Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXII. OUR BOYS IN THE PHILIPPINES. The Approach Of War--Peace Relations End--The Call For Volunteers--Kansas To The Front--The Camp In San Francisco--First Smell Of Powder--The Day On The Firing Lines--Where Their Spirit Originated--The Night Attack--The First Real BatTle--A Skirmish March--Malolos Is Taken--Calumpit, Next Stop--Trembly And White In Swimming--The Campaign Continues--Outposts Are Annoyed--Back To Manila--The Boys Who Gave Up Their Lives--The Muster Into Service--The Boys From Kansas City, Kansas. Away back in 1868 the people of the little island of Cuba began a war for freedom from the thraldom in which they were held by the Kingdom of Spain. It was an unequal war, and yet the Cubans, by bush-fighting methods, managed to continue it for many years. When, in recent years, the excitement of the war ran high, the government of the United States noticed it. To protect the American interests on the island the battleship "Maine" was sent to Havana. While lying there at night, on what was supposed to be peaceful waters, the immense ship was sunk--supposedly by a mine placed under its keel by the hand of some dastard. The grand ship was destroyed and with it departed the lives of two hundred and six brave American sailors. This deed was perpetrated on the night of February 15, 1898. The news flashed across the wires and the people of this country were aroused. The more hot-headed ones demanded that war be declared on Spain at once. Others did not favor a resort to arms. But as the facts of the cowardly night attack developed, the people were almost unanimous in their demands that Spain be made to pay the penalty of the supposed misdeeds of her sons. Much sympathy was manifested by the American people for the Cubans, and...