The Savannah morning news., 1902-08-03
~. SOLDIER scAPEGRACEs.
Loud Call From Manila for Recall of
COIOred Troops.

Loud Call From Manila for Recall of
COIored Troops.
From the Manila Freedom. June 20.
Manila has not gained anything
through having the Twenty-fourth In
fantry quartered in the city, unless
1t be the addition to society of it's Off
GERS and ladies'. Men of the regiment
have time and time again disgraced
the regiment and have cast opprobrl-
um upon their more decent comrades.
A negro quarter has been formed in
the Walled City in the vicinity of the
Quartet de Espana, populated by dis
solute Filipino women, and q locality
that was formerly decent residen-
tial district is now avoided by the
reputable. There have been cases of
attempted rape, assault, and disorder,
and certain part of the enlisted con-
tlngent have succeeded in getting
themselves cordially disliked. When
the Twenty-fourth came to Manila 1t
was received with pleasure by the
majority of Americans, who admired
the colored soldiers for their brave
deeds. Since the regiment has been
stationed here, however. the major
ity of brave deeds have been deeds Of
lawlessness and disorder, and it is with
relief that the majority of Americans
and it is safe to say, the majority
of foreigners and FilipinoS as we'll
will view the regiments departure. In
order to leave a still better impression
behind them, certain members or the
regiment saw fit night before last to
deliberately seek out the most dis
reputable district of Manila-the cheap
red-light portion of Sampaloc and
there create a disturbance for the pur-
pose of revenging themselves upon the
Manila police force for certain fan
cied wrongs; in reality because the
police have previously interfered with
their lawlessness and debauchery in
that locality. That the affair was
preconcerted there can be no doubt.
One negro deliberately fired two shots
from a Colts revolver at policeman
with murderous intent. Fortunately
the thick-headed brute was unsktlled
in the use of the weapon and did no
damage. Another negro-and non
commissioned officer at that-WreSteo
club from a policeman and felled MIN
to the ground. Still another gallant
colored defender of his country STABBED
policeman in the abdomen, infiictlng
a wound from which the officer may
die In the general melee which fol-
lowed a number of shots were ex-
changed and between the soldiers ana
the police and two inoffensive persons
Who were near-a meStlZo ana a coch-
ero-were wounded, one seriously. For
tunately the soldier. who is supposed
to have welded the knife against the
police was shot-probably fatally. All
er achievements had been received
the police managed to land their prls-
oners in the Sampaloo police station,
where they now remain.
This occurrence caps the climax ana
II Is to be hoped that the military au-
thorities will hasten the time for the
removal of the regiment. The courtesy
with which it has been treated-the
patronage extended to its minstrel
show at the Gorilla, which, as last pre-
sented, was nothing more or less than
an imposition upon the public, devoid
Of merit with the exception of the final
sketch; the decency with which the
enlisted men have been received as
equals-all this has been wasted. The
ignorance of some of the men has con-
strued courtesy to mean that license
was theirs to do as they pleased. In
another month we would be crowded
from the sidewalks by black huskies,
and find their immoral and diseased
Iemale associates camped upon our
'front.' door stems Take them away!