The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-10-29
MARINES 1t MANILA
Two Years All That They Can
Stand in That Climate.
RECORD OF GOOD WORK
Graphic Description Given of
SohotOn Campaign.
record OF GOOD WORK

Washington, Oct 2S-Major General
Charles Haywood, commandant OF the
United States marine corps in mis- annual
report TO the secretary Of the navy says
it is his policy to keep the officers and
men of his command in the Philippines
only two years and a half. returning
them after such service to this country
He hopes to reduce this term of service
to two years. that being as long as is
sdvisa bic to keep them in that climate
During the past year, while there have
been practically no demonstrations in the
Philippines by organized insurgents, the
marines, says General Haywood, has done
excellent work in Kidding the island of
rowing bands of Ladrones. The report
presents in detail the operation of Major
Waller and his courageous band of ma
rines on the coast Of southern Samar
Major Waller is quoted as saying the
expeditions early in last November in
Sohoton district, were the most important
OF the campaign so far as their effect
on the insurgents were concerned. A
graphic account is given of the opera
tons of the main expedition in the
Sohoton district. The attack was on the
fortified cliffs and natives in the noun
talns which had been reported to be prac-
tically impregnable The plan of attack
was that two shore columns were to
unite under Major Waller. Concerning
the result Of the attack the report says:
"On the 18th of November, the shore
column struck the enemy's trail which
was followed and the detachments soon
came upon number of bamboo guns.
One of these commanding the trail had
the fuse burning and Acting Corporal
Henry Glenn rushed forward and pulled
out the fuse. The attack of the marines
was a perfect surprise and the enemy
was completely routed, thirty being killed
After driving the insurgents from their
position the troops crossed the river
scaled the cliffs on the opposite side and
destroyed the camps there The enemy
fred two volleys and then fed. Major
Waller says that he himself was not in
this attack, being in the river below and
unable TO reach the firing line in time,
but he mentions Captains Porter and
Bears as being entitled to the highest
credit for The courageous and skillful
manner in which they routed the enemy
in the face CT apparently insurmountable
obstacles. In order to retain the enemy's
position, the troops had TO climb the
cliffs. which rise sheer from the river
to the height of about 200 feet and are
itOi4C9 COilDcQ Win Caves TO Mllcn access
is had by means of bamboo hand rails
Tons of rock are suspended in cages.
Aheld in position by vines and in readiness
to be precipitated upon people and boats
below Instant destruction would have
undoubtedly been the fate OF the boats
had they undertaken the ascent of the
river before the shore column had dis
lodged the insurgents.
The effect Of the capture of this last
stronghold upon the insurectos of Samar
cannot be overestimated. as they had
spent years of labor upon the defenses
and undoubtedly considered the cliff
Qualifications impregnable."
- The report contains an account of the
march of 100 miles across Samar of Mai
Waller and his men ana of the incred-
ible hardships they endured. The COM
mand was engaged actively and contin-
uously against the insurgents for three
months.
General Haywood strongly urges the
enactment of the measure introduced at
the last session of congress providing for
an increase in the officers and enlisted
men of the marine corps. He recommends
the erection at Philadelphia Of a fire
rrOof depot of supplies at the cost of
$4,000. the present leased quarters being
entirely inadequate and unsafe. He
says, too, that the present quarters in
Washington are old and unsanitary and
have been condemned by a board of med
zeal officers of the navy. Preliminary
steps have been taken 10 erect new bar
racks at Norfolk Va, at a cost OF $780,
GEO.
Generay Haywood renews his previous
recommendation that congress appropri-
ate literally for marine barracks and
quarters at the Charleston, s. c., naval
station.
The report says that the native in
habitants in Guam are making crafty
ing progress in acquiring a knowledge
of the English language.