The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-26
Soldiers in the Philippines Trans
late An Order Sent Out Recent
Iy to Mean There is Possible
Danger
REV0LVERS ISSUED TO
CIVIL EMPLOYEES
Infantrymen Ordered to Sharpen
Bayonets and CavaIrymen to
Put a Razor Edge on SabreS-
Reviewers to Be Carried at All
Times

William 7. Powers private in Company
l, Twentieth United States Infantry, sta
toned at Batangas Philippine Islands, in
q letter written to his brother James
Powers of Clough's Terrace, Worcester,
tells some interesting things about his
service Priv. Powers mentions the plans
made by the authorities in Strengthening
the defense of Manila and believes it is
a sign of more war. The letter, which was
received in Worcester yesterday, reads:
"Batangas, P. l., Nov. 10, 1901
Dear JIM have been in few Skin
: mishes since 1 wrote you last but they
did not amount to much as the niggers
Day before yesterday my company and
Troop X, First Cavalry, had a warm
scrap a few miles from Bauan where 800
Filipino ritiemen and 100 bolomen behind
five trenches, engaged us. About 9 o'clock
on the 18th We received information that
the town was to be attacked. We were
ordered to load chambers with six shot
and to draw 50 more from the quarter
master, which with the 100 we carried,
made $50 rounds to each man. 1t was
about o'clock in the morning when We
were awakened by the first sergeant and
ordered to fall in quickly. Leaving the
guard behind for the quarters we went in
double time for about 90 yards to catch
the advance. A mile and quarter from
the town the presidente came up on
horseb back riding like the wind and or
dered us to leave the road Immediately
If we did not want to be ambuShed, as
the entire pike was fortified on all sides
with Flipinos (which proved to be true).
We turned off all right and had not pro-
ceeded 30 yards when the niggers opened
up. For few minutes l felt shaky as the
old bullets were coming fast and we could
not see where they were coming from,
but 1t did not last long as we were or
dered to fire at will We threw 1t in hot
and heavy, sighting at about 200 yards
and the bolomen stuck until We were or
dered to charge. We had a hand-tO-hand
encounter which lasted about five min
utes with native bOlomen before we
finally routed them.
Troop D came up from Batangas and
gave chase while we were ordered back
to the town. The list of casualties was
two Americans killed by Remington bull
let's; 40 negroes killed and l25 wounded
From what the Manila papers say there
will without doubt, be another insurrec-
ton here before long. Calling guns have
been planted all over Manila in principal
points Of vantage and all civil employees
and army clerks have been issued revolv-
recently issued. which never before was
issued to troops in the field:
IAN members of the infantry or
ganiZation serving in the Philippines
will wear their bayOnets at all times
when on or off duty (when off, on their
cartridge belts) and the bayonets will
be sharpened as good as possible for
at least eight inches from the point
It is recommended to get it as keen
a. possible. All cavalrymen will sharp
en- their sabres also and will carry
their Tevolvers at al times as will all
other troops.
"By order Gen Chaffee."
This is probably because Of the SamaI
massacre. While It is a good idea It will
show the negroes we don't trust them
Capt. Morrison is in command of the
regiment now and as ! did not have any
thing to do he recommended me to bri-
gade headquarters and yesterday I was
detailed 10 duty with Gen. Sumner as
clerk IN the CommissaTy. I have got a
snap. OF course l don't get any more pay
but 7 am excused from all calls, hikes
and so forth. I think I will hold this
down as I learn much in bookkeeping
writing etc. I go TO the Office at S O'Clock
in the morning, to dinner at 1l30, return
at O'Clock and go TO supper at 40. They
are feeding us fine, steak, roast beef
beef stew and potatoes. You get this
every day and all YOU want Of it It Is
not very often we get such snap
Nothing to 90, you might say. but ca
and sleep. We are quite busy ration day.
making out invoices and copying dupli
cate ration returns, but that don't bothei
me a Bit