush our thin line OF defense. The or.
ders were the result OF the good military
Judgment OF Gen. Otis, not influenced by
eowardce-a state OF mind Mumpher never
experienced. They tried numberless times,
day and night, to pass our line with arms.
They called us towards and 'Bou thany
anaman, but the Americans obeyed or
ders, which were very strict. They read,
DO not ERE under any circumstances, ex.
cept to save your life or to prevent an
armed body from crossing the line"
He makes the astounding statement Of
'seeing Filipinos shot down at Caloocan
who could have been taken prisoners. -
The First Idaho, TO which he belonged, was
the equal OF any regiment ia the Eighth
army corps, and at the battle Of Caloocan
acted as support to the Kansas and Mon.
tana re2iments. | saw them climb the
slope OF that bullet-swept hill with align.
ment and intervals perfect. They we're
about 400 yards to our rear, and the in.
spring folds of Old Glory which they car.
ried was the first flag to wave over the
these men shot, when all that remained be-
hind our line were the prisoners and the
dead OF both armies2 The burning of the
huts along the roads leading from Manila
was a military necessity, as the natives
would hide in them and attack the ambu-
lances and other conveyances travelling
back and forth. For not alone did the
5000 Americans have to fight superior
army on their front, but also control the
armed and hostile inhabitants OF Manila.
As to the drunkenness, the assertion con-
veys as false an impression as his Others.
1t is true that some OF the men wearing the
uniform OF the United States did get drunk;
possibly there were ten such men in each
company. And while the number OF sa.
looms on the principal streets have in-
creased they have largely supplanted
countless native dens where the vilest OF
hpuois boiu piitts "A
drunken soldier stood poorer chance Of
getting to quarters in Manila than he VIC ould
in New York or Chicago. The provost
guards were on every street and had orders
to arrest such men. The Filipinos, who
are represented as being Mortified at Amer
lean depravity, could proftably sxpend
large amount OF the feeling on their own
disgusting vices. The American people are
performing their duty today, as they have
done before, undismayed by the difficulty
OF the task. and refuse to be csioled by the
vspid sentimentality OF some men who at
tribute to a confederation of Malay tribes,
scarce yet emerged from barbarism all the
qualities which mark the Caucasian, the
peer OF the races of the earth.
ARTHUR 7. HARVEY,
Late Of Co. /, First Montana.