The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-05-28
With the Soldier in the Philippines.


strain and mental tension tell more
on him than the physical suffering.
The men have TO contend with a
willy, savage and fanatical foe in a
torrld and enervating climate. These
conditions which the troops faced in
the Philippines caused Z. c. Collins,
one of the International Young Mems
Christian Association secretaries, 10
plan to visit southern Mindanac with
his outfit of TRAVELLING libraries, writ
Ing materials, magazine and papers
which are supplied in quantities from
this country by the Young Mems
Christian Association to bring cheer
and comfort to the men. The army
transports carry the secretaries when
ever possible, but when Mr. Collins
applied to the quarte-master at Manila
for transportation, he was informed
that the boat was crowded. Mr.. Col
Inns said, IL always carry my state
room with me and rough 1t with the
men on sea or land. This opened
the way and with his libraries and
supplies he was taken aboard. While
en- route the ships company were
given concerts in the evening and the
use CT his magazines and books. AT
llollo, where the cholera had been
raging and killing a hundred natives
a day and men were quarantlned on
board, he "made things lively" with
music and songs. At Tucuran, a
small, lonely, one company post,
perched on the top of hill, overlook
ing the sea and surrounding country,
the only recreation for the men had
been wild boar and deer hunting.
Here he gave concerts and left a
travelling Young Mems Christian As
sociation library, case of some sixty
books, one for one hundred and fifty,
furnished by the Woman's Auxiliary
of the International Committee for
the army and navy. Here be joined
the train of fifteen wagons, each lrawn
by six mules and accompanied by an
escort of thirty men, en- route for the
interior. AT Mataling Falls he found
three companies. The men had no
diversion from guard duty and road
building for weeks. Collins was cal
led god-send with his popular eve
ming concerts and quantities of popu-
lar literature. From here he contnu.
ed up the trail, accompanied by an
escort and a pack train, and found
at Camp Wears fifteen hundred men
under canvas, where they had been
for months without entertainment.
Here he gave hour after hour of song
and music. The men had been at this
camp for months, enduring months OF
heavy rain, doing guard and outpost
duty; with every little while on post
and following this scene of fright
ful earthquakes. Cool, level-headed
army officers said it was the most
trying experience through winch they
had ever passed and the constant ex.
cltement and lack Of helpful diversion,
was seriously affecting the men. The
coming of the secretary was appreclat.
ed by the army surgeons even more
than the men as help to them in
maintaining the health of the garrison.
Pack mules were sent back from here
by General Sumner to bring in the
travelling libraries. Sunday morning
Chaplain Rice and Secretary Collins
joined forces in the hospital and or
the hillside. AT Camp Jossman ovel
four hundred men and all the officers
of the battalion, listened to a sacrec
zonophone concert, followed by a
service.
Secretary Collins spent several dav.
in this camp visiting among the mer
with whom he had suffered hardship.
on the tramp, "hiking" hundreds o
} miles each year with the troops, visit
ing the hospitals, holding services
entertaining the soldlere in camp dur
ing the long evenings, and furnishing
literature and writing materials. In
the thirty-eight days of his first visit a
Wears and Jossman, twenty-one con
certs were given to nearly 5000 men
At Cottabato, on the banks of The
Rio Grande, gospel services were
held under the palm trees, with the
J entire garrison of three companies
present. When mention was made
of the donor of the music and talking
: machines cheer after cheer was giver
for the lady, who is regarded thu
world over as friend of the soldier
and sailors, as we'll as railroad men
General Sumner, noting the servic,
, of the army secretary, wrote "Prob
[ ably nothing can be made to appea
, 10 the average soldier in the felc
! quite SO forcibly as this sort of enter
talnment, and undoubtedly it keep
him from amusing himself in othe
i and less healthful ways. This quiet