Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1901-06-20
CAPT. FENT0N HOME.
Former Beldingite Has Returned
From the philippines To Detroit
to be Mustered Out.

from the philippines to Detroit
To be Mustered Out.
The following extracts from an
article which appeared in the Detroit
Tribune of Monday will be of interest
to the Captains many friends in this
city.
"After a service of about three
years i'm the commissary department
of the volunteer army of United
States, Capt. +. b. Fenton. 45 JOY
street, is about TO be mustered out,
having returned last evening from
the Philippines to his home in this
city for that purpose. Capt. Fenton
entered the service May II, 1898, and
served in the war in Cuba. On Oct.
g. 1899, he left for SanFranCisco, sail
ing from the latter place for the
Philippines eight days later. He was
the chief commissary on the staff of
Brig. Gen. II. b. Hughes and during
the greater part of his stay in the is
lands he located at Manila.
"We made the quickest time on the
trip home that has ever been made by
any government transport over the
route" said Capt, Fenton in speaking
of his trip last evening. 1--WE left
Manila on the evening of May Is, on
the transport Hancock and arrived in
San Francisco June l3. Not including
a stoppage for coal at Nagasaki, Jap
an, the run was made in 20 days and 10
hours. On board the transport was
the entire 3lst volunteer regiment,
including l,O4l men and all the Off
GERS.
II enjoyed my stay in the Philip
pines very much, but of course am
very glad to return to my old home.
There is a great future in store for
the islands, and under the able man
agement of President Taft of the
commission it is bound to improve. In
my opinion there isn't another man in
the whole United States who can
handle the natives as we'll as he can,
and thev are taking very kindly to his
treatment. OF course the natives are
an ignorant, ungrateful lot of people,
but the children are bright and learn
very quickly, so that in time when the
younger ones have been given the
benefits of education, the islands will
be populated by bright, Industrious
class of people. There is no question
in my mind but there is great future
in store for the islands.
"The natives appear to be thorough
ly tanned, but it will be necessary to
keep large body of troops in the is
lands. If the reins of government
were put in their hands they would
rule just as the Spaniards did, because
they have been trodden on for so
many years they would like now to
get their innings and try a little ty-
ranny themselves, The only people
that make trouble at the present time
are the brigands and robbers and the
country is gradually becoming rid
of them. Aguinaldo has no following
at the present time and in fact did not
have at the time of his capture.
'In my experience with native Fill
pinos and Cubans | have found them
an indolent, lazy lot of people, but |
think that the former are worse, if
possible, than the latter. They are
born thieves and will steal anything
they can lay their hands on.
'In regard to my plans for the fu-
ture, | can say nothing. do not know
as yet when | will be mustered out,
but it will be sometime between now
and the thirteenth, and all volunteer
regiments go out at that time"