The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-29
An Officer Of the Filipino Scouts
Returns.
Lieutenant Metcalf Is Home on
Leave Of Absence
HIS HEALTH WAS GOOD
Doesn't Object to Life on the
Isle Of Panay.
Brought Over a Crowd OF
Soldiers clustered Out"

Hutchinson, Kan, Dec. 2S.-The News
says:
Lieutenant D. Nj Metcalf, formerly of
this city, is visiting friends here for a
few days on his way to the home of his
parents at Dexter. Cowley county. He
has just returned from the Philippines
and is on leave of absence.
Lieutenant Metcalf is in command of
the Forty-sixth company of Filipino
scouts and his command is at present
on the Island of Panay in the Philippine
archipelago. The headquarters of the
department. with which his troops are
connected is at Iloilo. but his particular
company is Just across the straits and
are at Camp BOSNIAN, Buena Vista, on
the Island of Guimaras Mr.. Metcalf
secured his leave of absence for two
months time and it began December II
IN San Francisco. He will report there
when he is ready to return. He may
get the leave extended for a longer
period.
Mr.. AIetcalf was here for a short time
IN 1898 and enlisted with the Twenty
first Kansas band. going to Topeka with
them and spending the summer at
Chickamauga Park. He stayed with
the regiment until they We're mustered
out, returning here for a short time, but
enlisting in the Eighteenth infantry
regular army. at Atchisoh in April the
next year, 1899. He went to the Philip
pines with this regiment and served
more than two years. He was raised
20 the rank Of corporal and, upon the
organization Of the Filipino scouts, he
was given a commission as second lieu
tenant and placed second in command
Of the Forty-sixth company. He has
9erved all of this time in the southern
part of the islands and a good share of
It on the Island of Panay. He was
commissioned on July 1, 1901. for four
years and the troops were mustered into
service the following October.
His command is composed of native
Visians and there are 104 of them in
the company. There are fifty companies
Of the native troops and they are desig-
mated as scouts They are in command
OF a first and second lieutenant, and
they have not been assigned into bat
talions or regiments. This may be done
later, but up to the present time they
are kept separate. Mr. Metcalf aid his
senior officer, First Lieutenant Weust-
hof. are virtually in command of a
separate detachment of native soldiers.
Mr.. Metcalf says that his health has
been good since he left the states and
he has little fault to find with the CHI
mate there. OF course he would rather
live in the states and his trip here may
have something to do with his future
life, but he Is satisfied with the work
there at the present time. He says that
the experience he has gained in the SER
vice in the Philippines has been of
value to him and he will work there
until he is mustered out or there are
other arrangements made for the future
of the Filipino troops. He is of the
opinion that the scouts will be con-
tinued in service and that they will be
Fe-enisted after their present term ex-
pires, which will be in October 1904.
The Forty-seventh company of scouts
has organized a band of forty-five
pieces among their number and they
will be sent to the states, leaving Ma
Mia about March 1, coming here to take
part in the military display at the
Worlds fair at ST. Louis.
He was in command OF a company of
"Casuals" on the way over from Ma
Mia and brought these men to the
Angel island barracks, where they will
be mustered out of service "Casuals''
are soldiers whose enlistment is about
to expire. If they do not wish to enlist
they are brought home again and mus
tered out at San Francisco.