Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-02-22
FIGHTING FILIPIN0S
LIEUT.. J. L. ELMER WRITES OF
TRYING EXPERIENCES.
Heavy Fire from Insurgents on San
Miguel RiVer-Rushine the Trenches
Wandering in Mountains-lthe
Man Traps.

n iebteT from Lieut.. Elmer dated
Dec. 10th said that he was about 10
start upon another expedition into the
mountains, for as one OF the oIncerS
mad well expressed 1t, There is with
out q doubt good shooting for both
sides up im-there.' lie was directed
to strike across the country from TaC-
loban to San Miguel and from there
back to the coast, or If there was any
Indication of trouble to follow 1t in
any direction and live on the country.
He seemed, as usual, eager for the
tray, and was to start with 80 men
who, as he said, were not "gun-shy.'
In accordance with his promise, he
wrote Immediately on his return.
The following from his letter of Dec.
20, received Feb. 8, tells something
of his trip.
Tacloban, Leyte,
December %, 1900.
After twelve days in the field | am
at last again in the post with 80 tired
and foot-sore men.
l was extremely fortunate in my
work having two engagements and
not losing a man. The column com
ing in from the south was ambushed
and had two men instantly killed and
four wounded 1.-TWO of whom have
since .died).
Lieut.. Leaf was wounded twice and
has lost his leg since; one of my men
had his hat shot off and the bullet
left on his forehead broad red mark
that indicated just how close his
call" was. We were first attacked
at the San Miguel river and as the
river, owing TO recent rains, was not
fordable we were unable to get at
them.
Twice | made an attempt to swim
the river with a rope, but was in each
instance driven back by a heavy fire
from the insurgents who were heavily
intrenched on the opposite bank.
The bullets struck 50 close that 1t
proved that the enemy were marks
men of no mean ability. One struck
between my arm and body while in
the water and all of them were close
around us. There was no high shoot
ing, and the men (of the enemy were
ably commanded and did their work
in manner that left no doubt that
they were not wasting any ammuni-
ton, and were shooting to kill. This
affair lasted from 1890 a. m until 3
p. IN. during which time we had made
an attempt to cross the river some
two miles up the stream, with no sue
cess. / could not send man where
could not go myself, and knew that
it was certain death to the man who
persisted in swimming that river, as
had Experience sufficient to convince
the most skeptical, that to attempt
to cross the river one at time, was
to court a sudden and sure death.
We marched in to Barugo, eight miles
distant, and after arrangements had
been made for an increased force
went back two days later and found
the river had subsidized to the extent
that we could rush it, which we did
in the most approved style, and drove
the enemy out of the trenches, burn
ed their quarters and destroyed their
breastworks.
This Is the first time | have been
stopped since | reached here, and had
the river been fordable | could have
driven them out in some kind of
shape, but the fact remains that | did
not, and therefore | suppose | was de-
feated ~although we killed four and
wounded seven. mis- / know to be
so from the words of a prisoner cap
turned at the second attack and the
finding of the graves of those killed.
will write more at length of how
/ passed these long wet days and
nlkuIS Ill Jne MOUNTAINS, vi HON We
tramped for two days not knowing
where we were or how to reach our OBJ
iective point on the coast; how the men s
shoes cropped off from being contin-
ually in the water and trudging over
the sharp rocks of the mountains,
Suffce 1t to say that we reached here
only after halnng a steamer in the
Straits of San JuanicO and coming to
Tacloban by boat. Some of the men
could hardly limp along and some
were in better shape. l am little
sore about the feet and | have
rather sore scratch on the left lee
from coming in contact with mar
trap, but otherwise am feeling fine
BY the way, one of the pleasures Of
the trail is the man trap that has II
be watched and feared
The natives dig a hole about sis
feet deep and cover it over with brush
grass, etc, first having filled the bot
tom Of the contrivance with pieces
OF bamboo or cane Sharpened ant
hardened in the fire. AS rule these
traps are not skillfully concealed bu
an occasional artist fixes one up tina
wakes you up with jar. | with m!
usual deXterity succeeded in walking
into an unusually fine one, but wa
fortunate enough 10 get OIL VIII nun
ing but a scratch. Some very serious
wounds have been caused by this
same heathenish manner of warfare
A cut or scratch from green cane 1
always very sore and usually infected
from the start. | feel so sorry 10
poor Leaf, he is younger man thai
/ am and as he told me before tn
operation "a man with only one LEI
is but a poor apology for a half
man. He is as plucky as any on
could be and he is looking the matte
squarely in the face, though | know
that this has completely upset his lii
plans. He was with me for wee
or two while | was in Tanauan and
very gallant young officer he has beer
and one that any regiment might we
feel proud of
am way behind in my work an
hope that | may have an opportunit
to catch up some before | get on
again | have all my December pr
perE to get out yet and raft of bac
date work that | can only work o
as ! get my vouchers in. If any on
imagines for minute that the tgh
ing on this island is over he is great
mistaken. Just how many men W
have lost the last two months l cal
not tell without referring to the r.