The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-06-12

one gets away from the purely business
portion of the city change is wrought
in the architecture. The wooden upper
story gives way to bamboo mating for
the sides of the better ones and nipa
matching for the others. finally dwindling
down to the common nipa matched bam-
boo hut set upon stills. Yet far out the
main thorOughfares leading out of the
city and beyond its limits are to be found
fine stone and wooden houses, residences
of the wealthy FilipinOs and of foreign
ers. The stone Easements of these houses
were used for forts by the insurgents,
from which safe retreats they fired in Sc
curity until the Americans came within
dangerous distance, when they sneaked
out and took up positions in other like
sheltered places, to continue firing upon
the advancing troops. Such is the general
character of the buildings and plan of the
city both within and without the walls.
BUsINEss-LIKE MASUvERs ONLY.
Early in the morning after the capitu-
lation the Oregon regiment left its quar-
tiers in the Ayuntamiento and marched
down the Gale Cabildo to Victoria Gale
and thence to the Quartet de Espana,
which was to be its home for the next
six months. There were few people on
the streets, but the windows of the second
stories We're crowded with Spaniards and
Mestizos curious to see the first Ameri-
can regiment to march through the
streets of Manila.
There was no attempt at parade nor
show. In all our occupation of Manila
there was no effort made to make q mill
tary spectacle, the plain business get
there" principle which animated the con-
duct Of the whole army in the field, and
was the spirit of the drill regulations, be-
ing the one universally acted upon This
was, in view Of the character of the peO-
pie with whom we had to deal, a mistake
The Spaniards and Filipinos are people
who love show and pomp, spectacular
parades and ceremonies. Had the Ameri-
cans adopted policy of military parades
and shows they would have made a far
more favorable impression upon the ma
tives than they did. Failure to do this
contributed to the impression the natives
gradually acquired that the Americans
did not amount to much as soldiers and
could easily be whipped, an important
factor in aiding Aguinaldo to organize his
insurrection and recruit his army.
The regiment marched at rout steD,
the men laughing and joking with each
other and whistling and singing "There'Il
Be Hot Time in the Old Town" as they
went along, taking off their hats to the
pretty senOritas in the windows and shout
ing compliments that seemed not to be I'M
appreciated, Judging from the smiles that
were returned by the peeping damsels.
Whether it was "Muy bonita,' "mucho
bueno, SAY, amt she beaut?' or sim
ply wave Of the hat, it all seemed to
meet with favor by the fair objects of at
tention. The music, too, seemed to stimu-
late curiosity. 1t was their first introduce
ton to "A Hot Time" in Manila and they
seemed to recognize it as something
special. Later it came to be considered
the American National air ms well as
1.-The Star Spangled Banner" and when
ever Filipino band wanted to please the
Americans it invariably made an attempt
at making 1t unsteady warm in the old
town. This was always painful pro-
ceeding, for they never succeeded in catch
ing the spirit Of the piece, and played it
more like funeral dirge than quick
step. They were temperamentally unable
to put the "hOt time into it.
just before the Quartet was reached at
tention was called, and we marched into
the barrack parade ground to the good old
tune of Marching Through Georgia." an.
other air which the Filipinos picked up
Immediately. remember one night after
taps, while on the firing line and awaiting
the beginning of battle at daylight, hear
ing Filipino bugle behind the intrench-
ments We were going to storm playing as
solo Marching Through Georgia, III
the musician survived the slaughter of the
next day he marched through rice swamps
pretty lively in an effort to get out of
harms way.
ITO he continual