Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-02-16
T1LIPINOS RIVAL THE JAPANESE
FIGHTERS

The story of soldier-makne among tho
islanders is worth the telling. Hero it
is. in the language OF an officer who
literally created one Of the best COM
mands Of scouts: We did not ricl; them
out for their goodness OF general NOR.
atty. The first thing 10 he considered was
II the man was strong and healthy; next
lf he know enough to understand wha'
he was told to do in his own Language
As TO his courage. We could only tell
about that after putting him IN % rice
'icld where he might have spear run
INTO him any minute or get n pinparin.
tstruck with war-aXc) before he knew
what happened. In fact, the orders from
Manila were to enlist as many Of the
carahpn thieves ard others of bad rcputa
as We could get into the files. along with
tho better oncs-provided they wcre fit in
other respects and mix them al mp to-
gcthcr. The idea was that it would be a
good way to keep them from, making
trouble if We could hold thct. "a own hv
discipline. 'ro each company were as
signed enough serceants and corporalS
from the regular forces to put them in
to some kind of shape with drills and
settingup exercises. Then they wer"
taught how TO wear a Uniform OF course
VIC worked tncm in squads at frs, am.
as they became familiar with the manual
of arms and learned what it means TO
keep step. they were formed into COM
panics. Once they acquired II sma ttering
of tactics. they went ahead so fast that
soon the dril-masicrs We're sent back to
tho Garrisons. and scrReants and cor
porals promoted from their own ranks
handled the awkward squads.
1t may seem strange. but the very
ones from whom we expected the most
trOublethe thieves and other rffraf
taken into tho scrvce-have. as a rule
shown themselves to be among The best
soldiers-not merely brave. hut efficient
This has been the case in my own cx-
pericnce. and in other provinces as well;
One trouble about these fellows has been
to hold them back when they get into
fight. Just after began recruiting the
scouts call for troops came from one
|of the settlements in Cavite province,
where a band of iadroncs and former in
surrcctos had begun pilaRing. and kill
ing when the people offered resistance
The only command within days
march of the place was a company Of
Tagalogs who had been mustered in less
than month before 1t included a good
many natives whose reputation had been
bad. They had never been under fire AMI
il was quest ion if they would not do
scr, and loin the other crowd at the
first chance. Then too. the captain and
first lieutenant were young officers jus.
from the states. and were in command
fol tn" first time. But there was no
choice. and they were ordered out. They
rea chcd the place where tho ladrones had
been at work. located their camp in the
centre Of Il Big swamp. and struck it
one morning at day break. II was IA
case Of over three TO one in favor of the
ladrones. who had plenty Of rifles. be-
sides hoios. but that company went right
into them. routed the whole outfit. and
killed and wounded ffty-thrce in all.
las the department records prove. They
obeyed orders until after had the band
on the run. then paying no attention to
the command of recall. they cha Sod them
until 100 exhausted to go farther. Sew
cral OF the company did not show up
after the attack until dusk. One of the
American seracnnts who Wa. with them
ID they fought like devils. and he wa
probably right, Day Allen Wiley in
l.eslic's Weekly.