The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-04-09
CHAPTER discontinued,

Am right, sir he said, in con
STRUNG that white flag you raised as a
sign of truce? And if that is so,
should 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
ton, hesitated for a moment. and then
found himself unable to express his
REIMBURSEMENT in words. He slowly
withdrew his sword from its 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 moments ST.
lence, in which he looked down at that
trusty old blade of steel, never before
dishonored by conquerors hand. He
glanced inquiringly at his fellow coun
trymen and then at the others, as il
questioning their sanity.
I regret to say, SIR the general
answered, that the flag was raised in
surrender not only of this fertilization
but of all military forces on the is,
lands
The admiral gave 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 if 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
a challenge on it's gates.
THE general, beyond words, nodded
In confirmation. In a few quickly
spoken sentences the admiral trans
lated the details of the conversation
to his compatriots.
"Goaded by the sneers and satirical
EXPLANATIONS with which this was
greeted, the general broke into a sud-
den blaze of wrath, shook q 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. | would, so help me Godn
AS a signal to the waiting fleet,
they ran aloft the rising sun emblem
OF Japan, while the discounted Of
f1cers 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 1t 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 it's
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 say.
age foemen. In former years the wa
ters Of this bay on another day in
May had foated the vessels of brave |
Dewey's fleet, had rocked and quivered
beneath the impact of his guns, and
the raising of his victorious
flag over the smoldering ramparts.
And with such history OF glory be.
hind 1t, the moon on this night rose
over a land silent, conquered, and
as if it was of no more
value than tiny pebble cast into
.ropical sea-"