The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-20
BRAVERY 4OF MARINES
ANOTHER REPORT RECEIVED
 FROM MAJOR WALLER.
Terrible Hardsnips Were Undergone During the Effort to Cross sa-
 mar, But They Were Borne \
 With Fortitude.

Washington. March lS.-The Navy De- partment has made public another report from Major Waller. of the marine corps recouuting the stirring events Of his trag- ic effort to cross the island of Samar.
 Major Waller begins with statement that Lieutenant Williams. 7th Infantry, who had just returned from a twelve days trip in fruitless search for the trail and Captain Pickering urged him not to make the attempt to cross Samar on account of the difficulties. but he decided to make the attempt In view of the com manding generals evident desire to find theN trail and run a wire across. starting with fifty men on December 2s from La, nang The rivers were much swollen and 1t took long time to get the boat through the rapids. Trails were picked up only to be lost again and the rain came down in torrents. The river the men were following curved almost to circle and the banks held no trails The route crossed and recrossed the river ev- cry few minutes and the men began to develop water sores aud chafes.
 The knowledge that they made four or i've nailns in one direction for each twelve miles ot march was depressing. On the 3vth reduced rations were issued No sign of human habitation had been seen except a fsherman's shack. There were not even birds. It took the whole of the 3lst to reach the mountain pass.
 All the clements seemed to be against the men. Descending, the trail was again lost. The men could get DO fire and ate wiih one man on 1t. Starting down the river word came to Waller that many men could not keep up. so he decided to forge ahead for relief with thirteen of the strongest men. leaving Captain Port CT In command of the main body. An other effort to build raft failed. Wal Ter finally came upon a clearing where he found a shack and soSse growing veg Af A started a fire and two days supply of po- tatoes was cooked. Word from the rear was that the men could make only three miles a day. There was only enough ba- con to frv the potatoes. co
 The natives were reported to be threat ening Porter and altogether the expedi- ton was in a bad way. Two natives were captured and pressed into service as guides Finally the Spanish trail was found. but simultaneously a large boat was discovered and the start was made for Basey. The report says:
 "The men. realizing that all was over and that they were safe and once more near home. gave up, some quietly wept, others laughed hysterically. Most Of the men had no shoes. Cut torn. bruised and dila uidated they had marched twenty achieved what no white troops had done before. but they thought not of it. but Of each other. '.-
 Al Basey Waller was taken sick with fever and suffered also from his injured ankle. He says that the expedition was of no value except to show that the mountains can be penetrated and that there are no insurgents there.
 Concluding Major Waller says that he was the only one of the party able to move on February s. Ten of the men died of exhaustion. and one in the hos pital All of the others except Captain Bearss. Lieutenant Halford. Lieutenant I,yles and Major Waller himself either were or had been in the hospital at the date of the report. The length of his march was 2j0 miles.