The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-17
CAPT. VAIDEN AT HOME
ALABAMA OFFICER TALKS OF
 PHILIPPINES.
He sayssConditions There are Great ly Improved-Natives Becom-
 ing More Confident and
 Trouble is About Ended.

captain w. J. walden, late AdJutant of tho 18th United States Volunteer In- fantry, on duty in the Philippine Isl ands, arrived in Montgomery yesterday en route to Fortress Monroe Va, where he goes to stand an examination for a commission in the regular army. to which place he was appointed by Pres ident Mckinley.
 Captain Walden, with his regiment, was mustered out in San Francisco on June 30, and he has been with his fam fly at his home in Uniontown three weeks. Captain Walden has many warm friends in Montgomery, and he received a cordial greeting yesterday. He appears to be in excellent health and Is bronzed by the Philippine cli- mate.
 Captain Walden left the United States two years ago as Captain of Company K, 18th volunteer infantry. This regi- ment formed part of General Schwan's expeditionary brigade on the southern advance from Manila, January 1st. 191o. and it was in all of the engage ments from linus down through. the provinces of BatoEgas, Laguna and Ta- yabas.
 F On July Fist, 1900, Captain Walden was, by order of the Secretary of War, transferred to the 18th infantry as Captain and Adjrtant. This was a me- gro regiment, and, by reason of his experience with negroes in the Cane brake section of Alabama. Captain Walden made an excellent officer. The regiment was commanded by Col. Will liam H. Beck, wto was then captain in the 10th cavalry. and was recently appointed major and assigned to the 9th cavalry. The Lieutenant -Colonel of the regiment was Ducat. Captain in the 24th infantry. Two army officers and a volunteer officer were the Ma jors of the regiment. They were Ma jor c. P. Johnson a Captain in the 10th cavalry; Major Ernest Hinds of the ar- tillery corps. regular army. and Major Robert Gage of Mobile. who had for merly served as Adjutant of the 3rd Alabama regiment of negroes. Major Kinds is a native Alabamian, having been reared in Huntsville.
 "The line officers and the men were negroes" said Captain Walden last night, and they made splendid sol diers. A great many of the enlisted men came from the Southern states; The line officers, as a rule, were picked non-commissioner officers from the ne gro regiments of the. regular army. The negroes frequently displayed great gal lantry under fire and were easily con trolled. The negro officers will go back into the regular army as non-commls- stoned officers. Most of them have only a few months to serve before De- ing retired" ..
 Captain Walden talks interestingly or the conditions in the Philippines. Ihe last few months he spent 'here ms res iment was stationed al Aparri, the sea port of the Province of Cagayan, North ern Luzon. He said that wherever American soldiers are stationed the Filipinos soon take to American cus- toms. They had no modern imple : ments and were carefully taught to use hoes. axes nd other implements o1 cul- tivation. The lands are very fertlle' and Bermuda grass. sugar cane, corn and rice are grown The natives had beer accustomed to using an impie- mrnt something Ike trowel ana they were much pleased with American ag- ricultural implements. At first they were skeptical, having been deceived bv the former officials, but when they found that the American Government would keep faith with them. they dis played absolute confidence in the sol diers. Captain Walden says that In a few years he believes the Filipinos will be loyal to the American Government, as they are fast learning that the dis position is to treat them fairly.
 The provinces of Cagayan and lsa- bella are now under command of Col. c. c. Hood, of the 9th Infantry, and hs regiment Is stationed at Aparri. It
 Is designated to sail for the United States in about four months. Aparri nf Vnn1I1a tinr The principal city of the province Is Tuguegarao. It has population of about 10000.
 Captain Walden is of the opinion that there will be all sorts of opportunity for investment in the Philippines. The lands are fertile and crops grow well. He says he saw as fine cotton growing there as he ever saw in his life. He says there Is a peculiar cottonwood in that country that is used for tele- graph poles and fence posts. The trees are set out in rows and they soon take root and grow. It is common sight, he says. to see rows of these trees bearing telegraph lines for many miles.
 This Alabama officer participated in many engagements and was more than once complimented for his gallantry He says not a single soldier suffered for anything to eat. to wear or for medicines. He says the commissary system was perfect. Wagon trains fol- lowed the troops and the government cared well for the patriots who fought for its flag.
 Captain Walden is one of the best known men in Alabama. He comes of a distinguished family and has long been prominent in the business. social and political life of the State. He was successful business man at Union town when called to the position of Private Secretary to Governor Oates in 1894 In this position he became we'll known m State politics. At the close of the Oates administration he returned to his business affairs in the Canebrake section. He had held re- sponsible positions with the Alabama National Guard and had carefully studied military science. At the out break of the war with Spain he tend cred the services of the company which he commanded at Uniontown and later entered the volunteer army for service in the Philippines.
 Captain Walden will leave this morn ing for Virginia.