The times., 1901-05-06

Col Edward NJ. Hayes, who eommandeq
the Fourth Cavalry, L. S. A. has JUST
returned to this country after two years
service in the Philippines, and brings with
him many interesting "reminiscences of his
exnerfence Colonel Hayes is on n three
months leave of absence at the eNplra-
tion Of which he will take command OF
the Thirteenth Cavalry, l. 5. a, now
being organized at Fort Meade 5. u.
In an interview last night, Colonel
Hayes said: "A great many stories have
been circulated throughout the country
concerning the climate of the Philippines.
which my experience on the islands can
not endorse. These stories are to the
effect that the climate is very unhealthy
and disease provoking. and that our peo-
pie cannot live under its trying influences
1t is true, however that our men. at first,
felt depressed by the great heat and gen.
eral climatic conditions. but they soon
became acclimated and the general health
of the men was good. Where there was
any pronounced sickness the cause of it
could be easily referred to the lack of
sufficient rations and the hardships Incl
dental to enforced marches and not to
climatic influences. The plan Of campaign
necessitated that the American forces
should occupy certain strategic points at
certain times and there were many occa-
sions when il became necessary to be up
and off on the march with only such ra-
tions as the men could carry in their
saddlebags. Frequently we would start
out with rations for, say. three days, and
it would be eight days before any more
supplies could reach us This would re-
suit in our being placed on half rations.
This was a great hardship for both Off
GERS and men. but our soldiers were game
and stood by manfully. 1t was remark
able how little sickness there was under
such circumstances.
Transportation was extremely difficult
in the islands owing to the nature of the
surface of the country. There were no
real roads, only bride paths, so narrow
as TO compel travelling in single file. The
vegetation was rank on all sides, such as
IS only seen in tropical countries 1t was
impossible to use wagons and therefore
no considerable supplies could be carried
from place to place. There was a time
when We did not even have pack mules,
and we were, therefore. compelled to car
~ on our horses what rations we had TO |
have. Under these circumstances it is |
obvious we could not carry as much as |
We actually needed. When we would set /
of on march there was no means of |
knowing what we were going 10 encounter |
IN the way Of difficulties or delays, and /
hence the feeling was universal among /
our men that it was absolutely necessary
to make what little rations We had with
US last as long as possible.
Everywhere around US, outside of the
towns, were rice fields covered with mud
and water from two to three feet deep
Into these marshes we were compelled to
march, and, Of course, we could not make
much headway through them. For months
and months all the feed our horses had
was rice in the husk, rice straw, and
grass which they cropped as we went
along. Our horses did not take kindly TO
the rice at first, but eventually cultivated
a taste for 1t and subsisted on it nicely,
fully as well. ! think. as they could on
oats and corn. They had to, OF go hun
CRY. Hunger win take the fastidiousness
out of a horse as well as a man. The |
service has been a severe one, in 'spite
OF the fact that there were not many bat
ties fought, nor any engagements with
the enemy of momentous magnitude or
Our men were obliged to be
on the alert at all times for tricks and
treachery If a native came into our
lines he always brought exaggerated re-
ports of the force of the enemy. If their
actual numbers were only in the hundreds
the report would place them in the thou
sands Some narrow escapes were report
ed from time to time in spite OF the
Of our officers and men. l
was placed in situation at one time
which was not pleasant for few min
utes. After il was all over there was
plenty of occasion for a good laugh, but
there was nothing TO laugh at while the
Incident was transpiring, 1 can assure
you
1T happened while my command was
stationed at Carranglan, among the
mountains Of LUzon, between San Jose
md Boyombong- We were located in a
ow valley surrounded on all sides by
Ugh mountains. The forest was thick and
iense all around US. Every once in
while reports would come TO me that
,ands Of the enemy We're seen skulking
around These reports, on investigation, | .
proved TO be either false alarms or some
,attle. seen moving about in the valley
" on the mountain sides, were mistaken |
or the enemy. So frequent were these :
alse alarms that ] was rather skeptical / !
when one Of my non-commissioned officers
.ame running TO me with the report that ]
/ band Of organized insurgents were com 7
ng upon US and were close at hand. I
vas wearing at the time a white straw {
iat and a light-colored shirt, but no coat, :
lnd without any insignia Of rank what !
.ver. ] took with me Major Auger, my :
Interpreter. and the nOn-cOmTnlSsiOned i
'fiicer. ana started out TO reconnotre. !
lad not gone far beyond my outpost be
ore ] ran up gainst a band Of the insur-
-ents. all nicely uniformed and well armed :
With bOiOs and reVolyers. There were /
even officers and about 125 men IN the :
and As soon as they saw me the officer :
. command ordered his men to halt. :
This was followed by another order, / /.
which, when Oheyed. gave me my cue and 1 I
aVed the day for me at least When the
econd order was given all the insurgents, | -
including the officers, took of their hats
nd SalutcQ me. / followed suit with the / =
est bow ] knew how 10 make. ] took off ;
ny straw hat and bent double. like a q
ackknlfe, and smiled the prettiest smile I ,
could smile under the circumstances. =
the insurgents took me for the :
onInanqauIe. or the prcsidentc Of the .
image, IcF the comman nding officer step :.
ed up 20 me and handed me a paper from
ieneTal Cannon, who was stationed at
soyomDpng, the new seat Of the inslIr- :
ent government This paper, which the y
ns1rgent oihcer handed me, was an order =
rom General Cannon, ordering me. the o
commandante. 10 furnish the
and before me. with money and supplies I !
asked the officer, through my interprc- j.
er. how many men he had with him He G
epied that he had l75, and when / said / z
o him that they were not all there IN, u
roHt of me, and asked him whore the Il
est ~ them were. he replied that he had
sfJ the rest Of his command at 4 small 1 l
tream about 4 mile back, where they /
'ere washing themselves and cleaning up !,
generally so as 20 make good appear +
nee when they presented themselves TO / .
pc. the supposed commandante. ] told /,
ne officer 20 20 and bring them up and I / :
.ould take care Of the men and officers