Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-07-19
LIEUT.. ]. L. ELMER's RETURN.
Travelled Around the World with the
AID United States Volunteers and
Saw FIGHTING Service in LYte.

Saw Fighting Service in Lyle.
After journeying around the world
and fighting the willy Filipinos a year
and half Lieut.. ]. Leslie Elmer of the
43d United States Volunteers returned
to Brattleboro Monday night. Mr.
Elmer enlisted at Fort Ethan Allen in
September, 1899, as regimental quar-
termaster sergeant but he was COM
mssioned second lieutenant early in
November, before the regiment sailed
for Manila from New York. This voy-
age was via the Mediterranean and
Suez canal and Lieut. Elmer had op-
portunity to visit several cities of in
terest, including Gibraltar, Port Said
Colombo and Singapore.
The field of operations for the 43d
regiment was in the islands of Sa-
mar and Lyle, and Lieut.. Elmer was
with the first battalion which landed
at Tacloban, Lyle. Feb. I, 1900 This
expedition released 100000 bales Of
hemp. The insurgents were particu-
larly aggressive in these two islands
during the regiments term of service,
and as a result the men of the 43d
regiment saw more fighting than any
of the volunteers. The 43d lost almost
as many men by bullets as the 26th
regiment, stationed in Panay, lost from
all causes. The number of men kill
ed, not counting one native guide and
one native scout, was SO, while So
white men. two native scouts and five
native guides were wounded, two were
drowned and two were captured. The
casualties of the Filipinos in the two
islands were as follows: Killed, 1916;
wounded, BAG; surrendered, 1921; cap
tured, 1850. The regiment took part
in 3S1 engagements in which casual
ties or captures occurred.
Lieut. Elmer was engaged in out
post duty for the first four months in
Lyle. After that he was commissary
and quartermaster for the island and
was stationed at Tacloban, but he went
frequently on expeditions to the inte-
rior in which engagements took place,
and he had an opportunity to travel
extensively.
Lieut.. Elmer returns looking the
picture of health. He has not had a
sick day since he left Brattleboro. He
is pleased with the Philippines, and
says the climate in Lyle is preferable
to that which he has experienced the
past 10 days. The 43d regiment came
home from Manila on the transport
Fitzpatrick, which left Manila May 2S
took the northern circle, running as
high as the 4Sth parallel, and arrived
in San Francisco June 25. The regi-
ment was mustered out July 5. Lieut..
Elmer left San Francisco last week
Wednesday, arrived in Boston Sunday
night, and reached home Monday
night. He has work which will occu-
Ply his time several days before his
accounts as commissary and quarter
master are completed.
Lieut.. Elmer believes there is
great future and great opportunities
in the Philippines, and that the trade
in lumber, hemp, tobacco, cocoanut
oil and other products will be develop
Ct rapidly. Lieut.. Elmer had previous
ly served three years in the regular
army and also with the First Vermont
regiment at Chickamauga. He likes
army life. but is uncertain as to fur
Their enlistment.
He shipped home by freight some
500 pounds of relics and curios which
have not arrived. including a variety
of weapons and other articles used by
the natives, and over go different speci-
mems of wood collected in Lyle.