The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1901-06-27
TOLD BY A REGULAR
John Haber Writes of Aguin-
a1do's Capture.

other Philippine new- in the follow
ing interesting lettet 81
Luzon, P III, April is, 1901.
To the Oskaloosa HERALD and its
readers: Having received your pa
per and finding therein published my
other letter, will write and tell you
about the capture OF Aguinaldo. In
the first place they got Spanish of
ficer who was once connected with
Aguinaldo. They got him to write
to Aguinaldo and find out how his
army stood. He was supposed to be
a recruiting officer for the Filipinoss
de wrote him that they had lot Of
recruits on hand and wanted him to
take them off his hands, etc., etc.
Aguinaldo replied and told him to
bring them to him. Then Brig. Gen,
Funston took hand in the game.
He picked out his men-not Ameri-
cans, but Maccabee scouts that he
knew he could trust to go out with
him. There were over 30 of them.
They did not dress up like soldiers,
but just like common Filipinos. They
armed them with 10 Mausers, Is
Krag Jorgensons and rs Remington
rifles and started out; so Aguinaldo
could not tell they were American
soldiers. The American officers
dressed in fatigue uniform like pri-
Yates. When they got within nine
miles of his headquarters they sent
word to Aguinaldo that they had
been attacked by the Americans and
had taken 3 prisoners and wanted
him to send them some food as they
had run short on rations. Aguinaldo
told them that he would send them
all the food they needed and treat
the American prisoners we'll. He
said not to bring them in to the head
quarters but to keep a guard over
them. They all had good meal of
rice and fish, but did not obey his
orders, and marched in with the
American officers with them. They
lined up in front of Aguinaldo's
headquarters and all of his army
came out to receive them. Our men
fred at and killed several of them.
Then they ran to the house and cap
tured Aguinaldo and several of his
officers with him. One of them Jump
ed out the window, but was shot.
We took all of his soldiers to Manila
where Aguinaldo stated that they
could never have taken him in any
other way. 1t is now claimed here
that there will be no use of keeping
SO large an army. The rest of the
Filipino generals are surrendering
every day with their armies. The
worst thing we have on hand now is
to make them pay the taxes. They
have no money to pay with so we
make them work it out on the street,
but have to go every day and round
them up. They do not like the idea
of working without pay, but the
sight of we'll armed soldier on
guard over them has an influence.
The rainy season will set in in a
month. The mango season is here
now. Just ask one of the Go. F boys
and they will tell you about them.
1t is about the only fruit that is good.
The oranges, bananas and pineap-
pies are all right but not like in the
states.
The Philippines in year or two
will!be run by the civil government.
The are in reality running it now as
they have a native police force in
almost every town. They all carry
army shooters and have three shot
guns to town. They want to Sc
cure $4,000 native soldiers and then
they think they can run the islands
with the civil government. When
that time arrives we will be sent
home. 1 hope they will get it soon.
They have quite few cock fights
to lose their money on but that will
be stopped soon. They lose all their
money and then think we must give
them some more to buy rice and
other necessities with.
Mess call has sounded and 1 will
close, for a soldier never misses a
meal if he can help it.
1 remain your friend,
Corporal John Haber,
Co. B, 18th INIT, Tarlac, P. I.