The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-08-07
American Military Experts
Pay Tribute TO Filipino
Soldiers as Fighting
Men.

Manila, Special: Under the glare of
skies rellectinS with 1ieiiceness the
SUM-, in the tangles of miaslnatic Jungle
and in fastneS5es far away
from anything that resembles civili-
cation, an army of little brown men is
playing an important part in uphold
ing the glory of the American flag
unheralded. unsung. all but unknown.
You, back home, who AVE not for
gotten that tho Philippines exist prob
ably look upon this Land as one in
which the American army Tolls about
being to watch the antics of the busy
Filipino politico. Gou give no thought
to the Filipino soldier. Why should
you? You hear nothing of him. He has
from impelling desire ~ rule and
squeeze his fellow nationals, he
takes no hand in political strife and
PIRATES not of immediate Independence
IN order to get Office. Instead, he goes
quietly, silently.
The American soldier hes his his
toflans and his poets to recount his
brave deeds, ana worthy is he of their
prose and Their song. SO beautifully
Inspiration for patriotic tongue and
pen that the budding kiplings OF the
Philippines have dealt only with him.
The little brown soldier who wears
o11Sle osHl > hliitNl HIS not Vet lSufeu
IN the poetic picture. Some day There
may come from among his people one
with q song for his good work and
daring deeds, but SO far he has had
to be content With seeing these deeds
recorded only in the curt, cold COM
ment known as general orders and
official reports. If he ever ndulges in
philosophizing it is just possible he
may find satisfaction in the fact that
this official commendation comes from
l11hn who hcNo f01Irht Inv 1,i. etle f,~.,~
the men who know him best.
Are Kept Very Busy.
There is. however, no external evil
dence that the scout wastes much Of
his time in wondering why his deeds
do not figure in the poetry dunn of
eighty odd millions in a land he has
never seen ak of his work. He con-
tents himself with doing the best he
knows how. His captain knows and
thai mlghtier la they call major
knows, and he has been told that even
the great man h presides over his
destinies at division Headquarters
knows-and appreciates. So he is glad,
especially when.6ate is good and there
is the real work of the soldier to do.
know from experience pay tribute to
his qualities as a fighting man. Officers
and men OF the American army are
not sparing in their praise of their
SAio I'LL I'll IA IIlllDDlne scouts.
The American soldier has had occasion
to test their quality in the lays of
the empire, n in spots SINCE, and he
has a respect for the little brown men
who may have once been his enemies
but who are now fighting by his side.
While a majority of the scouts are
young II have known no other SER
vice save that under the American flag,
some OF the best soldiers in their ranks
have upon occasion been part of some
one OF these 11IrCnn hands h j; 1o,l
to be suppressed by fdSee of arms.
Under the old regin1 the Ladrone
business was II of the chief native
industries. Many became members of
those rowing bands just as a matter of
course, others impelled by thai spirit
Of adventure which is strong in youth
and still others because the only Wis
ible was to have their heads
chopped off by insistent Ladrone lead
ers-and they did not particularly en-
joy the decapitation prospect.
1t does not at all count against a
scout that he was once a Ladrone. He
has mended his ways, II then, too,
ne likes fighting on the side of the law
just as uch as he did fighting against
the law, and u little more.
Fine SoIdierIy Bearing.
The most valuable testimony to the
efficiency of these Filipino soldiers
comes from those iii the best position
to judge. the military experts who
nave had to do with them. Though
short in stature. they are sturdy; in
company n battalion drill they are
without doubt h equals of any SOL
diers, no matter what the color Of their
skin. In appearance they resemble the
Japanese soldiers. tut are better look
ing; Yuan Shih-kai's vaunted Manchu
troops cannot compare with these ma
tives of the Philippines.
Or course, eXternals do not count for
much. u the first hand knowledge of