The Washington herald., 1908-06-07
LOYALTY OF THE FTLTPTNOS:
BERI BERT AND CARABAO

Basey. Samar. P. l.. April lO.-We
have been for a short trip up into Samar,
and have come back 10 Basey on the
western coast, which is quite a historic
al town, and the place that the rem
nants Of the company OF the Ninth In
fantry that was attacked at Balangiga
finally reached and obtained assistance.
II is in this vicinity that the beautiful
Filipino mats are made. and they can be
bought here as low as two and three
pesos, while in Manila they sell for
eight and ten.
In the edition OF the Army and Navy
Journal dated September :, 1907, there
appeared an article signed by Henry du
r. Phelan, a contract surgeon. making
quite a bitter attack on the Filipino
scouts as soldiers. Among other things.
he declares that they are Enthusiastically
and disloyal; also. that in the case Of
the massacre Of Lieut. Hayt's command
In Samar they allowed themselves TO
be-, surprised and cut to pieces.
I cannot let the opportunity pass
to contradict these two statements. Aft
er travelling through Samar and Leyte.
and paying nearly every scout company
on duty in these two islands, as well as in
Luzon. after witnessing their exhibition
drills and conversing with their officers.
I have ascertained that they are good
soldiers. both in field and barracks. and
that the officers have unlimited conf
dence in their loyalty. IN the case OF
Lieut.. Hayt. the doctor evidently kne'G
nothing OF his subject. Lieut. Hayt knew
for two days that he was 10 be attacked
by insurgents. am had prepared for the
attack as best he could. The morning
Of the attack the officer ordered his men
10 hold their fire in reserve for some
time on account OF the fact that the in
surrectos advanced with the women in
front of their column. and Lieut. Hayt
did not want 10 Kill them. Ii is true
that his command was defeated and
butchered TO the last man. but only aft
er infiicting heavy loss on their enemies.
and every man died at his post. with his
face to the front. Could any enlisted
man have done more?
While recently travelling through Samar
we had an example Of the extraordinary
strength of the carahao. We came to a
ford and were unable TO cross. because
two escort wagons heavily loaded had
sunk so deeply in the mud that they
could not be extricated. although each
wagon had a double team Of army mules,
who were straining every muscle to &C
complish this purpose. The teamsters
were swearing and flashing the mules,
making the atmosphere fairly blue. but
all to no purpose. and they had about
decided to unload the wagons, which
would have necessitated a delay OF at
along with an enormous bull carabao
and expressed HIS opinion that the beast
could get the wagons out Of the mud, II
sufficient inducement were offered.
He was told that he would be given
three pesos IL he succeeded in turning
the trick. and the mules were unhitched
from the first wagon and the carabao
substituted. The native seated himself
on the creatures back. yelling encourage
ment. swearing in a mixture Of Visayan,
Spanish. and pidgin English. promising
him untold and unheard of feasts II he
succeeded. and again reviling him and
his ancestors for possible failure. There
was mighty heave OF the enormous
shoulders, a creaking OF bolts and chains,
as though the wagon was about TO dupli-
cate the feat OF the wonderful "One-
Horse Shay" an extra heart-rending
yell from the cochero. and. presto the
load began 10 move slowly forward, and
in less than fifteen minutes both wagons
had been pulled across the stream. while