PHILIPPINE ARMY FOR FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 277, 12 August 1918, Page 7

PHILIPPINE ARMY FOR FRANCE

• FORMER FOES NOW ALLIES. Manila, Juno 25. A Filipino Army is in training, getting ready lo tako the iiultt. Vweuty years ago a United States Army and a Filipino. Army faced each other, and tested each other's mettle with cold steel. When the news reached Manila that the United States had taken up Oenuauy's gage, the Filipino veterans— officers and enlisted men who had served under Aguinaldo and Luna, the native lenders, met to declare their loyalty to the new cause. The American veterans lauded this act of Filipino patriotism. Then both- organisations united their camp fires. Shoulder to shoulder they stcod, and elbow to elbow they marched, in the first parade of the new Philippine .National Guard. One of the first steps taken in the Philippines was to put Filipino mau power at the service of the United States. The Filipino Legislature authorised President Quezon, of the Senate, to go personally to Washington and to offer to the President of the United States a Filipino division to battle against the Germans. To this offer was added that of a submarine and a destroyer. The President accepted gratefully. On March 17, 1017, the Filipino Legislature passed a law making all able-bodied males between the ages of 18 and 43 liable to immediate call for military service. Under the direction of specially chosen U.S. Army officers, an officers' school was established. The technical administration of tho school is wholly in tho hands of professional soldiers, designated by the War Department. Aspirants for commissions are put through a stiff course of intensive training, from the foundation drills and school of the soldier lo the specialised work of each arm of (he service, under tho latest conditions of war-, fare.. The Filipinos want to fight in France. The Germans once planned to annex, the Philippines, and Filipinos do not forget the intrigue carried on, 20 years ago, by Prince Ludwig von Loewenslein. who was shot and killed at the Battlo of Gagalanging, February 5, 1S!)9. Prince Ludwig offered Aguinaldo the aid of Germany, but. Agniunldo spumed tho advances. Filipino loyalty 5s [.pparently without reservation or qualification.