The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1908-12-30
CHAPTER III.-continued.


STRUNG that white flag you raised as 4
sign of truce? And if that is so, /
l6hould like to be informed as to why
at the same time you lowered the
United States flag from the peak?'
The general. chOked with mortifica-
ticn. hesitated for moment, and then
found himself unable to express his
REIMBURSEMENT in words. He slowly
withdrew his sword from it's belt
hooks, and held it, hilt formost, to-
ward the admiral, who seemed unable
to realize that it was rendered in sur
render. There was a moments 81
lence. in which he looked down at that
trusty old blade of steel. never before
dishonored by cOnqueror's hand. He
glanced inquiringly at his fellow coun-
questiGAing their sanity.
II regret to say, sir the general
answered, that the flag was raised in
surrender not only of this fortification,
but of all military forces on the is
lands
The admiral gave a quick start of
surprise and jubilation as the signifi-
canoe of this unexpected action
dawned upon him.
The total surrender of the Phil
ippines" he questioned, as il it was
beyond comprehension that without
further effort this island kingdom of
the sea was TRANQUILITY to be turned
over to the first enemy who battered
challenge on it's gates.
THE general, beyond words, nodded
spoken sentences the admiral trans
lated the details of the conversation
to his compatriots.
"Goaded by the sneers and satirical
ordinations with which this was
greeted, the general broke into a sud-
den blaze of wrath, shook a clenched
fist under the admiral's very nose, and
in white heat exclaimed: Yes, it
comes easy; but it's no fault of mine!
I'm Obeying orders. If had my way
Id have seen you in hell before this
happened. l would. so help me God"
las a signal to the waiting fleet,
they ran aloft the rising sun emblem
of Japan, while the discounted Of
ficers of the United States retired to
the barracks for the almost hopeless
attempt of explaining the situation to
the puzzled garrison. These were SOL
der like, quick moving, wiry men
from the west, proud of their country
and their crops, and were of the kind
that could not understand dishonor
through mere obedience to higher or
ders. They stormed and swore, and
for a time it seemed that mutiny
would spread throughout the fortress,
man the great guns, tear down the flag
of Japan and send hurting masses of
defiant steel out into the ranks of
that force which had come upon them
in a night and won an unearned VIC
tory. But they, too. were creatures of
discipline. and in the end reluctantly
accepted fate.
The great armada slowly gathered
way and crept forward almost be-
meath the towering walls of the silent
forts. Boat after boat brought its
load of marines ashore and discharged
them on ground which in other wars
had been stained with the blood of
valorous men. Here on these beaches
had stepped the armies of old Spain,
coming as pioneers to battle with saw
age foemen. In former years the wa
tiers of this bay on another day in
May had foated the vessels of brave
Dewey's feet. had rocked and quivered
beneath the impact Of his guns. and
witnessed the raising Of his victorious
flag over the smoldering ramparts
And With such a history of glory be.
hind II, the moon on this night rose
over q land silent. conquered. and
abandoned. as II 1t was of no more
value than a tiny pebble cast into q
tropical sea-"