The Filipino American War as seen by diarists in real time with some additional commentary and sourc

Posted 8/28/2003 HistoryLink.org Essay 5526

On May 1, 1898, the First Washington Volunteer Infantry Regiment musters at Camp Rogers south of Tacoma for the Spanish-American War. Governor John P. Rogers (1897-1901) appoints U.S. Army First Lieutenant John H. Wholly, Professor of Military Science at the University of Washington, as the regimental commander with the rank of Colonel. The 1,126 men of the First Washington will be sent to the Philippine Islands, but instead of fighting the Spanish, the regiment will battle Filipino insurgents.

The Spanish-American War

The Spanish-American War was fought primarily in Cuba and the Philippines, where revolts were under way against Spanish colonial power. The United States, with its own imperial goals, intervened against Spain. In April 1898, the U.S. declared war after Spain sank the battleship U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor. President William McKinley called for 100,000 volunteers.

The Treaty of Paris ended the Spanish-American War in 1899, and Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States. Filipinos then declared their independence and Emilio Aguinaldo led a guerrilla war against the U.S. In the Philippine Islands, the men of the First Washington battled not the Spanish but these Filipino insurgents. The United States won the war and acquired the Philippines as an overseas territory.

The Washington Infantry Regiment

In May 1898, Governor Rogers ordered the Washington National Guard to form the nucleus of a regiment of infantry for federal service. Volunteers and activated National Guard companies from Washington communities assembled on a prairie south of Tacoma dubbed Camp Rogers. The 1,200 openings were quickly filled and men eager for adventure and patriotic service were turned away.

The 12 companies of the First Washington Volunteer Infantry were from the following cities: Seattle (2), Spokane (2), Walla Walla, Vancouver, Centralia, Dayton, Tacoma, North Yakima, Waitsburg, and Ellensburg. Most of these men were from the Washington State National Guard. In Seattle on May 6-7, 1898, about 125 men joined Companies B and D.

The head of the Washington National Guard was Tacoma lawyer William J. Fife, but he was hunting for gold in Alaska when the call came. Fife returned to find himself second in command to Wholly. Wholly instituted a strenuous training program and Army discipline. A popular company commander from Centralia was disqualified for medical reasons and some of his men refused to serve under another officer. Wholly dismissed the entire company and invited the men to reenlist. Most took up the offer and the former officer and his loyalists went home.

War in the Philippines

After less than a month at Camp Rogers, the regiment's battalions traveled to San Francisco for more training. The regiment left San Francisco for the Philippines in October 1898, after hostilities with the Spanish had ended.

In February 1899, fighting erupted between the U.S. troops and the insurrectos and America's first war in Asia started, officially lasting three and a half years. The 1,126 Washington volunteers helped garrison Manila and held a line that separated the city from Filipino insurgents led by Aguinaldo. They battled insurgents for six months before being sent home.

The regiment disbanded in San Francisco in November 1899. The men made their own way home to hometown receptions, the largest being a three-day celebration in Seattle. Volunteer Park in Seattle is named for the First Washington.

The First Washington lost 129 killed and wounded, including 14 felled by disease and accident. Some 239 men, including Col. Wholley, remained in the Philippines to pursue private interests or to reenlist in other units.

By comparison, Colonel Theodore Roosevelt's First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, the Rough Riders, served just 133 days in 1898 and fought in one skirmish and one battle in Cuba. The First Washington served 18 months and fought almost daily for at least six months.

Sources:
William Woodward, "Prelude to a Pacific Century," Columbia: The Magazine of Northwest History, Winter 1999-2000, pp. 6-13; James B. Dahlquist, "Our 'Splendid Little War,' " Ibid., Spring 2000, pp. 14-23; Karl Irving Faust, Campaigning in the Philippines (Chicago: Hicks-Judd, 1899); Edmund Morris, The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt (New York: The Modern Library, 2001 edition), 618-722' Seattle Post-Intelligencer, November 5, 1899; Clarence B. Bagley, History of King County Washington, Vol. 1 (Seattle: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1928), 445-446.
Note: This file was revised and expanded on May 2, 2006.

Awake early, and a poor tired land bird about the size of a robin was flying around decks, so we are near land. Breakfast of “breast of sow, served with bubby’s.” Had a great dinner in stateroom 104 with Sergt. Coombs, Burtt, Witherspoon and Herman, and Corps. Wilbon & Welch.

--Menu — Salads… Potatoes with lim. vin., Split Pea, Oyster con can [concasse].
--Entrees… Vienna –imported from San. Fran., Tamales –Ala Kapp & Street, Cranberry sauce.
--Roasts… Beef ala P.D. Armour, Bobom of Swine.
--Vegetables… Potatoes, mashed. Tomatoes –stewed. Sweet Corn.
--Fruit… Pears –Bartlets, Peaches.
--Dessert… Plum Pudding ala duff –brandy sauce, fruit cake, Jellies.
--Ices… Limes ala Honolulu, Tea, Lemonade.
--Cigars… compliments Col. Wholley.

Lat. 19° 30º, Long 123° east from Greenwich. Band played in a.m. & p.m.

At 4:20 p.m. the for’ard lookout sung out; “Land HO!” … from the bridge came the answer: “Where away?” “Off the port bow, Sir!” and soon we could see it thro’ the heat rays, then more on the starboard. Land! Oh!

How it rested our restless eyes and what a relief from the tumbling and tossing horizons of the past 18 days. These islands were a surprise to me in that they were very high and along the coral keys, several great tall rocks rose like barren tree trunks to a great height. We were not close enough to distinguish foliage but they are known to be heavily covered.

Here is land for the explorer — for man’s foot, so far as known, has never touched the shore. They were left astern at 8 p.m. We are off the regular course and feel like explorers indeed. The band and quartette gave a good concert in eve. on officer’s saloon deck. After program Col. Wholley sent cigars and we lingered late over them and ices.

At 10 o’clock (4 bells) more land. High like the western coast of U.S.A. but more rolling was sighted at port now. “Luzon.” At six bells we changed course from W. to S. and with Polaris astern, started on last stretch of H²O: the treacherous China Sea. We are off the coast of “Formosa” about 100 miles S., with China 400 mi. W. Sea smooth. To sleep with smell of spices wafted to me westward from “Luzon” 30 mi. away.

Thanksgiving

This is a beautiful day on account of this being Thanksgiving day. We have no drills. We have Thanksgiving Service and a sacred concert at the Opera House. In the morning we have oatmeal for breakfast, fried pat steak, bread and coffee for dinner. The officers treated us to some gingersnaps and canned pears. Also for supper we had Boston baked beans. In the afternoon, most of us saw Admiral Dewey who attended a reception given by the German Consul. The native band visits our quarters and gives us some good music. The same men remain on the sick list. It is clear as we go to bed at 10 p.m.

Thanksgiving.

Rookies came up this A.M. Rumors some. They seem like an fine set of boys. In evening [had] banquet over in a American restaurant. We had fine time. Some good toasts by Capt. Mc [Macrum] both Lieuts. Morrow, Freeman, Watson, Brook, Claggett, & Bill Smith and Patterson. Morrows on the girl I left behind was particularly fine. The meal was fine but they left out several courses.

Manila, Luzon Island –Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo.



THANKSGIVING. So far as eating is concerned this has not been a feast day to me, but the Lord gives me far more than I deserve. He has truly blessed me in soul and body, for which I thank & love Him; praise His name. God has blessed the United States marvelously. I thanked my God specially in praise & prayers in my room.



Has been a busy day for me.



Cooked breakfast of bacon fried, corn meal mush and cocoa. Dinner: a 10 cents box sardines, some bread, jelly and oranges & lemonade; supper, corn meal mush, cocoa, fried bacon and jelly. Private Amie of H Battery 3d Artillery presented me with 1 jar strawberry jelly and 1 bottle syrup. May God bless him and his family. Says he intends to unite with the Salvation Army. Was converted & sanctified thru its agency.



Private Alfred Pines of A. Co. 1st South Dakota vol. Inf. also brought me 1/10 payment amounting $3.20 U.S. coin.



This forenoon I went to Old Manila — Palace — & got my receipt from McCullough. Paid him $3 U.S. coin for 300 – 2 colors – Not a good job.



Learned that a mail leaves 9.a.m. tomorrow for the U.S. Hurried home & commenced writing copy for the S.F. War Cry. Worked off 8 pages Ms. & wrote & copied 2 letters – (1) Lieut–Col Wm Evans with War Cry copies; (2) Staff-Capt. Ferris, New York acknowledging receipt of General’s Commission & notifying him that Attorney Gibson of Flagstaff, Arizona, has entered the Methodist ministry.



Gave Private Pines 30 War Crys for force distribution among the South Dakota troops, 5 copies No. 565; Sept. 24th, 10 of No. 567 Oct. 18th & 15 of No. 568 Oct. 15th.



Visitors 8.



Busy writing this afternoon & night copy for the S.F. Sub-heads: “The Monitor Monadnock”, “Cruelty to the Queen’s English”, “Friendless Dead”, and “San Pablo Monastery”.



On my return home me Private Shipper of the Engineers. He gave me War Cry No. 569 Oct. 22d. I was shocked to learn that Chas D. Coffin (“Happy Charley”) was killed instantly by a gravel train on the S.P. Mole at Oakland, Cal. Charley lived at 822 ½ Henny St. West Oakland.



He was one of my warmest friends. In 1884 or 5 he was sent to Stockton, Cal. to assist me. I was then the Captain in charge of the corps.; there he met Miss Annie Helferich one of my soldiers & subsequently married her. A daughter was born to them. The mother is an invalid.



Charley was employed as a clerk in the auditing department of the S.P. Railroad Company’s chief office. Was a very zealous Salvationist. Seemed to me that he idolized it.



Rev. & Ms. Owens went over to the Third Artillery barracks & preached this evening. They took the first step to organize a Methodist church among the soldiers. They secured 16 names – all Methodists, save 2.



I went over there about 10.15 to see Bro. Devine. Visited & prayed with Private Hummer who is sick.

Private Amie of H Battery 3d Artillery presented me with 1 jar strawberry jelly and 1 bottle syrup

Attorney Gibson of Flagstaff, Arizona, has entered the Methodist ministry. (SARCASM; the Methodists pay better. M.) 

To bed last eve early. Along coast which looked like Olympic Mts. About 4 a.m. we sighted a flash light on “Corregidor” Island, which stands in the entrance to Manila Bay. A splendid H²O & easily defended. Cavite on rt. Manila 7 mi. on. Most of the fleet is anchored at Cavite. Two old Spanish prize gun boats are close to us. German Man o’ War “Irene” is only a cable’s length away. She is the one which Dewey bro’t to terms. Dropped anchor at 6.50 close to Arizona, Valencia and Senator. U.S. Man o’ War “Raleigh” and several foreign merchantmen close. Soon a swarm of native boats (very rude dugouts –round paddles, matting tops). Made 187 to Manila. Came alongside with tropical fruits. No swimmers as in Hono, for sharks abound.

Several official visitors from the fleet & shore offices came. Seen from on board –Manila seems to be low very shady with a great many churches & cathedrals rising from the green. Back, perhaps 3 miles, hills are in which the insurgent chief has 30000 armed men. Great grass hats 3 ft. across are worn. Hottest day yet struck. No one allowed ashore. Letters written on trip were stolen today.

It has rained all night and most of the day. In the afternoon, about 50 of our men hired a yacht and went out in the bay to visit our recruits. They reported them all well. Five men were left in the hospital at Honolulu and one is home on a furlough. They report having rough weather most of the time but have had plenty to eat. Three of them sneaked off the ships and came ashore spending the night in our quarters. Sid Beighley and [Melvin] Bryson are among the sick, both with malarial fever. We received an issue of fresh meat and engaged two Chinamen as cooks. [Elmer?] Schrock, a recruit who was left in the hospital in San Francisco, arrived on the Senator and took up quarters with us. The same men remain on the sick list. No drills this day.

Frye, Day, and Moore appeared about the usual hour. As the latter two came in, Frye and I were engaged in a little talk about the previous day’s debate. I was expressing my regret that we had not within twenty-four hours sent a categorical rejection of all the propositions the Spaniards had made in order that they might realize that when we told them we had given them an ultimatum, we were not merely playing a Spanish game. Day said: “I don’t regret it, because we have now the advantage of saying that we have submitted their proposals to the government, and are instructed by it to reject them.” I at once called for the dispatch, which Moore read. It proved quite clear and satisfactory. Moore then read a draft of a reply to Montero Rios, with which I immediately expressed complete satisfaction. urged that it be copied out and sent at once, or at least as soon as we could get the other members. We sent out for them, and in a moment Senator Davis appeared. He was entirely satisfied. . .. I now urged that the reply be copied at once pending Senator Gray’s arrival. But just as the secretary was about to start off to do this, Senator Gray appeared—as usual, over three-quarters of an hour late. Everything had to be gone over again for his benefit, so that it was well towards noon before the secretary got off to copy the reply. It will still, however, give the Spaniards a chance to consult with their government fully between now and Monday afternoon.

McKinley sent the word. Stand with the ultimatum. As if sensible men would not have figured this one out, without instruction? M.

With Senator Gray’s appearance the discussion of yesterday revived a little. Senator Frye and Judge Day both repeated their desire to get rid of Mindanao and the Sulus in exchange for Kusaie. I replied laughingly that this outraged my yankee ideas of comparative acreage. Judge Day retorted that he didn’t want so many acres of Mohammedans. My remark that England had seemed to be able to get on fairly well with Mohammedans produced no impression. I finally contented myself with laughing at their proposal to trade off a continent for a sand bank. Or as I put it at another time, to give up what the Spaniards valued at $50,000,000 for a little island, which in our wildest moments we never thought worth more than a million. Judge Day and Secretary Moore were full of the idea all the morning that it was a great pity that the third Spanish proposal (that for an arbitration) had not been submitted at the beginning of the negotiations. That, they said, would have enabled us to mark diplomacy with a white stone, etc., etc.

The correct US goal at this moment would be to commonwealth the Philippine Republic with a Subic and Cavite lease and to grab off the Caroline and Gilbert and Marshall Islands from Spain as just recompense for that stupid war. There was no need to go into a colonialist imperialist adventurist war; since I believe Aguinaldo was amenable to a such a Cuba solution for the Philippine Islands.   

I protested against this view. I said: ‘““What you want to do is to arbitrate the question whether an enslaved people, who have at last gained their independence shall immediately be taxed with every penny of the costs entailed in the long years of war for their enslavement. That seems to me distinctly a question of morals not to be submitted to arbitration, any more than the question whether you shall steal or shall commit murder is to be determined by the decision of three outsiders.” Rather to my surprise Senator Gray seemed a little impressed by this aspect of the case. Senator Davis burst out with a declaration that he believed they were all wrong; at any rate, in the idea that under international law a partition of territory necessarily involved a partition of debts. He cited Belgium and was apparently proceeding to fortify his position with other arguments when Senator Frye interrupted him by saying: “You make such a speech as that in the Senate, as you say you are thinking of doing, and you will defeat your treaty without a question. Prove to the Senate that there is nothing in international law to lead to the payment of these debts, and the Senators would rather arbitrate than pay the $20,000,000.” Davis rejected this idea, and the talk became again rather fervid though entirely good-natured.

The question was Cuba, but it might as well be the Philippine Island debt, too. Reid confuses the two issues. As for Partitions, has Gray ever heard of Poland, or Virginia?     

Frye and Day next turned up with an idea that if the Spaniards should accept our ultimatum, we might still take advantage of their second proposal and say: “Since you seem in this to value Mindanao and the Sulus at $50,000,000, we will give them to you and only take Kusaie in return, besides retaining the $20,000,000 we should otherwise pay you.” Frye insisted that the cash payment was the only difficulty the treaty would encounter. [He said] the American people didn’t care a straw about Mindanao, and that we would be well rid of it, if we escaped the cash payment, especially, if besides, we got Kusaie. I insisted that on this point we should certainly not commit ourselves or cross any bridges till we reached them. We must first have an acceptance of our ultimatum, and that we would then have no authority to make such propositions as he suggested without the approval of our government.

Why trade and split the Philippine Islands with Spain? The political outcomes, domestic and international, result in a multinational war within a decade, with the Filipino people caught as a futbol among three players: Germany, the United States and Spain. It was what the Spanish were trying to do and not one of these nitwits saw it.      

Altogether we have had in the last two days the most erratic suggestions of changes in the policy that have marked any part of the two months’ negotiations. But as we got an adjournment by half past eleven in the morning, there is probably not much danger now until the Spaniards have either accepted or rejected our ultimatum. I still incline to the belief that with all manner of protestations and outcries they will in the end accept.

The Spaniards have played these fools for fools. 

Late in the afternoon Judge Day came down with a memorandum of a few remarks dropped by Count Münster to Gen. Porter in the talk after dinner the other evening at the German Embassy, in the same line with his talk to me earlier in the evening. The only additional significance of what he said seemed to lie in his use of the word “indemnity” in relation to Spain’s inability or failure with reference to Germany’s claims in the Carolines. The use of such a word on so shaky a foundation, even though unaccompanied by any details or explanations seemed to give further confirmation to the idea that Germany was hunting for a pretext either to interfere with the negotiations, or to seize territory from Spain as she recently did from China. Judge Day said he felt at any rate that my conversation with the Ambassador [Castillo] ought to be reported to the [State] Department, and that it would probably be wise to add [Ambassador] Porter’s memorandum to it. He wished I would prepare a dispatch giving the essential facts, setting forth the policy of the Commission to go ahead on the line we had taken and acquire the island of Kusaie if we could. It was agreed that it would be better to have a meeting of the full Commission at nine o’clock to hear the dispatch. “Our colored Talleyrand,” as Senator Davis has named the State Department messenger “Eddie,” was sent around to give the notice. …

Busy day. Cool in the shade but hot when out in the sun.

After cooking breakfast and washing dishes in company with Bro. Owens called a the post office for mail. We separated. I mounted a horse car. An Astor Battery man paid my fare. I took several Kodak views out there, then called on the Astor’s in their quarters. They appeared glad to see me. Gave them 17 S.F. War Crys containing my articles re the Philippines. Were eager to get them. Did not have enough. Want to save the series. Gave them 1, copy 557, July 30p 4 of 563, Sept. 10, 4, 565, Sept. 24; 4 of 567, Oct. 18; 4; 568, Oct. 15.

The other day by Private Waterman I sent the 1st Battalion 1st South Dakota Vol. 5 copies 565 Sept. 24; 5 cop. 567, Oct 18; 20 cops. No. 568 Oct. 15.

To the 1st Battalion 1st Nebraska Vol. Inf. tonight I sent 5 cops. 563, 5 cops 565; 5 cops 567 and 5 cops 568. Am getting the War Crys circulated among the troops.

Visitors today 15. Do not count Filipinos & visitors to Rev. Owens.

From the Malate went into Old Manila to the Castle of San Jago [Fort Santiago] where are stationed the 23d U.S. reg. Inf. This is a very strange place indeed; medieval enough to suit the most exacting, with moats, walls, secret passengers, dungeons etc. The notorious Black Hole is under the powder magazine. At present is covered with ammunition. There is another closed by masonry on top in the bastion on the Malate side facing the inside & outside moats. Asked the officer of the day & also Lieut-Col French to go explore them, but the privilege was not granted. The U.S. authorities went to keep the misdeeds of the Spaniards in the background at present.

Returning home found Private Archer E. Temple of the regular U.S. Hospital Corps. of 2d Reserve Hospital writing to get advice re his future spiritual course. Belongs to S.F. No. 1 Corps. Gave him such advice as the Lord directed me.

U.S. soldiers gathered at No. 2 after supper. By request bought out the gramophone & gave them an exhibition. Finished up with prayer & singing & an exhortation for souls unsaved or unsatisfied to seek Jesus. None responded.

Spoke to a backslider at the 23d Inf. quarters re Christ.

Do not count Filipinos & visitors to Rev. Owens.

Work in office in a.m. & in p.m. took a crew to town to mail letters on Hongkong steamer leaving at 2. Took inside route, passed the wooden wreck of a cruiser which the Spanish blew up. Up to the Customs House then Serg’t Maj. Joe Smith & I went to P.O. Passed many wild-eyed, abused buffaloes, yoked to 2 wheeled carts. Rings in their noses and have a great breadth of heavy black horn –slow and patient. Crossed canal upon a floating bridge where $25.00 would place a stone one. Very narrow winding streets –and every where the pushing, trotting laborers, strange faces and costumes as well as customs. The calls of nature responded to at once –anywhere by both sexes, old & young. To P.O. on Escolta then to several stores. Silks are very cheap and broadcloth goes at 50¢ American per yd. Went to Alhambra, a drinking hall, heard a native orchestra. Crossed over the old bridge & stood on old town and watching the throng of carriages, buffalo carts, laborers too, who all travel in the road, as the sidewalks are only 2 ft. wide. Such a crowd of heathen. This is the bridge over which rushed the terrible rabble of Aug. 13. To principal market of thatch houses or booths, having everything for sale –fish, fruit, nuts and many strange things to eat & wear. Back via barracks of Penn. boys on bank of canal on Escolta. They have a lot of monkeys in trees, also parrots. Found boat at Res. Espanol and at 5 we took stream down under bridge, and below the Customs House a tug took us up –and we got to “Ohio” too late for mess. So went to bed in bunk as it was raining hard. Ger. Cruiser “Irene” left at 6 p.m. and at 7 the transport “Zealandia,” with Tenn. reg. slid in between the Arizona and Ohio. “Raleigh” turned on her lights and she turned and was soon out of sight towards Cavite. “Raleigh” threw up red & white lights for half hour, was answered from the flag ship and at 12 she put to sea. Followed at 2 a.m. by the “Charleston.”

Query: To follow “Irene”?

It has rained all day but we had one hour of drill. In the morning we received fresh meat. The recruits are still on the Arizona and Companies A and B didn’t leave as they were ordered to. This is a drill day around the quarters. The same men are on the sick list except Hustead.

My order for discharge has come, and through your kindness I am once more in prospect of gaining my civil rights. I can hardly realize that my soldier experience is almost over; but I am glad that it is so. If I looked forward to the kind of work we have out here now, I should want to prepare myself for it by a course on the West Point plan. As it is, I am convinced that what training I have, which my life so far has been spent in gaining, is not available for the Government’s service. I should either know more or less. I think the General was right in saying that in this military government out here there was no place for me unless I had a commission. You will like to know how I got the news. On Saturday afternoon, Captain M——, General Otis’s aide, sent for me and gave me some trifling bit of work to do, and incidentally asked if I had heard that an order had come from Washington for my discharge. He was smiling all over, and enjoyed seeing me “take the news.” I told him that I had heard nothing, to which he felt bound to reply in a perfunctory manner that he should not have mentioned it, as the order was not out yet—one polite military lie.

General Hughes seems as well satisfied as I and in speaking to him of my plan to go home via India, I said that in case my finals were not paid here I should ask him for an advance of $100 until I could receive a remittance from you. The gentleman said, “I have five months pay coming to me and you can have whatever amount you want up to $1000. It will be a convenience to me to have you take it, because I have been wanting to send some money to my sisters, and this will save me all the trouble of exchange.” All I could think was that it was quite like the General.

My order of discharge, which I got this morning reads:

(Special Orders No. 119, §8.) Pursuant to telegraphic instrnctions from the Adjutant-General of the Army, dated November 25, 1898, Private Eliphalet H. Blatchford, Troop E, Fourth United States Cavalry, will be discharged from the service of the United States. The Quartermaster’s Department will furnish transportation to this soldier to San Francisco, Cal., from which point he is entitled to travel-pay to place
of enlistment. :

By command of Major-General Otis.

Tuomas H. Bary,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
Official.

(Signed) L. P. Sanvers, Aid.

Manila, P. I.

First I will get an order relieving me from duty here and sending me back to the troop before I act on the foregoing.

... I am glad that it is so. If I looked forward to the kind of work we have out here now, I should want to prepare myself for it by a course on the West Point plan. As it is, I am convinced that what training I have, which my life so far has been spent in gaining, is not available for the Government’s service.

Commissioners all a little late coming down. Finally started with Frye, Day, and Gray in carriage—Davis, who has uniformly gone with me, not having appeared. They sent up for him and he arrived a little later with Moore. His clock had been wrong. The Spaniards were in the inner room awaiting us; much more somber than usual and more distantly courteous.

We moved towards the table almost at once, and the protocols were read in English and in Spanish and approved in a moment. Judge Day was to have proposed at this point that the correspondence which had since taken place between Montero Rios and himself should be attached to the last protocol. But the instant the approval of the proposals was announced Montero Rios began presenting their reply. He merely said they had considered the paper presented at the last meeting and desired now to present the reply authorized by their Government. As it was: handed to the translator, Abarzuza suggested that he would better read it over in Spanish before giving the English translation. This was done during a profound and rather painful silence. Ferguson then read it aloud in English. It proved to be exactly what had been foreseen; a maintenance of their conviction of the soundness of their proposals, an unwillingness to reopen the war and subject their country to greater calamities, and a submission therefore to the inevitable.

During the reading all the Spanish Commissioners sat in their places with a certain air of mournful dignity, Cerero with his head bowed on his hands. The American Commissioners were equally sober, and all were in their places excepting Frye, who at the beginning had been walking up and down the outer room. But as the reading of the reply began [he] entered the Salle de Conference and dropped into one of the window seats behind our side of the table.

Nearly all of the American Commissioners were smoking, and before the reading was finished nearly every Spanish Commissioner had also begun on a cigarette. This smoking habit, by the way, has continued from the first week. About the second or third meeting Montero Rios remarked that he had observed in the ante-room that the Americans nearly all smoked. As it was the Spanish custom to smoke even in their legislative assemblies, and during the progress of business, he thought it might conduce to the general comfort if the same rule should prevail here, and there had been a prompt agreement.

As soon as the reading was finished, Judge Day suggested that it might be well now to have formal articles presented on the further subjects on which the American Commissioners had proposed to treat.

Montero Rios remarked that he now wished to follow in the subsequent negotiations whatever course might seem to the American Commissioners most desirable, having in view the wish to expedite matters as well as to avoid long written discussions. Judge Day thought the plan of having tentative articles on other subjects for the proposed treaty submitted at the next meeting might have this effect. Montero Rios repeated that he thought it desirable to get on without further written papers, unless, of course, in the case of something exceptional. Day assented to this, though, of course, reserving all rights under the rules with reference to the filing of papers, provided the American Commissioners should think it necessary.

Montero Rios thought it might be advisable with this understanding to adjourn until the secretaries were ready to report. Day thought they would probably be able to report by Wednesday. Montero Rios said he would be ready to return any day the American Commissioners desired. Day thereupon fixed Wednesday, reserving, as usual, the right of delay in case of unforeseen obstacles. Montero Rios reported that all the Spanish Commissioners desired to urge in that particular was that all possible haste should now be exercised in order to complete the negotiations. To this there was general assent, and the Commission adjourned.

Just as the Americans were preparing to leave the room, the clouds cleared away for a moment, and a burst of sunlight illuminated the green table at which Ojeda was finishing his notes of the protocol. As I happened to be standing at his side at the moment I said to him I hoped that meant good fortune for both countries. He replied rather mournfully: “No, everything is gloom around us.” Abarzuza approached at the instant and I repeated the wish to him. He seemed a shade less despondent, and at least received the expression with a smile.

In a moment or two we had all taken our leave of the Spaniards, who evidently desired to remain. In the ante-room were numbers of French reporters, who besieged me to know first whether the negotiations were now finished, and then when the next meeting was to be. Escaping, I got three of the Commissioners into the carriage with me and drove home. full of pity for the actors in the depressing scene we had witnessed, and at the same time convinced that they had brought it upon themselves. [They had] made it far worse by their pertinacious obstruction, acrimonious argument, and especially by Montero Rios’ hot-tempered outburst a week ago when the ultimatum was presented. . . .

Manila, Luzon Island –Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo.

Rainey and cool. No heat to trouble us, but still the cold sweat stood on my body – a peculiarity of this climate. The night is closing in with rain.

Remained close at home this forenoon. Wrote 2 letters & copied them (1) to Lt.-Col. Alice Lewis; my 3d weekly letter, (2) Lieut-Cal. J. J. Keppel inquiring if the short articles in the Chicago Tribune is correct that he & Mrs. Keppel attended the Grand Council of the American Volunteers –Bal. Booth’s if so why.

Visitors today 15.

Called at the post office; also went to a second hand dealer & purchased 2 vols (there are 3) of History Philppine Islands. Paid $2Mex. It’s in Spanish.

Private Amie presented me with 2 or 3 overshirts, 3 handkerchiefs & pair of cotton socks. He took supper with me.

Arranged to lead a meeting in the 3d Artillery barracks, Thursday P.M.

I felt quite droopy today. Falling barometer probably.

There was a general & special meeting of the U.S. Chaplains today. They are having trouble with the Romish Church. A Filipino father wanted to bury his dead child in a R. Catholic cemetery. Priest demanded $5. Father said he only had $1, would give that. Reply must pay regulation price or bury his brat himself. Father got Chaplain Pierce to perform the last rites. Priest refused to give key to enter cemetery. Pierce with an axe cut his way into the cemetery. Chaplain McKinney Kenna of First Cal Vol. Inf. wrote him that there are Roman C. priests to do that kind of work, that Filipinos are Catholics & protestants should leave them alone. Pierce wrote a reply & the meeting was called to consider the matter.

More transports are arriving with U.S. troops.

Probably some will leave soon for Iloilo.

Rev. Owens told me about the cemetery difficulty between Pierce & the priests.

The current issue of the American soldiers contains War anecdotes written by me. The proof reading is bad. Praise God – peace is declared – rumor tonight.

Stayed on board all day. Very hot.

There was an earthquake at 6.10 a.m., but we only felt a slight shock. There were three days of continuous rain. We saw transport ships arriving in the bay.

It has rained all night and all day but our Captain does not miss drill We have set up exercises and manual of arms one hour at a time, something other companies don’t do. I worked all day at the commissary. Companies A and B left today for Corregidor Island which is about 20 miles from here. They took with them 20 days of field rations and 10,000 rounds of ammunition. They left on the Senator at 4 p.m. Wilson, [James] Woodward, [Walter] Collins, [Frank] Sullivan, John Barnes and Joseph Johnson are on the sick list. Frank Hustead received a cablegram of his mother’s death.

Manila, Luzon Island –Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo.

Rainy weather. Cool, but a little exertion covers one’s body with a cold sweat. Remained at home until near noon then went to the post office for mail. Got none. Hastened over to the Palace in Old Manila. Gave McCullough a job to print 800 gramophone tickets, I to supply blank white or gray blotting paper, which I did. His charge will be $1.75 U.S. coin. No card board in the market, tickets he is printing on paper, hence the reason for using blotting paper.

Private Lloyd took the blotting pads over.

Private Frank Amie went to the U.S. Commissary & bought for me bacon & lime juice $1.45 U.S. coin. Made me a present of 1 can of apricots did Amie; God bless him; is very liberal.

Completed the letter to Comd’t H.H. Booth Melbourne asking him to bring or send with his reinforcements articles of war and other blanks, etc for routine work of the S.A.

Also wrote Lt.-Col. Wm Evans, San Francisco ordering 3 copies Bushnells hand copying books & 1000 gramophone points. Want to give exhibitions.

Supper over & dishes washed I left No. 2 with Private Devine (Landon) & Annie, 3d Artillery for San Miguel district or ward. No. 2 was left alone as Rev. & Mrs. Owens went to Messr. Glunz & Jackson’s Christian Commission tent near the Puerta [Puente] España bridge to start revival services.

Partly by horse car & partly on foot thru the mud we three hurried to the quarters of the 1st Battalion of the 1st South Dakota Vol. Infantry. Private A. Waterman, who had secured the consent of his chaplain for a meeting brought out a candle & put it on a column of the vestibule some other soldier bought a candle or two & I went in for an Army meeting. Private Hines & Lloyd came from the Montana barracks & Private Georgeson from the 1st Batallion of the South Dakota’s (stationed elsewhere) and God gave us a good time praise to His name. Audience, 60:3 or 4 Filipinos were present. At the close Private Patrick Flynn of H. Co. Ist Bat. 1st So. Dak. Inf. professed conversion. Glory to God. Flynn joined the regiment in San Francisco.

Visitors today at No. 2, 7.

In spite of the fact that it was desired to submit the tentative text of the entire treaty to the Commission this morning and discuss it article by article, work was only begun a full hour late. Even then Senator Gray was absent as usual, but at last his presence was secured by sending for him.

Gray is hiding out. 

A dispatch of thanks from the President was first read, and one reminding us of the need of reviving copyright stipulations from the State Department. Then came an interruption by Ojeda of the Spanish Commission, who brought in various suggested changes in the articles on which he and Moore had been in consultation. These mainly came, as we understood, from Montero Rios.

The Spaniards are trying to the last second to angle for advantage. Rumors of the Rios and Munster double cross are just beginning to make the rounds.

As soon as the article was reached for the payment of $20,000,000 I proposed that the blank in the date be filled by the insertion of the words “three months.” Senator Frye opposed it on the ground that so short a time would entail the danger of an extra session [of Congress] in order to secure the appropriation. Senator Davis at first was rather inclined to the same effect. I argued that the necessity for prompt action might be an additional reason to be urged for speedier action on the treaty, and that the actual appropriation need not take half an hour on the last day of the session. I pointed out privately besides to Frye that if we were to let it go past the 4th of March, [1899,] in order to avoid an extra session, we could not reasonably expect to pay before the first of January, [1900,] next. Such a delay in the case of a rich nation dealing with a prostrate and impoverished one would seem to be so long as to require explanation. He finally fell in with this view, and the Commissioners uniformly agreed to the three months.

Reid is applying the Congressional bum rush. There is an ELECTION coming up if it cycles into 1900.

In this discussion I had taken the ground that now that we had gained the essentials, it was desirable that over small matters, where we could afford it, we should not seem to stickle, but could afford to be magnanimous. For this reason I moved that the figure to be offered for Kusaie should be fixed at a million. Frye objected that the island was not worth so much, and thought that the expenditure of half a million at Midway Islands would probably make them as good a point for a cable landing. On the other hand, I urged that it was desirable at any rate to get Kusaie on account of our missionaries, and for the mere prestige besides of succeeding in what we had asked for. thought the million dollars ought to be something of a temptation to Spain. The figure was finally unanimously agreed to.

This is part of the Rios Munster double cross.

On the same theory of being generous to a needy and fallen foe in unimportant matters, I proposed that the prisoners in Manila, concerning our right to hold which there was some doubt, at any rate, should be returned to Spain at our expense, and that the same policy should also be extended to the prisoners held by the Filipinos. . . . The probable cost was speculated over, and it was finally agreed that ships could probably be found to bring them at an average price of about $50 or $60 a head, and that the total outlay need not exceed, and possibly not approach, a million [dollars]. The Commissioners finally agreed that the article might be drawn with the provision that the prisoners held by either side should be returned to their homes at the expense of the country holding them.

That was the British way of prisoner exchange. I would have made the prisoner exchange a US paid deal based on an exchange of tangible goods, (Reparations in the form of ships and the aforementioned Caroline islands.) for the 40,000 + prisoners in USG custody
 
When the clause for the “open door” in the Philippines came up, a blank had been left for the insertion of the number of years for which this privilege was guaranteed to Spain. It was proposed to make it ten years on the same general principle of being liberal, and of not making a term of years so short that commerce could not fairly and profitably adjust itself; and there was finally no objection. When Judge Day and Senator Gray talked rather cautiously about extending this to Puerto Rico, Senator Frye gave notice that he should protest most vigorously against such a course. …

That was exceedingly generouis.

Secretary Moore mentioned that Ojeda had communicated the feeling of the Spanish Commissioners that they had made the utmost possible concession and hoped that nothing more would be asked of them. He interpreted this (to mean) that they did not want to be asked for stipulations about religious liberty in the Carolines, the sale of Kusaie, or anything else outside the protocol. A feeling began to be expressed among the Commissioners that there was a possibility of our finding in the end that we could get nothing from the Spaniards except what we had already extorted by our ultimatum.

Hence the prisoners as a bargaining chip. I am not by nature a "nice" negotiator who sees the other party in an empathetic light. If we are in a dicker, it is because you have done me harm, and I aim for restitution of what you costed and OWE me for that harm.  IOW charity has no place in peace negotiations here in this case. 

The articles as finally agreed upon, owing to the lateness of the hour at which we began, had to be sent down piece-meal, to be typewritten in a rush, and Secretary Moore only escaped with the last of them about half past one o’clock. The meeting with the Spaniards was to be at 2 o’clock, and a few minutes before that hour I rushed off with Judge Day “to hold the fort,” as we expressed it, until the secretary [Moore] could come along with the articles. Senator Gray and the other Commissioners came a little more leisurely. We kept the Spanish Commissioners waiting over half an hour.

The bungle was in the rush to complete the articles before 1 December. A rush job is never a good job. 

As soon as the daily protocols were read our articles were submitted, read in English and Spanish, and mutually agreed to up to that on the Philippines. At this point Montero Rios objected to the provision that the United States “will, as far as possible, preserve order and protect property throughout the Philippines, until the ratification of this treaty.” This, he said, presupposed an immediate exercise by the United States of the functions of sovereignty. He did not feel ready to stipulate for such an exercise before the sovereignty itself was ceded. Senator Gray remarked that the protocol itself as to the harbor and bay of Manila was not a cession of sovereignty. This provision merely extended the powers conferred by that protocol over the rest of the archipelago provisionally, and obviously for the common good. Montero Rios repeated that the Spanish Commissioners were not now authorized to give such authority, but he saw no objection to laying it before [his] government. The Spanish Commissioners were not at present authorized to take any executive action such as this would be. Senator Davis said the only desire of the American Commissioners was to provide temporarily for the preservation of order. Montero Rios replied that their objection was not to the thing desired, but as to the authority of the Spanish Commissioners to give it.

Rios objected because he was trying to sell the Philippine Islands not under immediate USG control to the Germans. He was being massively bribed to make it possible. Day, the idiot, did not catch on to the ploy when it was already on the whisper telegraph. The Germans balked at the additional bribe Rios demanded which nixed the deal in  the works and probably avoided a German-American war. 

Senator Davis then offered in writing the clause, “provided nothing in this shall be construed as a cession of sovereignty before the ratification of this treaty.”

Boilerplate that would allow the Americans to do whatever they wanted "to preserve order". 

Montero Rios repeated that he recognized the weight of the suggestion offered by the American Commissioners, but the Spanish Commissioners were without power in the premises, and would at once apprise their government and ask for instructions. Judge Day replied: “We know that disorders are existing there now, and that there is destruction of property, if not also danger to life. All the proposed clause does is to charge the United States at once with the duty of protecting life and preserving order.” Since there was objection, however, he thought it better to pass the subject provisionally till the Spanish Commissioners could get authority and then have it incorporated in the treaty. To this Montero Rios agreed. Gray then repeated that it was only proposed because we have the power to do this [since it] was incidental to the general powers we already possessed. Montero Rios replied rather tartly: “The American Commissioners are, no doubt, perfectly conversant with the powers they possess; but we do not consider our powers sufficient for this act, although we recognize its desirability.” The secretaries then read the next article and Guarnica immediately said that the cession here did not include all the war material, artillery, etc., reserved to Spain in the agreement of the evacuation commissioners [in Cuba]. All heavy artillery that can be removed should be reserved to Spain [he said]. Their understanding was that this particular, if not already settled by the evacuation commissioners, should be settled here. He did not now refer to cases already agreed to in the West Indies, but thought the same principle should be adopted here.*

At this point, I suspect that Gray smelled the rat in the room. At least that is what later correspondence suggests. I should remark that the war criminal, GEN Otis, already was taking steps to assert USG control over the Philippine Archipelago. He may have smelled a rat after his powwow with Dewey a week before this date. M.  

Judge Day said the purpose of this article was to do just that. If there were some suggestions concerning artillery on which the commissioners in Cuba and Puerto Rico have not been able to agree, then on those points we would undoubtedly have to reach some decision here. Meantime he thought it would be desirable to telegraph and ascertain exactly what had been agreed upon in Cuba and Puerto Rico.

Cuba was defacto covered by the Teller amendment. Whatever the Spaniards thought about it, was not relevant. Puerto Rico was flooded with American troops. That was off the table. Only the Philippine Archipelago would be available  for the planned double cross and by now, even Day could read the stink.  

Guarnica replied that there was no evacuation commission for the Philippines. He would like an agreement now that all war material and heavy artillery should be definitely reserved for Spain. Judge Day repeated his suggestion that the American Commissioners would prefer first telegraphing to ascertain exactly what the joint commissioners, charged with the decision of this very subject in Cuba and Puerto Rico, had determined. Abarzuza here interjected: “Certainly, we can’t lose anything by that.” A little debate here sprang up among the Spaniards themselves at the table, it seeming as if Abarzuza did not quite agree with the persistency of Guarnica. While it was going on, Montero Rios asked if there was any objection to reserving all the war material in the Philippines, and all not already agreed upon in Cuba and Puerto Rico. Judge Day stuck to the position that he preferred to telegraph and ascertain what had been agreed to by the joint commissioners charged with this question in Cuba and Puerto Rico before undertaking to go farther here. (He) preferred, therefore, that for this purpose the articles should be passed. It was thereupon so agreed.

This is hilarious. When McKinley was telegraphed, his reply was to the effect, that Spain lost all rights to property in the territories under US control when she lost the war. IOW: "Get bent. Uncle might give back ships, but the infrastructure was Uncle's property." 

Montero Rios next objected to the phrase “in consideration of the provisions in this treaty.” The objection was obviously based upon the difficulty of a Spanish lawyer, trained only in the civil law, in understanding the exact meaning which American lawyers attach to this legal phrase.

IOW, what is spelled out as not allowed is what is limited. Anything else is fair game.

The American Commissioners generally agreed that they might as well leave it out. (However,) Judge Day whispered to me that it might nevertheless be of some value as proving that the cession of the Philippines was not in the nature of a gratuity, and so might have a bearing on future claims as to responsibility for the debts. Montero Rios finally agreed that this question might be left to the secretaries.

IOW, the USG would decide the issue and  Spain could pound water about it. See previous remark. 

The article permitting free entry of Spanish ships and goods in the Philippines for ten years was next reached. Montero Rios asked in a very quiet way if there was any objection to extending this privilege also to Cuba and Puerto Rico. Day replied that was not a question which had been considered, but the American Commissioners would be glad to take it into consideration, and take it up at the next meeting. Montero Rios said he hoped that in considering it they would bear in mind that the customs of a people could not be changed between night and morning. The sovereignty might so be changed, but customs were harder to disturb. Any effort at an immediate change would also give a sudden wrench to industry in Spain. It was most desirable that Spanish commerce might have a little time to find new channels before it was abruptly turned out of the old ones. Gray had been listening to this sympathetically, and interjected in an audible “aside” addressed to me that this was a very weighty and just observation. Day replied that the American Commissioners fully appreciated the weight of the suggestions advanced and would take them into consideration.

Same again. In the case of Cuba, it would be the Cubans who decided. Puerto Rico was defacto American. American customs and tariffs would be assessed. It was only the Philippine Archipelago actually at issue.  So only the Philippine Islands would be covered. 

The next question taken up was that of the release of prisoners and transport to the nearest port in their own country. Frye inquired if any idea could be given as to the number of prisoners in the hands of the Filipinos. Montero Rios said he had no idea, and was not sure if his government knew. He thought, however, that the number was not great. Frye asked again if what the Spaniards desired on this article would include other prisoners than those now held by the Americans and by the Filipinos. Montero Rios said that he understood there were no others.

This is an admission that the Spanish had not taken a competent census of the Philippine Islands. One of Taft's great achievements (during a war no less.), besides establishing a Filipino based administration, was to order and conduct such a census, so someone could actually have data on what the Filipino  people could do and what they needed to do more for themselves.

Frye next asked how lately any artillery had been sent to the Philippines. Montero Rios referred the question to Gen. Cerero, who said he thought none had been sent since 1885. With this the examination of the articles, the double text of which in English and Spanish had been agreed upon by the two secretaries, was completed. Montero Rios then said that the Spanish Commissioners were quite at the disposition of the American Commissioners as to their proceedings. He thought, however, that time would be gained by having the secretaries get the rest of the articles also into a settled text in both languages, to be then taken up tomorrow afternoon. Day suggested that perhaps the secretaries themselves could agree on some of them. Montero Rios said that his understanding was that by tomorrow we could take up everything the secretaries should have ready in both languages. Day proposed three o’clock as a better hour for meeting, and it was finally agreed upon.

Frye is correct to ask for this information. Field guns in the hands of General Luna's troops would be a DISASTER. The Americans had less than a regiment of artillery in the archipelago and less than 4 regiments existent. A regiment was approximately 50 field guns. Cicero was unable to provide the numbers, so the bad news was cabled to Washington. The Americans  had access to some 300 operable  barrels among the 400 or so weapons in the Spanish fortifications they captured, but that was anything from the latest Ordenez and Hontaria guns to British Whitworths and Armstrongs little different from American Civil War fortress gunss... emphasis on fortress guns. The American army had shown how useful those fortress guns were in a land campaign.  The Spanish guns pointed out to sea or were not howitzers or not properly sited or the ammunition was faulty.  Until  the Americans sorted it all out and made new ammunition for the few Krupp and Armstrong guns salvageable, it was so much scrap metal. 

As soon as the Joint Commission adjourned, Day proposed that the American Commissioners remain and prepare a dispatch at once on the points raised by the Spaniards with a view to getting news from home at the earliest moment.

IOW, dump it on McKinley.
 
Gray was eager to recommend the extension of the “open door” to Cuba and Puerto Rico, as requested by the Spanish Commissioners. Senator Frye was strong to the point of vehemence against it. Judge Day said he would be ready for it if it could be used as a means of securing Kusaie and religious freedom in the Carolines. Senator Davis did not express himself with quite his usual vigor, but did not favor the proposal. Finally, Frye and Gray wrote individual dispatches on the subject, and it was then agreed that all might as well do the same. The following was the text of mine:

This was all a wash. For reasons previously mentioned, mainly the Rios Munster double cross, none of this issues would apply to the final treaty.   

Reid objects to Commission’s taking initiative on subject no way covered by our instructions; especially as proposed action would injure the future extension of present long-standing policy of Government to Puerto Rico and Cuba. He thinks no step of such gravity should be proposed here without action of President, if not also of Congress.

Same again. McKinley will fire these idiots, especially Day after this bungled negotiation.

[We were] surrounded by French reporters at the door, who insisted on knowing whether the treaty had been finally signed; how many articles had been considered and agreed upon, etc., etc. As I was the only American they could get at, they made a dead set for me. But, as usual, escaped with as brief answers as possible. . . .

Very hot. 95°. 3rd battalion left Wednesday for an outpost. 1st batt. on cascos at 9 a.m. Hot, oh Hot, pitch bubbled out of deck seams. British cruiser anchored, saluted flag 21 guns. On launch at 1.30, towed Cascos to Customs House where the batt. disembarked and marched to barracks. I went with Headquarters & with lots of kicking shouting & angry looks at the lazy Chinese, got all the desks &c loaded on a cart drawn by the laziest buffaloes on earth. Set up office & soon got to work –nearly 5000 women work in this factory. “Compania General de Tabocos [Tabacos] de Filipinos [Filipinas]. Slept on hard bamboo couch. Too busy for details.

A National Salute was fired at 11.50 am. We received new khaki uniforms and boots, gratis.

We had a light rain during the night but the morning is pretty and the recruits get one more day to rest up. They are all eager to see the sights of Manila. They have a good time and all are looking well. We discharged our two Chinese cooks and elected Candy Collins Chief Cook and Ray Sparks and John Kerr Assistants. Each man [in the company] pays 30 cents per month for the cooking [to be paid to the cooks]. Sam Hagan and David Twist are now with us again at our quarters. This leaves only two men in the general hospital and Joe Johnson, [Frank] Sullivan and John Barnes in quarters. [David] Twist and [Samuel] Hagan are off-duty.

Manila, Luzon Island –Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo.

Cool breeze tonight. Hot during the day especially when doing anything.

Gave a Filipino family that was put out of one room in the basement, permission to locate under the front or entrance stairway. Hired another Filipino to wash the floor of several rooms & corridor. Went to town twice. Sold $20 U.S. gold at the India, Australia & China bank for $40.60 Mexican silver.

Spoke to Mr. Clark, a salon-keeper, about his soul.

Visitors 18.

In the afternoon went to the English photographer and bought 3 photographs and $2.50 Mexican. I am collecting photos, in case I may have to lecture on the Philippines with stereoscopic views.

Made out a number of receipts for donations & Tenth League Payments.

Led a holiness meeting after supper in No. 2. Present 15 U.S. soldiers. God present, but no souls came forward.

The Holy Ghost blessed me richly in my soul last night.

Had a talk with Private Hines & Lloyd re selling some gramophone tickets & making other arrangements in their commands – 1st Montana Vol. Inf. Advanced Lloyd 200 tickets to be sold at 25 cts each. U.S. coin.

We are quartered in a great tobacco factory –one of the largest in the world. The native workers are very friendly to us –and help us in the language. Go nearly naked and the women, especially, are very graceful and erect –caused by carrying head burdens for centuries past. Those senoritas who wish to become married wear their hair loose –black as coal– and lone & fine and, Oh! what looks from their expressive eyes. They are all musicians and think a basso is great. Went to Paco district cemetery today through a large bronze gate to a circular area of about 5 to 7 acres enclosed by a circular stone wall 12 ft. high 9 ft. thick with a walk at its base. This wall have 4 to 5 tiers of holes in it reaching across the wall. Into these holes put the body and seal it up –and pay a large fee to the church.

The stone seal has the date &c on it. Regular above ground catacombs. About 50 ft. inside runs another wall, double. Numerous small ones open up on the inside from the main wall. After 3 years if the rent of $50.00 is not renewed the “stone is rolled away” and the remains are thrown in a heap between the double wall. Judging by the countless thousands of skulls seen, people in this “neck o’ the woods” care little for their dead. The trees here are very old and the roots have broken up the walls in places. Everywhere is seen the WORK OF EARTHQUAKES. Think the way of burial is more civilized than ours –but all the poetry and beauty of this lovely place is lost when you stand on the wall and clamber over bones like a small boy on a woodpile with the black hair still growing from the grinning skulls and rats by the millions –and lizards a yard long, gliding in and out and basking in the hot sun on the walls & walks. Many Amer. soldiers are burned in the ground here & at sunset a procession passed with slow steps & muffled drums –a corporal marched in with a firing squad– the American coffin, wrapped in the flag for which the dead boy gave his life –& soon, alongside of others, over whm the same honors had been shown– was lowered and the three volleys startled the red necked vultures above in the trees, to flight … “buried in a strange country.”

About Alfred Burton Welch

About the author: Alfred Burton Welch, more popularly known as A.B. Welch (September 26, 1874 — June 30, 1945). His biography as published online details the following:

Born September 26, 1874, Derbe/Corydon, Iowa. Family Homesteaded near Armour, South Dakota, c.1880-1884.

Lived in Tacoma, Steilacoom and Orting, WA, c. 1889-1899. Father was Methodist Minister in these communities. Attended Puget Sound University, Tacoma, c. 1895-1898.

Served with Company D, 1st Washington Volunteer Infantry. Philippine Insurrection .. April 30, 1898 to November 1, 1899.

1899 Battles: Santa Ana Feb 5, Tay Tay June 3 and morning June 4, Calamba July 26, Guadelupe Mar 13, Pateros Mar 18, Pasig Mar 17, Laguna de Bay Mar 19. 1899 Skirmishes: Pateros Feb 15, San Pedro Macati Feb 15-22 and April 9,16, 20, 27, Calamba July 27. 1899 Engagement: Calamba July 28

Commissioned Captain – 1st North Dakota National Guard, June 9, 1913. Worked and Lived in Iowa and the Dakotas c.1900 until 1919, then: Lived in or near Mandan, North Dakota for balance of life as Store Keeper, Postmaster, Friend of the Indians, Founder of El Zagal Shrine

Adopted son of Chief John Grass, March 1913, Grass ‘gave’ his Warrior Name, Charging Bear, to Welch

Served in 1917 Mexican Campaign, chasing Pancho Villa. Commander of Company A, 1st North Dakota National Guard

Served in France during World War I. Landing December 27, 1917, until discharge December 19, 1919 as Major, Field Artillery Section, 3rd Army. Training Jan. 3, 1918 – July 1, 1918 at Camp LaCourtine and St. Aigman.

Champage-Marne Defensive at Epernay, July 15-18, 1918. Aisne-Marne Offensive at Chalons Sur Marne, July 18-31, 1918. Meuse-Argonne Offensive at Montfaucon, September 26-November 11, 1918.

March to the Rhine November 11,1918. Army of Occupation December 3, 1918 to August 10, 1919 as Officer in Charge of District No. 6 .. Cochem area.

Died June 30, 1945, Mandan, North Dakota

This is another fine morning. All the boys are attending services this morning. A good many go to the Catholic church. In the afternoon we have fresh meat. Every day and all are apparently satisfied with the grub. In the evening, at 9 p.m., our guards were called to a place where some of the Macabebes had stabbed a native woman to death. Thirteen cuts were shown on her body but there is no clue to the offender. Many arrests are made these days. Hardly a day passes without a dozen of so arrests. Our patrols are kept busy all the time. [Frank] Sullivan, [David] Twist, [Samuel] Hagan and [Frank] Hustead are on the sick list and about five or six are kept on light duty.

The town and established kingdom of Macabebe in the Pampanga Province produced an inordinate number of volunteer soldiers, Voluntarios de Macabebe, who allied with the United States. The utilization of the friendly native forces was a "divide and rule" strategy used by both Spain and the U.S. to prevent unity amongst Filipinos, . For three hundred years, the Macabebes served in the military supporting the Spanish rule, even overseas. Thus, they enjoyed privileges not afforded to other Filipinos which caused a rift in tribal entities. In June 1898, the town of Macabebe, was abandoned by Spanish troops and was overrun by revolutionaries who fought against Spanish colonialism. The town was plundered and burned and Macabebe soldiers were beheaded. In response the Macabebes joined American forces as civilian employees of the Quartermaster Department, after approval of Lieutenant Matthew Batson's plans to recruit 92 Macabebes as scouts. BG Samuel B.M. Young October 16, 1899: "Lieut Batson requests authority to recruit a regiment of Macabebes....I have full faith in the loyalty and efficiency of the Macabebes as soldiers." The armed scouts protected their own provinces against insurgency in the absence of U.S. forces. Several battles in Luzon pitted U. S. and Macabebes successfully against the revolutionaries.

Cavite, Luzon Island –Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo.

Worked hard. Night finds me tired and sleepy. Up & out of bed early. Cooked breakfast after morning prayer, washed dishes. Private Clayton Scott came in early & we started out in good season for the Cavite ferry opposite the U.S. quartermaster’s department. Scott kept out of sight until the boat left the wharf to escape the notice of Mr. Norton the Quartermaster’s chief clerk. Didn’t want to work Sunday.

Arriving in Cavite (upper) found a steam launch waiting to take us out to the U.S. Cruiser Baltimore, Capt. N.M. Dyer, commander. When we arrived inspection was in progress. Comrade Rasmussen went ashore just after our arrival. Whether accidental or intentional I do not know.

Capt. N. M. Dyer received me kindly & ordered Lieutenant Haywood, officer of the deck, to arrange for our service. Two large tubs were placed on top each other & covered with a large white flag, containing a large blue cross in the center. Led the service assisted by Scott. God gave me liberty. Audience 22 including several officers. Had to close at 11.30 to give the deck to the officers. Some officers & men shook hands with me & said they were glad we came. Officer of the deck (I believe) requested me to come again. Mr. G. P. Shocky, Painter, showed us about & to the lower deck for dinner with the sailors.

12.15 the officer of the deck sent ashore in a steam launch. Distributed 10 War Crys (S.F.) on the “Baltimore”.

When landed at the Arsenal or Navy Yard proceeded immediately to the Military Hospital on Calle Arsenal opposite the Collegio de la Sagrada Familia. Visited the wards & spoke to one convalescent patient about his soul. When leaving met Dr. De Muy who is in charge. Expressed himself glad to see me. Want the S.A. to open fire in Cavite & promises to support it in case officers are sent.

I lost Scott at the hospital. Waited for him at the upper ferry landing. While there a United States soldier, who enlisted in Honolulu & knew me three years ago, came up to me & inquired if I would like to see Spurgeon. Dreamed not that he was in Luzon. Off course. Brown went away & presently ex. Capt. Chas Spurgeon, one of our brightest officers & for a long time type setter on the S.F. War Cry under me, appeared. Confessed himself backslidder. Said it was fault of Adjutant L.M. Simmson of Hawaii. Urged Spurgeon to return to Christ but he refused. Belongs to Co. K. 18th U.S. Infantry – regulars.

I left on the 2p.m. ferry for Manila minus Scott. At No. 2 found quite a crowd – including Br. Danson of the U.S. cruiser “Charleston”.

Cooked supper for 2. Scott arrived on the 4.30 boat.

In the meeting 19 U.S. soldiers were present. The Lord made the meeting interesting but no souls forward.

Visitors today, total so far as I know, 29.

Over in Cavite & in Manila, the whisper going around among some of the troops told of coming trouble with the Filipinos. If we do not have a war with them before December closes I will be arguably disappointed. The signs of the times, events all trend in that direction so far as they appear to me. May God guide us.

Arriving in Cavite (upper) found a steam launch waiting to take us out to the U.S. Cruiser Baltimore, Capt. N.M. Dyer, commander. When we arrived inspection was in progress. Comrade Rasmussen went ashore just after our arrival. Whether accidental or intentional I do not know.

Capt. Chas Spurgeon, one of our brightest officers & for a long time type setter on the S.F. War Cry under me, appeared. Confessed himself backslidder. Said it was fault of Adjutant L.M. Simmson of Hawaii.Urged Spurgeon to return to Christ but he refused. Belongs to Co. K. 18th U.S. Infantry – regulars.