The National tribune., 1902-08-28


naldo purchased from Germany large
supply of Mauser arms and ammunition;
Doubtless the German Government had
nothing to do with this transaction, though
the stamp of the Government magazine
was upon the ammunition boxes. L re-
member what a commotion was created
when this fact was discovered the day OF
the repulse of Aguinaldo's army in its at
tack upon the city. A large quantity OF
ammunition was captured and brought
into the city, and upon the boxes was
plainly to be seen this brand of the Ger
man army. The story was at once start.
ed that this ammunition had been landed
from the German feet in the harbor, and
It was believed that it would lead to war
between Germany and the United States.
The feeling in both the army and navy
there had been high against the Germans
for a long time, owing to the conduct OF
the feet, and we were prepared to believe
almost anything to their discredit. Doubt
less such story as this was written home
By many of the soldiers, for there were
numerous similar mistaken ideas that
gained currency and were written home,
some of which were accepted as true ana
acted upon by many, chiefly anti-e4pan-
sionists, which were no more true and had
no better foundation.
The fact was, and those who kept at all
DOSleu hleW tuc NClIhuh oo'>AA
ment was not using Mauser arms or am
munition, having discarded them for its
present equipment, and that all the arms
and ammunition not wanted had been con
demned and sold. Much, if not all, of 1t
had been purchased by or for the Spanish
Government, which was using the Mauser,
and this captured stuff had been acquired
by the Filipinos by capture or by decker
with Spanish contractors, or in some way
Lei 1f <hn ~ rrDln
ment. As to the rifles, hundreds of which
were brand new when they fell into our
hands in battle, they bore absolute proof
Of never having belonged to the German
Government. They were made in Berlin,
but were all stamped as being of the
Spanish model, showing that they were
made on the pattern manufactured for the
Spanish Government.
How these supplies were procured is of
little moment. 1t is sufficient to know
that large number of guns and great
quantities of cartridges were imported
freely and without any necessity for
smuggling, as the Americans made no pre-
tense of controlling any port other than
Manila Bay. All the other ports were
open to and under the control of the in
surgents, and vessels piled between them
and Hong Kong at will. An American
firm at Hong Kong was credited with be-
chase of supplies, even after the war be-
gan. Up to that time, of course, it was
legitimate business even for an American,
though we who saw it going on did not
like it very well, because we knew II
meant a strenuous life for US in the jungle
q few months later.
THE INsURGENT ARMY.
The army thus organized and equipped
-%1l h., inf not InF
bureau at the time hostilities began at
shout 10000 men, some $4,000 of whom
were armed with rifles and bolos and the
remainder being simply bolomen. OF the
rifles about 5000 were old Remingtons
and the remainder Mausers either cap
tured from the Spaniards, taken over by
deserters, or purchased new. Of the &C
curacy of this information l have no
knowledge. 1t has always seemed to me
m over-estimate of the number of rifles
In the hands of the insurgents, though not
of the number of men available for their
use. Yet the army was SO scattered and
loosely organized that it is impossible to
form any correct judgment of the num-
Der of guns in its possession. One thing
Is certain, if they had that number to be-
gin with, we have come very far from get
ting possession Of them, and they are
slowed away somewhere for our future
amusement.
The Filipino army, as it afterwards de-
veloped, was a sort of dual organization
composed of regulars and militia. 1t was
organized by districts, with local officers,
In the main, and could be relied upon, in
80 far as it was reliable in any sense, for
fighting only in or near its own district.
This accounts for the fact that Aguinaldo
was never able to get together in one
place large force for offensive opera
tons, and shows that Manila never was
In serious danger at any time after the
FIRST attack was repulsed.
There were several thousand troops
armed with Mausers, uniformed with the
striped cloth of the Spanish army, and
fairly well drilled, both in evolutions and
volley firing. These had for the most part
been drilled in the Spanish army, and had
deserted to the insurgents, with their
rifles, before Manila fell, or had Joined
them afterwards. This was especially
true of the Tigers or "Aguinaldo's
Red-legged Devils" whose fate has al
ready been referred to. Each leading
General had a number of troops of this
kind, while for other aid he depended
upon the district forces wherever he hap
pened to be operating.
These district troops were the poorest
kind of militia, being almost without drill,
with no fire discipline whatever, and com
Ing and gong almost at their individual
will. They wore no uniform, and there
was no way whatever by which they could
be told from peaceable citizens when they
did not happen to have rifles in their
hands. These were the amigos" about
which so much has appeared in the dis
patches, because of their habit of pre-
tending to be friends and visiting our
camps in the daytime and then joining
In night attacks upon us under the cover
Of darkness. But more of them anon.
MANILA INVESTED BY FILIPINO ARMY
Gradually this army invested Manila
with chain of earthworks, and by the
first Of January We were practically in a
state Of siege. / have described the Span
ish line of blockbouses and trenches that
defended Manila, and which we had to
capture in taking the city. These were
all beyond the city limits. and, therefore,
under our policy of combining ourselves
and our authority strictly to the city, in
order to conform TO the letter of the pro.
toool with Spain, they all fell into the
possession of the insurgents, except Fort
Malstc and the adjacent trenches. What
were originally intended as the defenses of
the city thus were occupied by the besieg-
ing force, and the Americans had no de-
lenses whatever except their rifles, nor
dill they construct any at any time.
This seeming carelessness encouraged
the Filipinos, who seemed to think they
could capture the city and drive the
Americans into the bay at any time they
chose TO mako the effort Indeed. they
openly boastcd of their ability and inten-
ton TO do this as soon AZ they were
sandy