The Filipino Dispute

INTRODUCTION

When we start to describe the setting and environment of the story entitled "The Filipino War" we think back to some earlier dates going as far back as July 1, 1898. This was when Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders made their march up San Juan Hill taking over the country of Cuba from Spanish control under Spain's political influence. Soon annexation of the island of Cuba becomes official. Then on Fri August 12, 1898 President McKinley sets the plans for the annexations of Cuba and the Hawaiian Islands.

Then the waves were paved for American Expansionism and American Imperialism to leave the Atlantic Ocean and begin their preparations further west within the Pacific seas. Soon this imperialist expansion began in Samoa, Chile, Hawaii, and then ended up in the Philippines. This broad movement brought on a whole new era of defense which in return made us the best offense. It was our chance to Police the world and take care of our homeland first as a preventative medicine. Here was an aggressive plan to say we are better than the rest of the humanity and show how we are more superior. We displayed the fact that we do have the capabilities and that we are the backbone of the United Nations.

Before long more plans to take over with the building of Honolulu Naval Base came in to view. After preparing the fleets with supplies and lots of ammunition, expansionism begins with Chile and the Samoan islands. The movement westward heightened to a much larger dispute when expansionism directed itself further towards the Philippine Islands. At the end of 1898 Spain sells 7000 islands to the United States for 20 million dollars which inadvertently involves the Rough Riders taking the Philippine Islands.

Most of this expansionistic movement was the result of the Sugar Act passed earlier by President McKinley which resulted in a tax over all exported sugar. Much of this was first run by the Sugar Boys who took control of most of the Hawaiian sugar markets changing the Pacific Island's culture and ethnic lifestyle.

PROLOGUE

The story starts off at the Honolulu Naval Base with most of the action being with the building and preparations of the project. On locale and on the site are a few Rough Riders who are well known from history. Among them are Lieutenant Wright and Teddy Roosevelt's War Correspondent Richard Harding Davis. Also among them is Commander Lieutenant Leonardo Wood who has been in charge of army operations with the United States First Calvary and as well was in charge of places such as Guantanamo Bay in Santiago, Cuba and later Manila Bay in the Philippines.

The first importance was Samoa because of its geographical location and it is positioned along many of the southern trade routes. There are also deep water harbors which make it easy access for most of the larger ships. Eventually many tycoons ruin the significance of the island of Samoa and it is split up anyhow. Because Chile became a problem as well with all of the mobs rebelling and causing havoc most of the American tension shifted towards the Islands in the Philippines.

The story starts off in January of 1899 with Lieutenant Wright preparing a list for an ammunitions count. Most of the ammunition he is accounting for will be placed in ammunitions rooms aboard the ships belonging to the Honolulu Naval Fleet. Harding is leaning against a wooden crate inspecting the items that Lieutenant Wright calls out. Meanwhile Leonard Wood is wondering whether he should invite his family to live on base.

CHAPTER ONE

The pen of Colonel Leonard Wood moves along on a piece of paper as he writes to his wife Louise and his two children Barbara and Louie. In his letter he is talking about how it is time for them to leave the Honolulu Naval Base in order to secure the purchase of the 7,000 Philippine Islands that the United States had purchased from Spain for only $20,000 dollars.

He even writes about how the family will have to wait until he is stationed in the Philippines where they can come live and stay with him. In fact, he makes it clear that he is moving on from the Hawaiian Islands and the Sugar Boys have pretty much taken over the sugar market. Nonetheless he mentions a few other Rough Rider friends such as Lieutenant Greenway who is currently giving a letter to some native females he has met while being there on the island. And he doesn’t leave out his close soldiers of fortune Lieutenant Wright and Lieutenant Sharp who is a Cuban Informant and co-pilot of the Viper which is his personal steamboat.

There are some other members he would like to mention such as Commodore Ally Capron who fought valiantly. As Leonard Wood finishes up the letter to his wife, Lieutenant Greenway has worn out his nick name with the native flirts and decides it’s time to return to the Honolulu Naval Base to prepare to head out. However a native Hawaiian fan doesn’t find that so welcoming at the moment.

Earlier Lieutenant Greenway dropped off a letter to soothe the fans he had built up over the stay on the islands. And now he is heading back to the Honolulu Naval Base while trying to leave without saying any in person goodbyes. Nevertheless as he reaches the port and makes his way along the docks with his horse there are a few fans catching up fast like wanting more from his departure.

Yet as he heads onto the ship, Lieutenant Greenway tries to ignore any cries he hears coming directly from behind him on the beginning of the docks. He rides onto the ship while passing Lieutenant Wright and Richard Harding who is now Colonel Leonard Wood’s war correspondent for the taking of the Filipino Islands.

They are counting up the stock on their weaponry for the arsenal room down below the deck of the Steamship. Currently as Lieutenant Greenway rides by trying to avoid any confrontations with the native fans he has built up, Lieutenant Wright stops counting how many Lowell and Gatling guns they have brought aboard along with how many more casings of shells for their armories.

Richard Harding turns his head along with Lieutenant Greenway as he rides and passes them both by before saying, “Looks like he has some ties he’d like to break!”

As Lieutenant Greenway disappears out of sight, some of his native fans gather around on the docks outside the ship. There are at least a handful of them cheering him back outside to see them before they head off to the Philippine Islands where the Expansionism of the Pacific Oceans as far as Chile, Samoa, have reached their height.

The Hawaiian natives continue to cheer for Lieutenant Greenway, although he doesn’t seem to want to make another appearance. Many of the other Rough Riders notice what’s going on and start to laugh like they thought the whole entire Hawaiian Island attitude was going to be long behind them all. Nonetheless the only thing left on their mind now is to head for the Philippines and take what belongs to their country of origin. The newest comer of the Rough Riders John Porter, who hasn’t really made it to any of the battlefields yet, makes a wise crack of a comment saying, “Maybe, you should write them when you get to the Philippines!”

After putting his horse in the horse’s corral located on the steamship, Lieutenant Greenway steps back out where some of the other Rough Riders are while trying to avoid being seen by any of the onlookers. Many of the Rough Riders are sitting outside watching the scenery from the outside ship’s deck.

It doesn’t take but a few more minutes and the Hawaiian native females have spotted him. Quickly they try to make their way over towards the back end of the ship as the ropes come off from the docks and the anchors are held still in place.

One of the Hawaiian native female fans named Jaime throws a letter tied to a rock nearly hitting Lieutenant Greenway in the head as he ducks to the side and then picks the letter up. He takes the rock out and the string holding it all together off and starts to open it as the steamship drifts further and further away from the docks of the Honolulu Naval Base. Lieutenant Greenway looks to the Hawaiian native babes yelling, “I’ll write you!”

Soon the steamship drifts even further away from the docks as Lieutenant Greenway remarks, “Or I could call you, Morse code!”

Another Hawaiian native looks to Lieutenant Greenway’s fan saying, “She just threw something at Lieutenant Greenway!”

Right away, Lieutenant Greenway’s fan Jaime remarks, “Greenway? He told me his name was Beretta!”

The steamship leaves the dock and enters further out in to the bay as everyone waves to see them off. There are other ethnicities present as well even though it has been at least six months before the Hawaiian Island Annexation which was a way to take over the islands of the Pacific Ocean during the war times of the Spanish-American War.

The Colonel Leonard Wood takes a last look at some old papers he has secretly been keeping about some truths to his past with having alternate identities. However one of them he has to try and forget about even though he hasn’t completely buried the truth to its paperwork. Nonetheless it’s a past that has taught him to see other forces which are at work because many of them aren’t seen by the naked eye and are only felt.

Meanwhile as Colonel Leonard Wood puts his important papers away, he listens in on what Lieutenant Wright and War Correspondent Richard Harding are discussion while overhearing, “It was the policy made to open new markets which led to a political coo after John L. Stevens had arrested Queen Liliuokalani in order to annex the Hawaiian Islands.”

Next War Correspondent Richard Harding says something that he had written in regards to Colonel Leonard Wood chatting, “And now we have other political coos like Emilio Aguinaldo and his Filipino Freedom Fighters fighting against us instead of Spain now that we bought Spain out!”

When the attention flows back to Leonard Wood, he is holding a piece of bamboo that the Filipino Goddess of the Filipino Islands had left as a token of her affections. For now, he can only get some impressions of who she is considering that he has only seen her from a distance. Other than that he has only heard rumors and things about her and her cause for Filipino Independence.

Soon Lieutenant Greenway enters the room just when Colonel Leonard Wood is still looking at the piece of bamboo. As Lieutenant Greenway approaches Colonel Leonard Wood’s desk, he is breathing fairly hard from his outrunning his fans of the Hawaiian Islands. Nonetheless he sees the piece of bamboo realizing that things have a taken a turn before even hearing the words.

And before looking up to him, Colonel Leonard Wood asks, “Having problems with your Hawaiian fans out there?”

Immediately Lieutenant Greenway looks away from the piece of bamboo while looking at him answering back diligently, “It’s nothing I can’t handle, sir!”

Thereafter Colonel Leonard Wood thinks to the prime objective of the future of things to come as he says, “Good! Because we have a Filipino fan of the Freedom Fighters named Emilio Aguinaldo that we are setting our concentrations on. And we have this as a problem with many of the Filipino Rebels under the command of the Filipino Goddess Bamboo who has the same dream of Filipino Independence!”

And as Colonel Leonard Wood sets the piece of Bamboo down on his desk while adding, “I was given this as a gift from one of the Hawaiian members who found it where she was last sighted watching the Annexation Celebration.”

Right away, Lieutenant Greenway says to Colonel Leonard Wood, “Sounds like we have our hands tied after the United States bought the Philippines.”

Next Colonel Leonard Wood carries on about the goals of the leaders of the Freedom Fighters and rebels that are under the command of ruthless individuals as he chats, “The leaders of the Freedom Fighters could care less whether they are fighting against Spain or the United States. All they want is their Filipino Independence!”

A few moments later, Lieutenant Greenway wonders what his commands are considering he is the second in command out on the field asking, “And what are my commands?”

Of course, Colonel Leonard Wood realizes that he is the one in command other than Lieutenant Wright, who usually is in charge of other things such as camp and the men’s well-being while out on the battlefield as he answers back, “Your commands are to go after Emilio Aguinaldo and stop him and his Freedom Fighters!”

And after giving those commands, Colonel Leonard Wood talks about his plans a little saying, “Meanwhile I’m going to scour and scout some Filipino Islands for this Bamboo I’ve been told about and take down her Filipino Rebels she has brought under her wing! My family has decided to come and live in the Philippines when this is all over with!”

Of course, when Lieutenant Greenway figures that there aren’t too many people who have heard of the Filipino Goddess Bamboo saying, “There aren’t too many people who know of this so called Filipino Goddess Bamboo.”

Then a few moments later, Colonel Leonard Wood feels that they should keep things a little hush hush on the matter signifying, “And that’s why we should keep quiet about this person of interest.”

But then again, Lieutenant Greenway figures that they had screwed up when visiting the Hawaiian Islands shelling out the words, “So I suppose we messed up a little bit with our visit to the Hawaiian Islands?”

For a moment or so Colonel Leonard Wood thinks before saying, “Yes and no; the Hawaiian Islands were already in a mess because David Kalakaua had possession of stolen weapons and not to mention that Lorrin Thurston had signed a treaty against him long ago back in 1887. And we have the missionary boys wanting to open up new markets while using men like John L. Stevens to arrest Queen Liliuokalani in order to bring about their political coo and give the sugar markets to the Sugar Boys!”

Lastly Lieutenant Greenway is curious as to what that means as they continue making their way towards the Philippines asking, “So what does that mean when we reach the Philippines?”

Finally Colonel Leonard Wood comes back talking about how they are leaving and will forget about what happened in the past saying, “That means that we are leaving the home of the Hawaiian Islands and our concentrations is on taking full control of the war within the Filipino Islands!”

Besides all of those facts, Lieutenant Greenway can only imagine how many islands there are in the Philippines contending, “That’s a lot of islands to try and take under our management!”

In Conclusion to the conversation, Colonel Leonard Wood makes a remark about that saying, “Well, let’s sail aside there and grab control of a few Filipino Islands as quickly as possible!”

While thinking about just how many islands in the Philippines there are now that the United States has purchased from Spain, Lieutenant Greenway can only imagine how many Freedom Fighters there are saying, “There must be Freedom Fighters and Freedom Rebels on almost every island in those Philippines!”

After hearing about the Filipino Freedom Fighting Militant Service, Colonel Leonard Wood says, “Along with all of the native citizens of the Philippines who will do the same for saving their freedom from Spain or the United States.”

Lieutenant Greenway wonders who they are dealing with as far as the Freedom Fighters of the Philippines and as well the native Filipino people saying, “So this person of interest has fought against Spain and now he is fighting against us, and what happens if he catches any of our military personnel?”

Colonel Leonard Wood comes back talking about some of the mean strategies the Filipino people have used which are some facts rather than rumors as he says, “If that happens they could resort to using tactics of torture to retrieve information!”

Quickly Lieutenant Greenway comes back with a bit of San Juan Hill humor which goes back to Lieutenant Sharp and Colonel Leonard Wood sacking Cuban trains as he speaks saying, “So this isn’t the old sack a train and take the hill, put a flag up, and pose for a group shot run, huh?”

Now Colonel Leonard Wood can only think of how the Spanish-American War is continuing on with its efforts in the Philippines as he remarks, “No, it’s not as easy as that this time around. This is another chapter of the Spanish-American War known as the Philippine-American War which will probably last a few years or so.”

In the intervening time John Porter is talking to some of the other Rough Riders who are looking over their gear which is next to their bunks. They have gone down below since they have left the ports a few miles out and it’s time to get their quarters in gear in order to be prepared for what is to come ahead.

General Bill Shafter is preparing a bunk right next to him considering that they had all picked their bunks many weeks ago when the ships first arrived. Many of them were first prepared with ammunitions and supplies before any of the Rough Rider soldiers were able to find their place onboard the vessel.

There are a few other Rough Riders who had a place on the fight at San Juan Hill, although there are many who had returned home after the fight. But some had to carry on the legacy of getting a job done which was one that was a threat to the American way of life.

For now they are all on Commodore Ally Capron’s ship along with Colonel Leonard Wood’s Viper Steamboat being attached. Of course there are other captains such as Commodore Dewey, who has had his place within the Spanish-American War as well, amongst them all. And now they are joining the Philippine-American War, but there are even more ships within their fleet as they all sail to the Filipino Islands.

Meanwhile John Porter makes a comment to General Bill Shafter as he prepares his bed putting some of his belonging underneath the bottom bunk where he is choosing to sleep during the ongoing voyage as he says, “I didn’t seem to get along with too many people on the Hawaiian Islands and I don’t think I am going to get along with anyone when we get to the Philippines!”

As an answer to John Porter and what he has said as far as his relations go on the Hawaiian Islands, General Bill Shafter turns back while preparing a bottom bunk directly right next to him as he comes back saying, “We are going to war and there is no reason to expect to relate to anyone when we get there. There may be a few neutral citizens here and there, although you will need to be more careful this time around. There are no vacationing spots where we are going.”

It doesn’t take long before Rough Rider Mike decides to make some comments relating to war considering that John Porter had never fought in one saying, “There isn’t any getting along with anyone when there is war and especially with any native citizens of that country. The best thing to do is to just stick with the other Rough Riders gaining as much ground as possible.”

And then there is their female Rough Rider Nurse Shooter who has taken a bunk alongside of them all, although it’s only because she has been more personal with them than anyone else on a submerged level. So far, she feels that the Rough Rider men have all had it easy for the last half of a year or so. And now it’s time to kick it in high gear, yet they have handled it very well indeed and that’s why she’s there trying to keep it that way.

Of course, the Rough Rider Nurse Shooter feels that she should scare Rough Rider John Porter a bit by mentioning, “And remember that when you get hurt or injured in the Philippines, it’s for real!”

Nevertheless Rough Rider John Porter gets the hint that this is war and how the reality is for real and this isn’t no Hawaiian vacationing spot while retorting, “I’ll try and remember that this is war!”

The next word to come from anyone’s mouth is General Bill Shafter who declares, “That’s right; this is war and it’s time to act like a Rough Rider Soldier!”

Quickly the scene changes to Lieutenant Sharp checking over and doing a perimeter check around the place where the Viper Steamboat. There are no trespassers onboard lurking or sneaking about, although he still feels like having a look around every once in a while.

At first, he looks and feels like passing it by, but then again he feels like taking a closer look because he thought he saw something stuffed under one of the seats. When he first glances he nearly misses it, although he isn’t called Lieutenant Sharp because he doesn’t have sharp eyesight.

Nonetheless he does have sharp eyesight and that’s why he has climbed aboard to inspect whatever has caught his eye from under the seat of the Viper Steamboat. And when he does inspect the boat, he finds a voodoo doll underneath that looks like Colonel Leonard Wood, but then again it’s sort of hard to tell who it really looks like because they’re all just Rough Riders. And this is a Rough Rider Voodoo Doll that looks sort of inconspicuous at the moment.

Quickly Lieutenant Sharp starts to head to Colonel Leonard Wood’s office to tell him and show him what he has found on the Viper Steamboat. So far it is pretty alarming to him that there would be anything on their steamship like that and not to mention their little Viper Steamboat. But nonetheless the main point of the idea is how did the Rough Rider Voodoo Doll get there and that is the confusing part of the discovery of potential witchcraft being involved.

As Lieutenant Sharp makes his way to Colonel Leonard Wood’s Office, he inspects the Rough Rider Voodoo Doll up and down trying to find any kind of signature. A signature that is similar to one’s found on paintings perhaps, although there is nothing that he can see or find indicating who the Rough Rider Voodoo Doll.

While Lieutenant Sharp approaches towards Colonel Lieutenant Wood’s Office, some of the other Rough Riders notice him carrying the voodoo doll, although it’s hard to make out who it represents or who in particular it is at a distance. Yet they all start talking to one another about it as though there are other forces at work in the Philippines.

But then again, to the Rough Rider Cowboys, nothing even witch craft can beat their six shooter guns or especially the Lowell Gun or Gatling gun which can shoot out multiple rounds per second. And then on the other hand, there are their cowboy guts that treat everything like all it needs is a Bronco Busting. And all the natives of the Philippine Islands need only exactly that to many of them which is to be corralled for the purchase of the United States.

A few Rough Riders are able to catch a glimpse of the Rough Rider Voodoo Doll, although when Lieutenant Sharp reaches Colonel Leonard Wood’s Office with Lieutenant Greenway is still standing there inside talking to him about the Philippines. And when Lieutenant Sharp walks in Colonel Leonard Wood’s Office, there is a salute between them both as Lieutenant Sharp stands there holding the Rough Rider Voodoo Doll in his hand down to his left side. He stands there silently for a moment as he salutes with his right hand to his forehead.

Immediately Colonel Leonard Wood notices the Rough Rider Voodoo Doll slightly while putting his hand to his own forehead saying, “Attention and at ease!”

Right away, Lieutenant Sharp continues holding the Rough Rider Voodoo Doll to his side as Colonel Leonard Wood notices it along with Lieutenant Greenway who is nearly breathless and speechless from such a sight to see for the first time on one of their vessels heading towards the Philippines.

Straight forth Colonel Leonard Wood is the first to respond to Lieutenant Sharp and his discovery of the Rough Rider Voodoo while interrogating, “What do you have there in your left hand?”

Quickly without any further hesitation on the matter of what he had found on the Viper Steamboat, Lieutenant Sharp comes answering back respectively, “I found this on the Viper Steamboat when doing a perimeter check once we made it out to sea. When I walked by doing an inspection, this was stuffed under one of the passenger seats just lying there.”

Moreover Colonel Leonard Wood comes back realizing that there have been other voodoo dolls found around on the Hawaiian Islands represented many other Hawaiian Personnel and Natives as he returns with saying, “I wonder how it found its way there?

In regards to what Colonel Leonard Wood has just said, Lieutenant Greenway takes a closer look at it while saying, “Someone must have thrown it aboard back at the docks of the Honolulu Naval Base.”

And while inspecting it as though it resembles a Rough Rider of some kind, Lieutenant Sharp comments on it, “It looks like one of the Rough Riders; but which Rough Rider are they trying to impersonate?”

Meanwhile Colonel Leonard Wood can only think that it is the handy work of the Filipino Goddess Bamboo who shares some of the freedom within the Philippines as he says, “It appears to be the work of the Filipino Goddess Bamboo.”

In repose to what Colonel Leonard Wood has previously boasted, Lieutenant Sharp wonders if she may have found her way aboard saying, “Do you think she came aboard somehow?”

But then when it comes to her true identity, Lieutenant Greenway asks a hard question, “It’s hard to say if she snuck aboard or if she had someone in her clan sneak aboard in order to place it there.”

Next Colonel Leonard Wood doesn’t really know too much about this supposed Filipino Goddess Bamboo other than what some of the Hawaiians have said as he says, “Really, we don’t know much about this supposed Filipino Goddess Bamboo other than what the Hawaiians have told us. Other than that she has been thought to have been sighted around the Honolulu Naval Base, but we have no real proof.”

Immediately Lieutenant Greenway changes the subject to some other proof that he had heard saying, “There are the reports from Filipinos who have also seen her back there at the Island of Oahu as well as back at the Philippines.”

Next Lieutenant Sharp wonders where their first stop is turning the main point around to the larger picture questioning, “So where in the Philippines are we going to first?”

Right away, Colonel Leonard Wood can only think of where the ship the Maine had a boiler explosion answering back, “Our first stop is in Manila Bay and remember Havana Harbor, Cuba where the Maine had the boiler blow out. And then we will take it and set up camp headquarters there in Manila somewhere near Manila Bay.”

After hearing where they are going once they reach the Philippines, Lieutenant Greenway wonders if that’s where they are going to unload their American Rough Rider Troops asking, “Is Manila where we are going to unload our American Rough Rider Troops?”

There’s no doubt that most of their American Rough Rider Fleet will end up in or around the proximity of Manila Bay as Colonel Leonard Wood rejoins, “Yes, most of our American Rough Rider Fleet will travel to Manila Bay and then they will be rerouted from there to take back the Filipino Islands.”

In the meantime, Lieutenant Sharp is more curious as to what their main focus is once they get to Manila asking, “What’s our main focus once we arrive in Manila Bay?”

Straight forth Colonel Leonard Wood can only think of gaining complete control of the Manila area such as Manila Bay and the neighboring Islands saying, “First we will gain control of Manila Bay and Manila and then move on to neighboring islands.”

Right away, Lieutenant Greenway can only picture the Filipino forces surrounding Manila and Manila Bay while arguing, “There are too many Filipino forces to cruise in to Manila Bay.”

Immediately Colonel Wood says thinking about the many years he has been a general already, “Regardless we still have to barricade them in and try to move in on Manila Bay and Manila!

Moments later, after thinking about Commodore Dewey and what he doing with his fleet at the time, Lieutenant Greenway comes back asking, “And what about Commodore Dewey?”

Afterwards Colonel Leonard Wood figures there is more to say to get the message across of what’s going on, as he returns saying, “Admiral Dewey has been trying to work with Emilio Aguinaldo convincing him that the United States isn’t his enemy. He has also been trying to convince him of how we aren’t only annexing the Philippines but we are buying the Filipino Islands while leaving them their independence at the same time. As Commander of Cuba I have used that power to give control back to the Cuban Government in order to maintain their independence through the sovereignty of the United States. And now I would like to use this sovereignty once again in the Philippines, although I have been the highest ranking Army Officer running the battle from afar keeping a distance from it all. Also I have been seeing things in a new perspective. Eventually I will become the President of Cuba and then the President of the Philippines and men like President Dole and his illegal coo of Sugar Boys won’t be able to take away the independence of the Philippines.”

And with even more curiosity about the past of how things on the Hawaiian Islands evolved, Lieutenant Sharp asks, “When did all of the taking the Hawaiian Crops start before the Sugar Act?”

With some knowledge of the past and how things started to escalate within his chess like mind in a general’s stance, Colonel Leonard Wood comes back saying, “I believe this all started with John Louis Stevenson who spent most of his time with David Kalakaua and Lydia to gain their trust as a soldier.”

With more intent on their wanting to have more knowledge of what’s going on out there, Lieutenant Greenway returns with a question asking, “So what will happen with the Philippine crops?”

Immediately Colonel Lieutenant Wood comes back like Teddy Roosevelt with a big stick saying, “Nothing! And that’s because we are only here to observe until Manila Bay is under United States control and then we are ready to set up shop to direct the Philippine-American War and set up a legal government before the Sugar Boys know what hit them.”

“And what are we to do about Commodore Dewey and Emilio Aguinaldo?”

Lieutenant Sharp asks thinking about Commodore Dewey and his progress with convincing Emilio Aguinaldo with going under the sovereignty of the United States Government.

“Don’t worry about Commodore Dewey making relation with Emilio Aguinaldo during many trips back and forth trying to meet up in person with one another in Hong Kong. Regardless of what Commodore Dewey does with the situation, Emilio Aguinaldo figures that he is a Sugar Boy and that they are out to take the sugar crops of the Philippines? And that’s why we are here incognito!”

This is what Colonel Leonard Wood says in rebutting the last question asked of him regardless of what he feels he should otherwise say to his Rough Rider Officers. Nevertheless Colonel Leonard Wood feels that he should relieve his Rough Rider Officer in to other tasks for the remainder of the day while he does some paperwork which is needed to be done around his temporary office.

“And that’s about it for now and you may be relieved unto your other duties!”

Quickly they all salute one another as Colonel Leonard Wood turns back to his prior duties and Lieutenant Sharp and Lieutenant Greenway leave to make their way to other areas of the warship.

At this time, Colonel Leonard Wood decides to look over some of his paperwork that he needs to shuffle in order as he prepares his plans for arriving in Manila Bay in weeks to come. However he does have some dark feelings over whelming him since that voodoo doll that he has found with the name Bamboo written on it.

And not to leave out the fact, that it was a voodoo doll like him which was a closely split image of him in a magical sense. For now all he can do is stare at it like it means something more than just a war of political and social reasoning. As he stares, he sees more than that of a political freedom, but that of a spiritual freedom that seems to be led from a dark way of life. He is even feeling a bit empty in the stomach like something is there over looming such as a dark power that is trying to drain their energies. And the closer they approach the Philippine Islands the stronger that image gets and feels for each and every mile that they travel.

CHAPTER TWO

Meanwhile Lieutenant Wright is accompanied by General Bill Shafter as he has nearly finished up with counting the stock of their arsenal. Of course, their arsenal is quite large as he looks at his note pad with a checklist of many more cases of ammunitions such as battery and mortar rounds.

They both continue checking things off of their checklist as General Shafter finishes up with the side with the Lowell guns that are located on one side of the ammunitions supply room as Lieutenant Wright checks off the Gatling guns lined up along the other side of the ammunitions supply room.

Right then Lieutenant Wright realizes that they are right on the money with having the correct amount of Gatling guns by saying, “Well, it appears that we have the right amount of Gatling guns.

And following is General Bill Shafter with his checklist as he checks a mark while saying, “And it appears that we have the right amount of Lowell guns!”

Suddenly as the U.S. Naval Fleet approaches the islands of the Philippines, Emilio Aguinaldo is sitting within his quarters at his desk as some of the Freedom Fighters are waiting for orders. For a moment he decides on some of his moves to make in order to clear out his forces in Manila Bay. So far he has decided that his best tactics are Guerilla Warfare which is the only way that they have a chance at saving their freedom.

Immediately Emilio Aguinaldo walks to the front door of his quarters where he informs the Freedom Fighters, “The U.S. Naval Fleet is on their way and will be here within a few days’ time. Our naval forces aren’t any match for the U.S. Naval Fleets so prepare to clear all ammunitions from Manila. Our tactics will be that of Guerilla Warfare within our crops and our homeland!”

Quickly the Freedom Fighters all leave ready to make their preparations for the arrival of the U.S. Naval Fleet and the many Rough Riders that have been brought along for this Philippine-American War will is believed to last several years or so. Momentarily Emilio Aguinaldo turns back to his quarters and heads back to his desk to sit down.

When he arrives, he feels another presence in the room and he knows he that presence is behind him. He turns and sits as he sees her approach his desk slowly dressed like some evil goddess ready to do her abiding for her own homeland and country nonetheless.

Slowly Emilio Aguinaldo looks to Bamboo the Filipino Goddess of the Philippine Islands without the claimed title saying, “It seems that the peace talks with Commodore Dewey have failed and he wants me to believe that the United States isn’t our enemy. And the U.S. naval Fleets are on their way to set up their camp in Manila Bay. And I believe that the Rough Rider Colonel Leonard Wood is now the commander of Cuba as well as Manila Bay. So we have no choice but to call in some of our ancestry to help out with the fight. Do you know what to do?”

There and then, the Filipino Goddess of the Philippine Islands walks over to a nut torch that is near the back patio of his office that is used for lighting. She pulls out a Rough Rider picture of Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders. She has a red “X” marking the spot on the picture where Colonel Wood is standing and where Lieutenant Greenway is standing.

She takes a pinch of some gun powder and rubs sprinkling it all over the Rough Rider picture and then quickly she sticks it in to the flame and it burns up quickly like a magic trick by some magician with a puff of smoke only left that floats towards the ceiling fast like and then dissipates.

Once that is all done and accomplished, the Filipino Goddess Bamboo says, “Don’t worry; I know what to do and what needs to be done!”

Thereafter the Filipino Goddess Bamboo turns to leave in order to make her preparations for the arrival of the U.S. Naval Fleet. She has decided to leave this island as soon as possible, although she does have some time which is only a day or so. That’s so that they are already established within the many colonies of the islands within the Philippines.

But before she makes her way much further, she is passed by one of the private groups amongst the Philippine Islands. And as he travels to the quarters of Emilio Aguinaldo, another Filipino Native approaches the Filipino Goddess Bamboo as she reaches in her bag of goodies for witch craft.

She pulls out a yellow poison dart frog and hands it to her frog catcher saying, “Round up as many poison dart frogs as possible and prepare more dart blow guns!”

She even has some other poisonous arrow dart frogs such as the “Strawberry Dart Frog” which is a reddish color as well as a “Green Spotted Dart Frog” which is green with black Pokka dots. And the green spotted poison arrow dart frogs are easier to come by within the islands of the Philippines.

Once she makes her short little get-together with Frog Man, the Filipino Goddess Bamboo leaves and makes her way back to do more preparations for her abiding. But after walking a few feet, the Filipino Goddess Bamboo stops and pulls something from her large gris-gris bag of tricks like taking a voodoo doll that has a Rough Rider hat and two sword emblems attached. The voodoo doll also resembles a close image to that of the Colonel Leonard Wood and, of course, she has made many others just like this one that she has on her at the time being.

It is definitely a symbol of hat started during the Civil War and has been carried out within the military tradition for many of years. Yet now the Filipino Goddess Bamboo takes a long sewing needle like the larger ones for sewing clothes and sticks it through the Rough Rider hat where the sword hat emblem is located at. When she starts she places a large amount of her black magical power trying to cause conformity of will.

Now the scene fades back to the U.S. Naval Fleet with Leonard Wood back at his desk looking through paperwork. On the side he is writing a letter to his Rough Rider Father Wood making it as sweet and candidly as possible. So far, he has only begun to send his greeting and farewells as they sail in the direction of the Philippine Islands which are now owned by the United States Government.

And after writing a few more lines for a few moments, the Colonel Leonard Wood feels a slight like pain right between the eyes just above the brow ridge or where his eyebrows are concerned. At first, he thinks nothing of it and only rubs his forehead trying to brush it off a bit, although it comes back a little more a second later.

The Filipino Goddess Bamboo uses her powers of extra sensory perception to see what kind of reaction she is getting from this Colonel Leonard Wood leader. It takes a moment and she decides to stick another one in. Nevertheless Colonel Leonard Wood tries his very best to ignore the headache or the pain that feels like someone stuck a safety pin or sewing needle right in the forehead once again. However he did seem to catch a glimpse of an image of a female which there is no doubt happen to the Filipino Goddess Bamboo.

Furthermore Colonel Leonard Wood attempts to disregard the feeling that he is getting, although there was some sort of image that passed through his extra sensory senses that has him wondering. Yet still each time it comes back stronger and stronger to where it feels like the worst migraine headache in the world. It also comes along with the feeling of someone drilling a hole in his forehead.

But regardless of the feelings he is getting, Colonel Leonard Wood continues to write with only the thoughts of accomplishing his immediate goals. Yet the Filipino Goddess Bamboo can only bring another image to his mind which is one of witchery and deceit. And this image is one that changes his whole concept of the purpose of the war bringing in the realities of satanic ritual forces.

This image happens to be one of her walking her feet passed a fiery burned cross that seems to be placed in a different position than usual. This is an upside down cross that is burning with all kinds of relics of them that are worshipped for the satanic craft. The image comes across his mind quickly as though someone had been playing him all long from an earlier time.

Of course, they have found the voodoo doll that was left behind with the note describing a name “Bamboo” that seemed uncanny and unexpected nonetheless. Still he carries on like it is nothing even though he is feeling some weird sensations along with some unanticipated pains.

Meanwhile the Filipino Goddess Bamboo starts to make more voodoo doll images of the other Rough Riders. Now she targets Lieutenant Sharp who is Colonel Leonard Wood’s Viper co-pilot. The following imagery he receives is that of a voodoo doll face with a Rough Rider hat being painted with a darkish brownish paint like that of his Cuban co-pilot Lieutenant Sharp’s skin color.

Then the image fades away, as he continues writing some more of his letter that he has been preparing for his father. More seconds go by before another image of someone with their hair really messed up with an array of dark trees in the background emerges. The imagery gets more intense as there are trickles of fire light flickering in little sparkles.

Now the imagery has some content as he see another image. This is one which comes fast as a flash with many Rough Rider hats lying there in a gulch that is overrun by puddles of blood. And there are many bodies lying around as well which resemble that of trench warfare.

Then the images stop as he finishes up with his letter to his Father, although he decides to add something to the letter to his wife Louise which is to tell her to make her arrival sooner. Now he is thinking that these images are more for having the accompaniment of his wife and children. Maybe because they are more of a satanic reality and the love of family is one to offset that of war.

In the meantime, Lieutenant Sharp is sitting in the break room with some of the others wondering what the aspects are about this doll with the words Bamboo written on it. So far, they haven’t said much, although they remember hearing that name somewhere else on the islands of Oahu.

However they want to forget about that story and carry on with the new one if you know how a cowboy soldier thinks. But they have said a few things and felt some uncomforting feelings here and there with the reality of a slight darkness over looming over them.

Now Lieutenant Sharp makes a comment to Rough Rider John Porter saying, “Do you feel that?”

John Porter looks at him funny, although he is used to supernatural suspicions from the Hawaiian Islands such as Oahu saying back, “Feel what?”

Now, the Filipino Goddess has finished her voodoo doll of Lieutenant Sharp which is the original one she made, although she has more than one of Colonel Leonard Wood that she has made. But she has messed with him enough for now, although she will keep a shadow of darkness looming over and above him.

Now she feels like stepping things up a little with the rest of his officers such as the Cuban co-pilot Lieutenant Sharp that hasn’t had any of her vibes as of yet. However that changes as the Filipino Goddess Bamboo directs her darkened cloud of black witchcraft over towards Lieutenant Sharp. And she does that just moments after he had said that to the Rough Rider John Porter who has ported this story.

Suddenly he sees a dark image of feminine legs, although they are dirty and darkish in a satanic way that he is unable to bring out in to words. And we’re talking about his describing in words a scene that even his mind can understand. Then unexpectedly Lieutenant Sharp sees a reflection of his self, although it really isn’t his own self. And that is because it is something such as a voodoo split image of him that has given him the mere creepy weeps almost.

The image comes and goes at a quick flash, as even the Rough Rider John Porter notices something odd about the reaction of his facial expressions as he asks, “What’s wrong?”

Lieutenant Sharp tries to look back at Rough Rider John Porter, although he has a bit of trouble with a delayed reaction effect as he returns with slowly, “Nothing but a flash of something dark and gloomy!”

Then the flash comes again but this time the flash comes not only to Lieutenant Sharp, but as well the Rough Rider John Porter who catches a feeling saying, “Now I just caught a glimpse of something darker than dark almost!”

Of course, Lieutenant Sharp is Cuban and has a dark side to that nature and understands people of the craft as well as the supernatural saying, “Yes, I caught another glimpse again too!”

Yet she has had some time to prepare some of her craft ahead of time and she had left the Hawaiian Islands long enough to return in time. And that is to return in time before the U.S. Naval Fleet makes their way towards the Philippine Islands. So she has had some time to prepare other resembled dolls of her choice before their arrival.

Then all of a sudden there is another flash to Lieutenant Sharp and this time he feels a heat buildup in his chest as though his shirt was on fire, but when he looks down he sees nothing abnormal. Also the Rough Rider John Porter catches a glimpse of something on fire which is a chest, but it didn’t seem like it was his own chest. But also he feels a heat buildup within his stomach like he’s burning up all of a sudden.

But that feeling doesn’t jive with Rough Rider John Porter as he feels the intenseness of something over looming that is unexplainable saying, “I felt something too!”

After saying that, Rough Rider John Porter notices someone staring at him that he doesn’t seem to recognize. He doesn’t say anything right away as Lieutenant Sharp keeps his senses open for any vibrations from afar. Yet he is getting some looks from some others that are getting on his nerves.

And when Lieutenant Sharp remains silent for a brief moment, Rough Rider John Porter asks about the looks, “What’s the story about those Black Rough Riders staring over here?”

Lieutenant Sharp has looked before and has no need to turn his head as he says, “Oh, those are the Black Rough Riders alright! There are lots of stories of Rough Riders being shot and then rumors of them dying of typhoid fever. Those are the lies and an art of war that creates a world of spies and infiltrators!”

Next Rough Rider John Porter comes back with a short preoccupied question asking, “And?”

Lieutenant Sharp decides to explain to him, “That one was not only a Pawnee Indian but he was half black and he is now the “Dead Indian” and that is the only hint I can give you!”

Next Rough Rider John Porter thinks of rumors he heard saying, “Well, I heard that Captain Allyn Capron wasn’t only shot and killed in Cuba, he died of a typhoid fever like the lies you mentioned, but other rumors say he is alive and accompanying us on this journey to the Philippines!”

Rough Rider John Porter looks at his name stitched to his Rough Rider uniform from afar barely making out the name Lieutenant Pollack and he looks just as black as he would a Pawnee Indian and that’s for sure. He continues staring for a moment until Lieutenant Pollack looks back at him with some mean ferocious blackened eyes that he wonders whether they are Indian, Black, or both.

Right then, Rough Rider John Porter comments, “His name is Lieutenant Pollack!”

Moments later, Lieutenant Pollack gets up and walks over to Lieutenant Sharp and says, “So there’s some rumors going around that this war may be in need of some of our black hoodoo and voodoo if you know what I mean?”

Lieutenant Sharp makes a slight remark, “Oh yeah, really, some of our own Rough Rider craft?”

Following that statement, “Lieutenant Pollack says, “Yes, Private Wood and I were betting on it!”

To back up Lieutenant Sharp, Rough Rider John Porter says, “Witchcraft isn’t anything that a pistol or Gatling gun can’t handle now!”

Lieutenant Pollack carries on further about his desire to handle things a certain way almost as though he is showing off to the newcomer saying, “You’re just a new comer and don’t realize what is coming for us all!”

Lieutenant Sharp backs Rough Rider John Porter up as well by saying, “I think he has sort of an idea of what we are up against with this Filipino War!”

Luckily for them Emilio Aguinaldo doesn’t have an idea of what is coming for them as Lieutenant Pollack says, “And luckily Emilio Aguinaldo doesn’t even have the slightest idea of what is coming for him either!”

Of course, Rough Rider John Porter is a new comer, although he has some cowboy brains as he decides to say, “Oh, I am sure that he reads the newspaper!”

But then again on the other hand, Lieutenant Sharp feels differently saying, “Maybe he reads the Filipino newspaper!”

Lastly Lieutenant Pollack makes a remark about that saying, “I’m sure that he even reads the United States newspapers, although he gets them months late and doesn’t know how to read between the lines. And therefore he has no idea of whom he is really up against when this all unfolds.”

In conclusion to that statement, Rough Rider John Porter says, “And neither do any of his accomplices!”

During this time, the scene changes to Emilio Aguinaldo as he receives some newspapers which are fairly old, although he has a few others that he has been looking through. So far, the headlines are all saying the same thing about the Rough Riders in Cuba and many of them are about Havana Harbor, Cuba and the Maine explosion in the boiler room.

Meanwhile Emilio Aguinaldo is sitting at one of his desks while looking at some newspapers as he comments to one of the Freedom Fighters, “Many of these headlines are just there to bring lots of attention to this upcoming war. And many of the newspaper owners like William Randolph Hurst of the New York Journal and Joseph Pulitzer are writing things between the lines. And so are the California newspapers on the west coast telling facts that are contradictory to other rumors.”

The Freedom Fighter is curious as to the rumors that Emilio Aguinaldo has heard saying, “And what rumors are those?”

Emilio Aguinaldo can only think of how he thinks the rumors started by saying to the Freedom Fighter, “Rumors that started after hearing of Bucky O’Neil’s death. Then the rumors of other higher ranking Rough Rider Officers dying from gun shots, although later there are writings of them dying of typhoid fever. One prime example is Captain Allyn Capron who supposedly was shot and died in Cuba, but then later was said to have died of typhoid fever.”

The Freedom Fighter has some knowledge as to that saying, “Being a Captain of the Naval Fleet I am finding it hard to believe that he would even had made a field ranking officer for that reasoning I would think!”

Emilio Aguinaldo realizes that he is catching the drift and how things aren’t laid out plainly to see balking, “Exactly! And we have many ships along with the U.S. Fleet carrying artillery and men. I have heard rumors that the Miami and the Gaelic are accompanying them with recruits as well!”

Then lastly the Freedom Fighter says back to Emilio Aguinaldo, “To me, it sounds like the Naval Fleet Captain Allyn Capron is amongst them and so is Bucky O’Neil perhaps!”

Right away, Emilio Aguinaldo gets up from the desk and walks towards the window with a keen look in his eye that mimics one of Santa Anna, although he doesn’t have a Sam Houston to go along with it. He looks and thinks of what he is going to do with what little resources he has to his advantage, although he does have some dark relics such as his relative the Filipino Goddess Bamboo to help.

In conclusion, Emilio Aguinaldo says to the Freedom Fighter, “The newspapers are very deceiving indeed!”

The Freedom Fighter thinks that it is sort of like a game by saying to Emilio Aguinaldo, “To the newspapers was is sort of like a cat and mouse game, perhaps!”

Emilio Aguinaldo can only imagine what is coming for them as each day passes as he exclaims, “They are trying to hide what is coming for us so that the United States Naval Forces have an unpredictable arrival!

Now the Freedom Fighter wonders what Emilio Aguinaldo is going to do with all of these deceiving newspaper editor writings as he asks, “So what are we going to do about waiting for the realities of these misleading amounts of information that the media and newspapers are putting out there?”

Of course, the only future in the mind of Emilio Aguinaldo is a costly one as he can only say back to the Freedom Fighter as an answer to his question, “The only thing we can do is prepare the trenches of Samar!”

Now the Cuban co-pilot Lieutenant Sharp can only guess at how Lieutenant Pollack found out about these superstitious rumors by asking him, “And where did you hear about any superstitious rumors relating to any involvements of voodoo and hoodoo?”

Surely Lieutenant Pollack has to be a little pushy and bold when he decides to mention his light ways of finding things out, “Let’s just say I have my sources and being a Lieutenant many Rough Rider Officers expect and ask a lot from me!”

Next Rough Rider John Porter sticks up to his more direct commanding officer at the moment by deluding, “Is that so; then I guess we all have our own commanders to answer to and isn’t that a mere fact?”

Finally Lieutenant Pollack decides to carry on about what else he had heard even though he has been busy with other things describing, “I also heard that you all had found something belonging to one of the Freedom Fighter Leader Emilio Aguinaldo’s cohorts!”

Therefore after mentioning her name, the Cuban co-pilot Lieutenant Sharp feels the urge to say something along those lines talking, “Yes, there was a voodoo doll found on the Viper Steamboat that had the name Bamboo written on it!”

Just then, Private Wood decides to break in with a question of his own asking, “And who did it look like because we heard it looked like one of our own Rough Riders!”

Following that question from Private Wood, Lieutenant Sharp can only carry on with, “The voodoo doll looks like Colonel Leonard Wood, of course!”

Then Lieutenant Pollack has one more thing to add before checking in to Leonard Wood’s Office as he says, “Good; I am just making sure that you are telling the truth because that is exactly what we all heard as far as rumors are concerned!”

Thereof Rough Rider John Porter sticks up for his immediate commanding officer as he says to Lieutenant Polack blissfully, “Lieutenant Sharp is telling you the truth!”

Thereafter Lieutenant Pollack can only add some of the details he had heard relenting, “The name Bamboo must be some superstitiously made up alias considering the rumors going around that she is closely related to Emilio Aguinaldo!”

Finally the Cuban co-pilot Lieutenant Sharp returns with some words forming a question asking sluggishly like, “Is that so? And what kind of closely related relative would that happen to be of his?”

Lastly Lieutenant Pollack can only say back to the Cuban co-pilot Lieutenant Sharp, “Nobody knows for sure as far as I have heard!”

The Rough Rider John Porter makes a preoccupied short answer asking indirectly, “Really; so he could be his daughter, sister, or maybe even a niece or cousin perhaps!”

In conclusion to all of this conservative speech, Lieutenant Pollack can only say back to Lieutenant Sharp, “I think it is about time that I have a talk with Colonel Leonard Wood about some of the facts relating to this situation!”

And after that Private Wood can only agree saying, “That sounds like a great idea to have a talk with Colonel Leonard Wood and get to the bottom of these circumstances!”

By now, the Filipino Goddess Bamboo is very angry and even more than ever before this moment in time. In fact, she is very angry at some of the lines of sentences that have come across from her para planning and extra sensory perceptions that she almost can’t see straight. However she has a built in knack for that and especially when it comes to the Filipino Freedom Fighters fighting for their freedom, homeland, and security as well as their way of life.

Quickly she prepares another blank like dummy voodoo doll as hurriedly as she can while painting it a mere darkish black color while making and adding another to her agenda. Of course, this comes naturally as she has made some many within the abilities of her handy crafted mind of hers.

Once finished she does her witchery again on Lieutenant Pollack and Private Wood both almost at the same exact time. It takes a second before she musters the energy to realize that he is still alive and to target his inner self. But momentarily her method works like a charm as she makes a gruesome scene for them two to stomach while sitting beside one another.

And before Lieutenant Pollack and Private Wood have a chance to even sit up so that Lieutenant Pollack can head for Colonel Leonard Wood’s office, Lieutenant Pollack gets a vivid scene that has many dead bodies lined around him with their uniforms burning. In fact, most of the Rough Rider’s faces are completely scorched when Lieutenant Pollack catches the glimpse of the third eye at hand.

Then straight forth only a second later, Private Wood catches a similar glimpse, although he is stuck in an underground trap with many spikes around as many Rough Rider bodies are staked like many fish on a hook. He ignores it the best he can, although the cruelness of the vision is enough to make them both feel like talking about the experience quickly.

The first to speak is Private Wood who is freaked out the most as he says, “I just had a strange vivid image of me being almost buried alive in a spiked pit with other Rough Riders being piled underground with smoke all around and there was a female’s face there beyond the fiery flames.”

And then Lieutenant Pollack can only bring his visions to reality by talking about them as he says, “Same here! I had an image of many Rough Rider bodies lying there around me and there was some strange women coming towards me with a hot fire knife like machete or a sharp fiery stick perhaps!”

To close his perception of things, Lieutenant Sharp can only say, “And I thought I was crazy!”

Quickly Lieutenant Pollack starts to stand up from the break room as Private Wood follows while he says, “It’s time to have a talk with that Colonel Leonard Wood about some particular circumstances regarding this upcoming Filipino War.”

Nevertheless back with the Rough Rider Nurse Shooter and Mike are lying within their bunks as the Filipino Goddess Bamboo has decided to target the female for a change of heart. It happens quick as she smears some reddish colored paint along the face right where the female lips are concerned, and also the hair is much longer than the Rough Rider men.

But this time, she gives the Rough Rider Nurse Shooter a view for her money which brings about some care on her part. And as the vision and flash comes forth, the Rough Rider Nurse Shooter catches glimpses of many Rough Riders wounded with only her aid by their side. However when she looks the other way, she sees a the Filipino Goddess Bamboo killing a Rough Rider soldier rather than bringing him back to life.

Suddenly the Filipino Goddess Bamboo gives the Rough Rider Nurse Shooter a view for her money which brings about some special care on her part. And as the vision and flash comes forth, the Rough Rider Nurse Shooter catches glimpses of many Rough Riders wounded with only her there as aid by their side. However when she looks the other direction, she sees the Filipino Goddess Bamboo killing a Rough Rider soldier rather than bringing him back to life.

Right away, the Rough Rider Nurse Shooter is ready to make a comment to Rough Rider Mike while he is sitting on the top bunking playing a game of some kind. Meanwhile she hesitates for a moment as another image comes forth which is much different with her fighting for her life as many poisonous critters and creatures come in contact with her skin burning and also eating away at her.

Hurriedly as she can she says something to Rough Rider Mike who is up above in the top bunk as she says to Mike as he continues playing solitary with a deck of cards, “Wow, I think I caught a glimpse of what that so called Filipino Goddess Bamboo really looks like I think!”

And a split second later, Rough Rider Mike sees the Filipino Goddess Bamboo finish a relic of her affection and his burning death saying, “I just caught a raw image of myself as a dead Rough Rider which came with a hot flash and burned me chest!”

In retrospect the Filipino Goddess Bamboo says, “That should get their attention!”

CHAPTER THREE

Suddenly Colonel Leonard Wood finishes up the letter that he is writing to his wife, but before sealing it he turns back to a wall paneling access to another room. Then he hands the letter with another written note folded along with it. And that is when a female hand takes the letter along-side the hand written note.

Just at that time, Colonel Leonard Wood says to his wife Louise Wood, who has been there hiding the entire time, “Here; read this before I send it out!”

Of course, she has been hiding out in another adjoining room, although the rest of the Rough Riders think that his wife will be arriving sometime in the near future according to his continuance of writing letters. Nevertheless his wife reads the letters and then right away the Filipino Goddess Bamboo picks up on it.

After she picks up the vibes of Colonel Leonard Wood and his wife Louise, she makes a quick comment saying, “So the Colonel Leonard Wood has the family around and he is hiding it, of course!”

Meanwhile Colonel Leonard Wood’s wife Louise Wood continues reading the letter that he had written to her to send to one of their alternate addresses. This is so that the Rough Riders will think that she is away and will be joining them later when everything in Manila Bay is securely safe and sound.

Finally his wife Louise Wood finishes up reading the letter and then she licks it for him and seals it shut before handing it back to him saying, “Sounds convincing enough!”

Once Colonel Leonard Wood receives the hand written letter back, he immediately places one of his seals over it and stamps it accordingly. Then he places a tray of food inside the wall paneling access so that his wife Louise and his daughter Barbara and his son Louie all have something to eat. Surely he has to order more and make it appear that he is eating more than he normally does, although his servant seems to know the truth and what’s really going on here.

But then before neither one of them can say anything to one another at all, the Filipino Goddess Bamboo brings a vision to Louise Wood. And it is one that catches her by surprise considering that mostly her visions were for the Rough Rider men and then the female Rough Rider Nurse Shooter as well.

However this vision is of her husband and children lying dead dressed as Rough Rider soldiers next to an upside down burning fire cross. The vision hits her so hard that she is even able to feel the heat from the flames as they enter her mind. But they only are there for a split second and disappear and then they are gone.

Nevertheless both of their children Louie and Barbara feel the image too, although Louise Wood is the first to say, “For a second I saw a glimpse of something satanic perhaps!”

Of course, Colonel Leonard Wood and his wife Louise Wood have a maid by the family’s side as she says, “Was that the Filipino woman named Bamboo that the rumors going around are about?”

And slowly but assuredly Colonel Leonard Wood answers back, “Yes, that was her trying to scare us away, I would presuppose!”

Next Louise Wood comes forward with some other information that she had never said before chatting lightly, “And that wasn’t the first impression I ever had of the Philippines anyways!”

Thereafter Colonel Leonard Wood says, “Is that right; and when was the first impression you had of the Philippines?”

Just after hearing that question, Louise Wood says, “My first impression came when I thought about the Filipino War and it was dark and gloomy and this feministic shamanic woman appeared in my mind.”

The maid can only say, “I think we have all had a few of her impressions!”

Then the Filipino Goddess Bamboo places another hex on the scene by trying to push her imagery on all of them at the same exact time though her anger. But this time, her spoils are becoming a little more outlandish and constant which is debunking her enthusiasms to a further point.

And after that flash, Colonel Leonard Wood’s daughter Barbara sits closer to her mother Louise Wood as he says, “She is full of surprises and it is getting in the way of our concentration on preparing for this Filipino War!”

Following that comment, Colonel Leonard Wood’s son Louie says, “She’s just trying to distract us from planning ahead by scaring us away and in to turning back to the Honolulu Naval Base!”

Suddenly the Filipino Goddess Bamboo is really angry now knowing that they are only taking her motivations lightly like a grain of salt. And soon she has another image for them which is one of their pictures laid on a black alter with black roses with a red rose placed inside.

Of course this can only mean one thing to the Rough Rider family as they take of how the Filipino Goddess Bamboo is out for blood. And she is out for blood in order to gain their freedom within the Philippines. Nevertheless she continues on with her bombardment of graphic displays to them all.

The image comes as quick as a flash as the only one to say something about the image is Louise Wood who says, “Now she is even angrier than ever!”

However at about that time Lieutenant Pollack approaches the office door of Colonel Leonard Wood by knocking a hard knock. And it is one that is only distinguishable by a pattern of his personal knocking. Now Colonel Leonard Wood signals his family to wait as he closes the access paneling to the wall.

Momentarily Colonel Leonard Wood says loudly, “Come in Lieutenant Pollack!”

Immediately Lieutenant Pollack slowly opens the door and enters the room and quickly walks towards Colonel Leonard Wood’s desk. Once in front of the desk, Lieutenant Pollack salutes his leader as Colonel Leonard Wood salutes him back with his at ease salute.

Straight forth Colonel Leonard Wood commands, “At ease Lieutenant Pollack!”

Next Lieutenant Pollack can only apologize for his inconvenience of barging in on Colonel Leonard Wood like this saying, “I have to apologize; sorry for barging in on you like this sir!”

Right away, Colonel Leonard Wood returns with some words describing his attitude saying, “Apology accepted; so what have you come to see me about Lieutenant Pollack and what’s on your mind?”

Meanwhile Louise Wood is listening to the conversation, although Lieutenant Pollack doesn’t realize that or he is unaware of her nearby presence as he says, “I came here to speak about some of the rumors going around!”

After hearing that remark, Colonel Leonard Wood returns with, “And what are the rumors that are going around?”

Straight away Lieutenant Pollack talks about the rumors by saying, “Well, the rumors that are going around the Rough Rider men are about some voodoo doll that was found on the Viper Steamboat sir and that there was some name written on it. And the men have all been saying that the name written on there was Bamboo and the rumors are going around like wild fire. The men have all been talking about this because everyone has been receiving images of awful scenes of black magic and voodoo.”

Next Colonel Leonard Wood asks Lieutenant Pollack, “And what do you think we should do about?”

Thereafter Lieutenant Pollack decides to say what’s on his mind speaking, “I think that this matter should be kept hush hush and quiet, sir!”

Now Colonel Leonard Wood wonders how the hell he is going to tell the men to keep their mouths shut when they all have put up with so much already saying, “And how the hell can I tell the men to keep their mouths quiet when they already know what’s going on?”

Following that long remark, Lieutenant Pollack can only say, “Well, there’s nothing that really can be done about the Rough Rider men all talking. And that Filipino woman Bamboo knows that many of us are playing dead and that we are still alive, sir!”

Presently Colonel Leonard Wood can only comment on that answering back, “So what else is there that we can do about swaying that Bamboo from our minds and our thoughts?”

Soon Lieutenant Pollack has another idea in mind as he says to Colonel Leonard Wood, “Well, one thing we can try and do is get even with the Filipinos before we even arrive by using some kind of magic on them as well!”

By this time, Colonel Leonard Wood is very curious as to how he plans to do that by replying, “And how would you plan on doing that; are you talking about using some black magic on this Filipino woman named Bamboo. And if we do use any witchcraft, she might realize that and become more devious or she may resort her other resources depending on what she has available! And also we aren’t displaying our qualities as soldiers neither”

Right then and there, Lieutenant Pollack has one idea which is to use white magic and gray magic as he decides to mention it speaking out, “Well, I was thinking more along the lines of using white magic or even gray magic for protection rather than resorting to our using any black magic to angry her.”

But at this moment, Colonel Leonard Wood realizes that the black magic of the Filipino Goddess is more or less a figment of her imagination saying, “I think her black magic is mostly only a figment of her imaginations at this point in time!”

Finally Lieutenant Pollack can only defend his honors by boldly pointing out, “And her imaginations aren’t anything that a gun or bullet can’t handle!”

Quickly the Filipino Goddess Bamboo brings an image of a young Freedom Fighter approaching Lieutenant Pollack as Lieutenant Pollack acts empathetic to his needs. And we are talking his needs of having a look of being starved and deprived as he approaches him with care and little caution. Then quickly the young Freedom Fighter pulls out a pistol and shoots Lieutenant Pollack right in the head.

And during that duration, Colonel Leonard Wood receives the same image at the same exact moment as he says, “See she has been eavesdropping in on us using her paranormal sense and now she is very angry!”

Straight forth Lieutenant Pollack comes back with some words expressing, “So far, I think this war is going to take a turn for the worse somehow and things won’t be like they were in Cuba and that’s for sure!”

Colonel Leonard Wood can only agree with Lieutenant Pollack saying, “Yes, you are right and let’s worry about everything once we are set up in Manila Bay!”

Next Lieutenant Pollack can only agree with his Colonel by answering back, “Yes, that sounds like a great plan!”

Then Colonel Leonard Wood excuses Lieutenant Pollack as he salutes him by saying, “Lieutenant Pollack!”

After realizing that he is being and has been excused, Lieutenant Pollack salutes Colonel Leonard Wood back as he says, “Colonel Wood!”

And slowly Lieutenant Pollack turns around and leaves after being excused by Colonel Leonard Wood. And as he leaves Colonel Leonard Wood starts to think about how this upcoming war is almost going to be a war with two fronts. Or is it going to be one with two fronts, he asks himself?”

Once Lieutenant Pollack leaves and closes the door of Colonel Leonard Wood’s cabinet room on the ship, he opens the wall paneling access to the room where his family is staying. Right away, Leonard Wood’s wife and family are at awe about some of the things that they had overheard.

Right away, after opening the wall paneling access, Colonel Leonard Wood asks his wife Louise Wood, “What do you think of that speech coming from Lieutenant Pollack?”

Immediately Louise Wood has something to say about his regards for the Filipino Goddess Bamboo responding, “I think he should be worried about training and keeping his men and their minds on arriving in Manila Bay!”

Right away, Colonel Leonard Wood comes back saying, “Well, I guess this Filipino woman Bamboo has been spooking everyone else including us!”

Next Louise Wood returns with a command about Lieutenant Pollack and the Filipino Goddess Bamboo saying, “I’ll keep on that Filipino woman Bamboo and try and keep her confused while you and your men concentrate on that Emilio Aguinaldo!”

Then there is another knock at the door as Colonel Leonard Wood agrees with his wife saying, “Yes, honey!”

And quickly Colonel Leonard Wood closes the wall paneling access and then he turns back to his desk as he says, “Come on in War Correspondent Richard Harding.”

Just then the door opens as the War Correspondent Richard Harding comes walking in with his journalism and notebooks that he writes in as he says, “Colonel Wood!”

Right away, Colonel Leonard Wood answers his War Correspondent back by saying, “Have a seat Richard!”

Once War Correspondent Richard Harding takes a seat in front of Colonel Leonard Wood’s desk, Colonel Leonard Wood says, “There have been lots of visits to my office; so what is the latest on your writings?”

Of course, War Correspondent Richard Harding has a few things to say, although the first thing to come out of his mouth is about the troubles with the Rough Riders as he says, “The writings of this war propaganda are fine, although there are some difficulties in some areas!”

Nevertheless Louise Wood and the rest of the family are listening in on the conversation from the other side of wall where there is a divided room. Yet Colonel Leonard Wood is very assured that he knows what his War Correspondent Richard Harding is going to say even before he opens his mouth.

With this mind, Colonel Leonard Wood decides to ask, “What kind of difficulties are you having with some areas?”

Immediately War Correspondent Richard Harding brings the words out answering back to him, “My difficulties are writing about the troubles the Rough Rider men are having with the visions of the future of the war in the Philippines!”

But then again, Colonel Leonard Wood decides to ask another question, “And what visions are those that the men are having with the war in the Philippines; to my knowledge the men as well as I and my family are facing visions of the war in the Philippines as well!”

Soon War Correspondent Richard Harding asks another question querying, “The visions started shortly after we had left Honolulu Naval Base. I know that because I have been having some visions for the last several days and I am unsure where to write them all!”

Colonel Wood makes another comment answering some of his questions saying, “All of the Rough Riders now that those visions are coming from the Filipino Goddess Bamboo. And this name is an alias meaning that she probably received a blank birth certificate in the Philippines or she may have used and infant death method. That means that she assumed the identity of someone who was born in one province and then later died in another so that the birth and death certificate can’t ever be cross-referenced. And she probably chose someone who had no family and no school records of any kind. But regardless, old habits show and her family tie with Emilio Aguinaldo is her back fall!”

War Correspondent Richard Harding says, “Or she may have obtained a blank baptismal certificate!”

By now, the only thing that Colonel Leonard Wood can say as a gesture is, “Precisely; so how about keeping two separate journals!”

At that moment, War Correspondent Richard Harding has some ideas on that replying, “Well, that sounds easy keeping two journals on the ship, but what about out on the battle field?”

And the only thing that Colonel Leonard Wood can think of as a solution to that problem is telling War Correspondent Richard Harding, “One way would be to write about Emilio Aguinaldo on one side of the page and then you can try writing notes on the other side of the page about those certain aspects of the war in the Philippines!”

Consequently War Correspondent Richard Harding can visualize what Colonel Leonard Wood is saying as he comments, “So you mean I could just flip my notebook over and write on both sides separating the two aspects of personas between Emilio Aguinaldo and his closely knitted relative ally?”

Colonel Leonard Wood answers back saying, “Precisely; and then you will rewrite them on separate notebooks every night!”

War Correspondent Richard Harding has some more information saying, “And what is the latest information on Emilio Aguinaldo at this moment in time?”

Right then, Colonel Leonard Wood carries on about the latest information they have on Emilio Aguinaldo as well as Manila Bay explaining, “The latest information on the Philippines is that Manila Bay is being evacuated for our arrivals. And as far as Emilio Aguinaldo is concerned some sources say that he is preparing to build the trenches of the island of Samar.”

And now War Correspondent Richard Harding carries on with asking further about more information asking, “And what about Commodore Dewey and his motivations and dealings with Emilio Aguinaldo and convincing him that U.S. Annexations are his best choice?”

And as War Correspondent Richard Harding jots down and writes some notes about what Colonel Leonard Wood is explaining and saying to him, Colonel Leonard Wood goes further by going in to intellectual detail by countering, “So far, those dealing have failed time and time again!”

War Correspondent Richard Harding can only return with words expressing, “Sounds like Emilio Aguinaldo has been reluctant to Commodore Dewey’s advances on U.S. Expansionism?”

Of course, Colonel Leonard Wood agrees with the words of War Correspondent Richard Harding by tallying, “Yes, Emilio Aguinaldo is very stern and serious when it comes to the freedom of the Philippine Islands.”

In the interim, War Correspondent Richard Harding writes down some of the latest information in his Philippine War Journal as he embarks on speaking, “And that is only just the first phase of our Philippine Annexation Sanctions, correct?”

By this moment in the stages of war preparations, Colonel Leonard Wood treats this time as a time to get the writings out by saying, “Yes that is only the first stage of our Philippine Annexation Sanctions which will be followed by our taking of Manila Bay where we will set up the strongholds of our U.S. Naval Forces.”

Next War Correspondent Richard Harding questions his commanding officers words by asking, “And then what will be the motivations of our U.S. Forces?”

At that interval in the conversation, Colonel Leonard Wood says, “And then we will send our forces to the trenches of the island of Samar under the command of Lieutenant Greenway where he will keep contact with my official post!”

War Correspondent Richard Harding writes this information down as he says, “Is there anymore that could be added to my war journals?”

Colonel Leonard Wood says, “Yes, and Lieutenant Wright will command the lines from behind and General Shafter will continue on relaying my orders to Lieutenant Greenway on the battle grounds and General Shafter will also control the left and right flanks!”

Following those speeches of dialogue, War Correspondent Richard Harding can only ask, “And what about Commodore Dewey and the U.S. Naval Forces?”

Colonel Leonard Wood continues on saying, “The U.S. Naval Forces will secure Manila Bay along with Allyn Capron while Commodore Dewey leads forces through to other islands in the Philippines and there are around 7000 islands in the transactional purchase from Spain!”

Finally War Correspondent Richard Harding queries, “So let me get this straight for our record, “You Colonel Leonard Wood will command the lines from the Official U.S. Naval Post while General Shafter will manage the left and right flanks and he will carry those orders down to Lieutenant Wright on the camping grounds behind the lines. And meanwhile those orders will be carried down to Lieutenant Greenway to the trenches of the island of Samar?”

Colonel Leonard answers back to War Correspondent Richard Harding saying, “That is correct!”

At that moment in time War Correspondent Richard Harding wonders what his commands will be as he asks, “And what will be my orders as a war correspondent?”

Colonel Leonard Wood goes further in to his details by including War Correspondent Richard Harding’s question saying, “And you will be bouncing back between General Shafter, Lieutenant Wright, Lieutenant Greenway, and me.”

And then, War Correspondent Richard Harding can only go further by asking, “And what about Lieutenant Pollack?”

Colonel Leonard Wood comes forward with more of his plan as information answering back, “Lieutenant Pollack will serve the lines along with Lieutenant Greenway, although his aspirations are more towards the Filipino Goddess Bamboo and he will flank off once her ambitions are superseding and those orders will be directly from my wife Louise Wood upon her arrival!”

Lastly War Correspondent Richard Harding makes a comment or remark saying, “Sounds like your preparations have all been planned out accordingly?”

Colonel Leonard Wood says in response to War Correspondent Richard Harding, “Yes, they will be similar to the sanctions of General Crook and his motivations of Cochise as well as the motivations of General Nelson Miles who was sent after Geronimo and the Chiricahua Indians which were led by me in the aiding of his capture!”

After hearing that long lecture in history, War Correspondent Richard Harding says, “That sounds like a lesson in history?”

Then Colonel Leonard Wood answers back swiftly saying, “It sure is a lesson in history and a fine one!”

And nonetheless War Correspondent Richard Harding continues taking notes as he always did while cantering, “And how much longer before we will arrive in the Philippines?”

Right away, Colonel Leonard Wood returns with a timeline saying, “We will arrive in Manila Bay within a week and we are about halfway at this time.”

And in conclusion, War Correspondent Richard Harding closes the scene by pulling his welcome mat by jousting, “Well, that I suppose is enough questions for the day considering that it is early evening and it is time to turn in!”

Colonel Leonard Wood comes back with words saying, “Yes, I have had a long day and it is time to turn in and continue with our preparations tomorrow!”

Now the scene fades to Emilio Aguinaldo as he is preparing his men as he points at a few to round up as many supplies as they can muster as he says, “I want you five Freedom Fighters to go out and round up as many medical supplies as you all possibly can because we are going to need them desperately!”

Next Emilio Aguinaldo turns to a few other Freedom Fighters as he pushes them to dig the trenches of the island of Samar as fast as possible saying, “And keep digging throughout the night. We must be prepared before the U.S. Naval Fleet arrives in Manila Bay!”

And then Emilio Aguinaldo turns to some other Freedom Fighters as he commands, “And put those burlap sacks of bamboo reeds a few hundred feet in front of the trenches!”

Now the scene changes back to the Filipino Goddess Bamboo as she has some insights for listening in on the Lieutenant that has the most interest in her. She also realizes that she is a woman trying to do a man’s job and there is another woman with interest in her as well.

But for now, she pictures Lieutenant Pollack hanging by a large stick with his hands and feet tied keeping him off of the ground. And as she does she puts lots of mental energy in to her aspirations as Lieutenant Pollack awakens. But for he wakes from the distraction, Lieutenant Pollack receives a vividly image first.

And when he receives this image, he hears, “If I remember correctly; I think I had this scene first!”

Then she swings a fire stick underneath his hanging body as the heat wakes him up quickly saying loudly like, “My, my!”

Next Black Rough Rider Private Greg hears his tone of voice considering that it was loud enough as he says, “Bad dream?”

Subsequently Lieutenant Pollack says with a light voice, “Yes, something of that nature!”

Thereafter Black Rough Rider Private Marcus describes an image at about the same time, “Yes, I think I had a slight bad dream too!”

Straight away Black Rough Rider Private Greg asks, “And what kind of dream was it that you had?”

Immediately Black Rough Rider Marcus says back to Black Rough Rider Private Greg, “I had a dream that Lieutenant Pollack was tied to a stick hanging over a bunch of fiery coal embers!”

Right at that moment in time, Lieutenant Pollack tries to convince them both to ignore the images saying, “Now don’t let those images get to you!”

Quickly thereof, Black Rough Rider Marcus retaliates with words, “Yes, well they are beginning to get to me, I guess!”

Just then, Lieutenant Pollack counters, “She is just some crazy Filipino woman and that is it and don’t let none of it bother you any!”

Now the scene changes back to the Filipino Goddess bamboo as she fiddles around with the Lieutenant Greenway voodoo doll that she has made. At first, she takes a needle and dips it across the back of a yellow dart frog. Once the poison is on the needle she moves the needle around the doll as though she was thinking of where to prick him at.

But primarily she has a vision for him as he is dozed off and sees him alone in the trenches as Emilio Aguinaldo stands in the trenches of the island of Samar at one side. Then Emilio Aguinaldo lifts his arms up while aiming a dart gun at him, although unexpectedly Lieutenant Greenway feels a piercing pain in on the right side of his neck as though he was hit by another darter.

However it was the piercing of a needle as suddenly Lieutenant Greenway wakes up and thinks about what he has just seen in his mind’s eye. And the face of the opponent was all too clear like it came from someone who knew him very closely. But that image has been distorted with some form of magic as the image of his face becomes vividly blurry and fades away like it was to be forgotten.

Moments later, as he shrugs it off and tries to go back to sleep, the images come back as Lieutenant Greenway finds him and his Rough Rider men entrenched in Cathalogan all buried alive in trenches resembling a grave site or mass pit as their bodies are all piled up over one another.

Next he looks away from the horrible scene as he sees an image of Emilio Aguinaldo again as he stands outside of the deathtrap of trenches. And following these images he sees a woman in the shadows throw something lit that resembles a flickering spark as the trenches of the Cathalogan become engulfed in flames.

But before the flames reach him and burn him almost alive while the Rough Rider soldiers are dead lying there, he wakes up once again. And when he sits up he thinks about what he has seen and if he can remember any of these places, yet nothing comes to his mind.

He also wonders if these dreams are coming from the Filipino Goddess Bamboo or are they coming from some other source such as Emilio Aguinaldo himself. Nevertheless he tries to brush the bad images off as though they are mistakenly coming from some bad vibes he is getting rather than some unknowingly witchery.

And now the Filipino Goddess Bamboo turns up the flame under her witch’s kettle as she turns her attention to General Bill Shafter who is asleep as well. For now, he is tired as the rest of them and all he is doing is tossing and turning. But she has a different vision as she did for the others meaning another distinctive taste for each and every one of them.

His vision starts off where he is standing there alone and all of the Rough Riders are lying nearby dead. It’s almost like a blood bath as he tries to continue his command, but can’t get the words out. It’s almost as if he has no voice and then he feels something crawl out from his throat and then he quickly wakes up speechless and sweating hard.

CHAPTER FOUR

By now, all of the Rough Riders are well rested as they suddenly are nearing Manila Bay. It has been a long journey along the steamships, although they have made the voyage. The U.S. Naval Forces had traveled through the Philippine Sea and around the north end of the Philippines in to the South China Sea and in to Manila Bay.

Of course, the Filipino Goddess Bamboo has tried everything that she could think of to try and pursue them to turn back, although none of her tactics were of any effect on the situation. However she isn’t finished with her works of magic as she continues to think of more innovative ways to detour Colonel Leonard Wood and his Rough Rider men. She wants to cause them to lose their cool with their thoughts on the Filipino War and give up nonetheless.

And when they arrive, the fact is that there isn’t much activity around considering that the islands of the Philippines were under Spanish control. And now there isn’t much left of the Spanish fleets after the sea battles of Santiago Harbor anyways which rang out in bombshells of smoked skies. The docks and the piers are empty with only some fishing boats left and hardly anything else that was much of a threat.

And in Cuba during the past, they had to flee Santiago Harbor in a hurry as Admiral Pascual Cervera pulled out and Admiral William Schley had won over Spanish dominance. Nevertheless Manila Bay has already been evacuated as they had prepared for the arrivals of the U.S. Naval Fleets. Most of the Rough Rider men had their minds on remember Cuba and now they are more than excited to have arrived in the Philippines.

The first thing that they notice is that the entire Manila Bay is desolate and looks like it is some ghost town. But they realize that once they land it will be no easy task of setting up their camps without any problems such as being ambushed. However from what they can see it looks as though even the areas around Manila Bay are barren.

Upon arrival Colonel Leonard Wood had commanded that the Rough Rider men take guard as though they were entering a war zone by have many of their rifles aimed at the docks and piers in case there was an ambush. They also have some of their Lowell guns and Gatling guns aimed there as well as some of their bigger cannons. Many of the steamships follow the same suit even though the area looks desolate as though most of the Filipinos have left and headed further inland towards the hills.

And now the Filipinos realize that their ammunitions suppliers will be cut off after their Capital City and the bay of that city are cut off from any supplier’s ships reaching the inner docks and piers. Nevertheless they continue on in to Manila Bay slowly as they restrain from being caught in any surprise landing before they have a chance to secure the area.

Colonel Leonard Wood decides to allow a few smaller steamship vessels to make their way reaching the docks and piers as he commands, “Let’s get a few Rough Rider excursions on to the docks of Manila Bay as quickly as possible.

Straight away, he directs a hand full of Rough Riders to enter the smaller steamship vessels after they are lowered on to the waters of Manila Bay. Most of them are armed with pistols and rifles as they enter on to the smaller steamship vessels. And these steamship vessels are similar to his Viper Steamboat which is also lowered and that he personally uses for his private business and propaganda dealings.

Then Colonel Leonard Wood makes another comment to many of the other Rough Riders looking out at the docks and piers such as Lieutenant Greenway, Lieutenant Wright, and General Bill Shafter as he says, “Once the docks and piers are secure we will board the Viper to land on Manila Bay ready to find an existing building to establish our headquarters!”

And after he says that, he feels the presence of a black like cloud overhanging above as his stomach churns from the presence of some of his received images from the Filipino Goddess Bamboo. And this is one of the reasons that he has made a decision to get some Rough Rider men on the ground in order to secure the area. Yet there are many U.S. Naval Forces Steamships entering Manila Bay, although they need to hit as fast as they can without any loss of men or of their cargo supplies.

Quickly once the many of their Rough Rider men are on the ground, the U.S. Naval Forces and their Steamships are able to move in closer to the docks and piers. They perform this task carefully in order to secure the area of Manila Bay. Next many of the Rough Rider men are ordered to secure the nearby areas to make sure that there aren’t any Filipino Freedom Fighter Rebels or any allied Spanish Forces there to trick them with a surprise ambush.

Colonel Leonard Wood stands at his command post overlooking the waters of Manila Bay as they enter closer to the docks. The Rough Rider men are currently securing the area as he stands there accompanied by many of his fellow high ranking officers who were aboard the cruise to the Philippines along with him.

On one of the steamships Allyn Capron is standing looking out as the smaller steamships make their way towards the docks as he says, “Luckily we have the easy job this time around!”

Another voice from a famous from the past of the Cuban battles says as he tips his Rough Rider hat while standing nearby, “Yes, it’s an easier job than saying that there was no bullet that could kill me!”

The voice sounded as though it came from a ghost from the past who had something to say gallantly about his experiences perhaps. However the identity of such a Rough Rider must remain anonymous nonetheless. Yet one could tell from the tone of his voice and what was said of who the identity of this particular Rough Rider happens to be standing there next to Allyn Capron, a Rough Rider who has many stories about him and the many ways that he had died valiantly.

And wondering who this Rough Rider is or happens to be is like asking if Bucky O’Neil, the famous Rough Rider who was shot in the head with a bullet during the Spanish-American War, is still alive. And despite these circumstanced rumors, Allyn Capron has some rumors regarding his life and death experiences as well. One source could say that he died by a gunshot wound and another source could explain how he died from typhoid fever.

But then, after a pause of silence while thinking about the nature of the simile as Allyn Capron answers back, “Yes, it’s an easier job than saying that there are no diseases such as typhoid fever that could kill me!”

Next the once known as a famous and distinctive voice comes out once again saying, “Yes, and people will believe whatever they want to believe when reading the newspapers!”

Following that line of dialogue, Allyn Capron can only add a momentum to the conversation saying, “Yes, and especially that Philippine Freedom Fighter Leader Emilio Aguinaldo.”

And ships away Colonel Leonard Wood commands General Bill Shafter saying, “Prepare the Rough Rider men for our landing once the docks are secure!”

Colonel Leonard Wood says that to him before heading back in to wait in his Official Post until they arrive at the docks as General Bill Shafter responds saying, “Yes sir; the men will be prepared and readied!”

Immediately Colonel Leonard Wood turns and heads back to his office on the ship ready to wait with his wife Louise Wood. And while he is on land near the docks of Manila Bay, she will be waiting for a period before she and the family can join them amongst the official posts that will be set up for running the war in the Philippines.

Right away, Lieutenant Wright approaches General Bill Shafter as he says to Lieutenant Wright, “Be ready to set up a permanent camp at the docks here in Manila Bay!”

Then Lieutenant Wright answers back quickly saying as though he was born prepared saying, “I’m as ready as ever!”

Meanwhile Colonel Leonard Wood returns to his official suite which happens to be his office. When he arrives he looks through his paperwork which he needs when he sets up his initial first post in Manila Bay. And after checking them over for a moment or so, he places them in a string wrapped binder that has most of his important paperwork inside.

At that time, Colonel Leonard Wood opens the paneling to the wall access where his wife Louise Wood and his children Louie and Barbara and their maid are awaiting as he says, “Well, it’s about that time!”

Right away, Colonel Leonard Wood’s wife Louise Wood says back to him, “How long before we can come on to the docks of Manila Bay?”

Thereafter Colonel Leonard Wood comes up with his answer rejoining, “It will only be a few days.”

Just then, Colonel Leonard Wood’s son Louie asks a question querying, “And then we can come on to the docks of Manila Bay?”

Colonel Leonard Wood has the answer for his son Louie saying, “Yes, and then you all can see some areas of the many islands of the Philippines.”

Lastly Louise Wood returns with some words for her children as she says, “But first we have to make it look as though we just arrived so that nobody knows that we were ever here, okay?”

Both Barbara answers her Rough Rider mother back saying, “Okay!”

Then Louie follows suit by responding back saying, “Okay!”

Suddenly Colonel Leonard Wood gives his wife a kiss and his kids an arm’s reach of a hug as he says his goodbyes for a short time speaking, “Well, daddy has to go for a little while now!”

Quickly Colonel Leonard Wood closes the wall paneling access as he prepares himself to join up with the other Rough Rider men. And as he does he takes one of his important briefcases with him that has all of the important documents regarding his leadership and responsibilities to the United States Army nonetheless.

Meanwhile the Filipino Goddess Bamboo is becoming even more frantic as they first touch the docks of Manila Bay. And when the Rough Rider men hit the docks, the Filipino Goddess Bamboo feels it even though she isn’t quite there. It’s almost like they were stepping all over her in other words as it causes pains in her stomach and in to her back. Even her chest feels hard to breathe as she tries to fathom the fact.

Even her close knitted relative Emilio Aguinaldo can feel it, although his senses aren’t as psychic as hers. However he has some good insight as to clearing a way for their arrival considering that the Spanish Naval Fleets were destroyed and the purchase of the Philippine Islands was already made.

By now, all kinds of thoughts are going through the Filipino Goddess Bamboo’s mind as she has all kinds of scattered images in her mind. She has tried everything to turn them back even though she realized that it was useless. Yet she is not about to give up on breaking down their thoughts and mentalities.

And she desperately wants to slow them all down on their endeavors, although most of the Rough Riders are merely just pons and she has no reason to mess with them. She only wants to fondle around with the higher up leaders of the U.S. Army and that is what she intends to continue doing as she has been recently.

Still the Filipino Goddess Bamboo has some more tucked away tricks up her sleeve. And quickly, she takes out something from her bag of tricks that hopefully should project its way for her sake to the victim of her craft. Meanwhile as Lieutenant Greenway and General Bill Shafter are waiting for some of the Rough Rider men and their army excursions to take the docks of Manila Bay, the Filipino Goddess Bamboo uses her arsenal of poison ivy to stall them temporarily.

It takes a moment before she is able to rub their voodoo dolls down completely which starts to work its way in to the air. And she has a knack for sending her thoughts and producing her conformities of will to her advantage. However, she is natural at her craft and more native than even the witches of Salem when it comes to being the real thing in the flesh.

Seconds pass by as Lieutenant Greenway starts to itch everywhere like maybe he had some allergic reactions to something in the laundry detergent. Nevertheless he is used to sweating and itching from having hardly and baths or any time to cleanse himself such as the other Rough Riders when they were in Cuba. However they did have some time on the Hawaiian Islands here and there, although they are dirty Rough Riders to begin with.

But regardless, he finds himself scratching here and there trying to act like it is nothing. Then General Bill Shafter ends up scratching his arm and hands a few times as well as Lieutenant Greenway. Moments later, Lieutenant Wright follows suit as they watch the Rough Rider excursions take place as many of the Rough Riders secure the docks and piers for their arrival.

Soon Colonel Leonard Wood approaches the other commanders and leaders as he starts scratching his arms. He continues scratching his arms while holding his briefcase of important governmental papers which show the purchase of the 7000 islands of the Philippines.

Momentarily they all stand there waiting above the Viper Steamboat which was lowered for their convenience of boating their way on to the docks and piers of Manila Bay. They all persist which the scratching of casual places without trying to notice the actions of each other. However it doesn’t take long before one or two of them glance at these reactions anyways.

Finally the Filipino Goddess Bamboo makes an eavesdropping impression of her witchery by laughing and pushing her imageries as cynical and uncanny. But despite these advances the Rough Rider leaders are trying to keep their minds focused on entering the Philippine Islands as hurriedly as possible.

All of a sudden, the hand signal is made from one of the Rough Riders on land within one of the docks that the coast is clear. Quickly Colonel Leonard Wood hand signals the other Rough Rider commanders to aboard the Viper Steamboat as Lieutenant Sharp guides them all onboard.

Lieutenant Pollack is the last to aboard as he looks to his platoon of black Rough Riders as they aboard another steamboat that is similar to the Viper Steamboat in fashion. Moments later, the Viper Steamboat and a few other steamboats leave and head off for the docks and piers to exit the port of Manila Bay.

And during this time, Louise Wood and her children as well as the maid can hear the Viper Steamboat leave as their maid says, “Sounds like this Filipino War has begun!”

Next Louise Wood makes a remark about the Rough Riders leaving as she says, “And the Filipino War will drag on for a many years!”

Following Louise Wood’s son Louie says, “I want to be a Rough Rider!

And then Louise Wood’s daughter Barbara says in response, I want to be a Rough Rider Nurse!”

After hearing those dreams of their children, Louise Wood makes a slight comment saying, “You’re both too young to be Rough Riders!”

Subsequently their maid says in retrospect, “Maybe when they are older they can be Rough Riders in their father’s place!”

Another instance happens as Private Marcus makes a comment to Private Greg while boating their way to the inland saying, “Why do all of the Colonels and Lieutenants get to boat by themselves?”

Right away, Private Greg says, “That’s because the Philippine Capital of Manila has been completely evacuated and they are in a hurry to set up a headquarters is why, I would think!”

Next Rough Rider Mike makes a comment saying, “No, what he really means to say is that we are just Rough Rider soldiers who are considered pons!”

Of course, there are a few laughs such as Rough Rider Danny as Rough Rider Mike makes his point trying to show a little humor. However some of them are taking it sort of serious thinking that this was in the Philippines will drag on for every despite the efforts. But regardless, they all continue to hope that they can take the Philippine Capital of Manila easily.

Once at the docks, Colonel Leonard Wood commands them all off of the Viper Steamboat as Lieutenant Sharp guides them off with all of their gear and ammunitions. Immediately they all line up as Colonel Leonard Wood leads them towards an abandoned building that he has chosen for an Official Post even though it will most undoubtedly be a temporary one.

And that is because they will have to move the Official Post further in to the territories within the islands of the Philippines as the propagandas of war progress. Meanwhile the Rough Rider commanders and leaders continue on as the Rough Riders continue on securing the area especially the Official Post that has been chosen.

Far away a flare from the Freedom Fighters is shot low in to the sky allowing a chain of information to be passed on. Moments later, the information that the U.S. Naval Forces and the Rough Riders have landed is handed forth. Then a message through Morse code is received as a messenger writes some things down and then leaves and runs over to Emilio Aguinaldo with that message.

A slight noise and flare from a far off is heard and seen as Colonel Leonard Wood hears a comment from War Correspondent Richard Harding, “Hey, did you hear that?”

Colonel Leonard Wood makes a replying comment saying, “It was a flare type of gun. The Freedom Fighters are signaling our arrival!”

Immediately Emilio Aguinaldo takes the message and reads it as he looks to some of the other Freedom Fighters who are arming up their weapons and ammunitions as he makes a statement, “And the U.S. Naval Forces and their Rough Riders have landed!”

Next a Freedom Fighter approaches the Filipino Goddess Bamboo with a piece of paper with the same message of the U.S. Naval Forces and their arrivals as he says, “The U.S. Naval Forces and their Rough Riders have landed!”

The Filipino Goddess Bamboo looks back at him as she grabs the piece of paper as a message answering back, “Yes, I know!”

Straight away, Colonel Leonard Wood directs some of the Rough Riders to build a line of defense until they can move further inland by saying, “Let’s build a line of defense one thousand yards out from here!”

Next Colonel Leonard Wood makes the Official Post by having a few Rough Riders check every square inch inside. And then they end up entering it hurriedly and quickly rearranging some of the furniture to his liking. It’s almost like they have to take what they can get considering that they are entering hostile territories.

And once the furniture is rearranged, Colonel Leonard Wood says to a few Rough Riders as he prepares the Official Post as a temporary headquarters, “Now do a perimeter sweep checking for any traps or explosives rigged around anywhere!”

Lieutenant Greenway is the first to respond as he answers the command, “Yes Colonel; I’ll see to it!”

Immediately Lieutenant Greenway heads of with Lieutenant Pollack and, of course, General Bill Shafter ready to do a perimeter sweep of the entire place. And this means the whole building including much of the outside close to the building. Of course, there isn’t much the Filipinos could do except for booby traps and maybe some rigged batteries.

However most of the Rough Riders had swept the outside as well as the buildings before signaling back to the war ships. Nevertheless Colonel Wood feels as though the Filipinos have almost allowed them to march in with the reason of trying to keep their country from being ravaged and pillaged nonetheless.

Meanwhile Colonel Leonard Wood stands there organizing an Official Post and podium like desk where he can establish the purchase of the 7000 islands of the Philippines from Spain. It is almost like laying down a receipt for the title of something that signifies the transfer of ownership.

Momentarily Colonel Leonard Wood places the contracts of the purchase from Spain on the table as a camera man approaches with a camera. The camera is mounted to a tripod stand along with a dark black curtain. And as the camera man prepares the shot of the land contract agreements, Colonel Leonard Wood and Lieutenant Sharp open a few window curtains allowing more light in the room.

Then the shot is readied for another second or so and presto, the camera snaps an image and the camera man leaves. It is almost like a modeling photoshoot, although there are no models or actors portraying anything. Only the starlight on some land deals which have been made.

Next Colonel Leonard Wood gathers all of the land contracts and lightly places the papers back in the briefcase. Then he opens up another compartment with some other papers which happen to be most of his war preparations. Now he has the setup he needs in order to start managing the war in the Philippines from his Official Post.

He also has recruited a ghost messenger Rough Rider who will run his orders to General Bill Shafter once he is positioned out on the battle field nonetheless. And then those orders will be given to the Lieutenants such as Lieutenant Greenway, Lieutenant Pollack, and as well to the camp leader Lieutenant Wright.

And then Colonel Leonard Wood says to his ghost Sergeant Ham, “Your command will no longer be under Commodore, Admiral, or Captain Allyn Capron. You will be my personal messenger as the Rough Rider with all of his heart in it. And you will work behind the lines bringing my personal war messages and commands to General Bill Shafter once he is positioned out on the battle field. And then those orders will be given to Lieutenant Greenway, Lieutenant Pollack, and as well to the camp leader Lieutenant Wright!”

Sergeant Ham follows through with some words declaring, “My heart is in stopping Emilio Aguinaldo Colonel Wood, sir!”

After hearing that kind of affirmative quotation, Colonel Leonard Wood says, “Then follow your heart and your commands, Sergeant Ham!”

And once acknowledging those commands, Lieutenant Sharp asks Colonel Leonard Wood what his commands are by questioning, “And what are my commands, Colonel?”

“Your command is to accompany myself as commander and co-pilot of the Viper Steamboat for my convenience. And you will be traveling back and forth delivering paperwork within the warships of Manila Bay! You will also accompany me to pick up my wife and children and their maid when they arrive!”

Colonel Wood gives Lieutenant Sharp his commands while laying his war planning paperwork out on the table. Moments later, Lieutenant Greenway, Lieutenant Pollack, and General Bill Shafter return from doing and performing a perimeter check of the building inside and out.

Lieutenant Greenway is the first to speak saying, “The perimeter check of the building is complete and we found nothing!”

Colonel Leonard Wood continues on with his desire to make the area safe saying and commanding, “Let’s continue with perimeter checks on all of the buildings within the docks!”

Next Lieutenant Pollack wonders about the entire shipyards of Manila Bay asking, “And what about checking out the rest of the perimeter within the entire Manila Bay shipping yards?”

Colonel Leonard Wood decides that that is a great idea and an important one as he answers Lieutenant Pollack, the coined named “Dead Indian,” saying, “Well, Lieutenant Pollack that sounds like an important detail and let’s run with that before bringing the War Ships closer to the docks!”

Right away, Lieutenant Pollack returns with the prompt of his command replying with, “Yes Colonel Wood; we’ll see to it!”

Following those commands, which were earlier to Lieutenant Greenway and now to Lieutenant Pollack with perimeter checks, Colonel Leonard Wood commands to Lieutenant Sharp, “Let’s get a few Rough Riders to build some mud and straw mounds at the edge of the docks and ship yards?”

Immediately Lieutenant Sharp answers to Colonel Leonard Wood’s command responding back, “What about sand bags?’

Straight away Colonel Leonard Wood agrees with that by saying, “Agreed; although we only have a limited resource on our sand bags and we will have to locate some sources of sand and rock before we can build any defensive lines with that, of course!”

“I’ll see to it Colonel Wood!” Lieutenant Sharp replies with accepting his orders and commands quoting that line of dialogue.

Quickly Lieutenant Sharp turns and leaves as he starts pointing to a few of the first Rough Riders to arrive with their continuations of the needed perimeter search for battery field mines and booby traps commanding, “You five Rough Riders; come with me and let’s locate some mud, sand, and rock to build a defensive line!”

Hurriedly Lieutenant Sharp and the five Rough Riders he had pointed to leave looking for some mud, sand, and rock that they can build a defensive line with. Immediately Colonel Leonard Wood is almost ready to move the warships in closer to the docks in order to set up camp in Manila Bay.

However he wants to wait a few more minutes before all of the local buildings are swept clean for any mines or booby traps which have been set there for their misfortune. Nevertheless as he continues to go through his paperwork, Colonel Leonard Wood looks up patiently awaiting his other commanders and the sweeping of the place.

It is almost as though he is getting very impatient while wanting to move the U.S. Naval Forces in closer so that they can unload all of their gear and equipment in to the docks of Manila Bay. Moments turn in to minutes, and then finally Lieutenant Greenway, Lieutenant Pollack, and General Bill Shafter return from their duties of sweeping the nearby buildings.

Right then, Lieutenant Greenway makes a comment regarding the status of such a search saying, “The sweep for mines and booby traps is complete!”

Colonel Leonard Wood questions their integrity by asking again, “And!”

Lieutenant Pollack makes the initiative to answering Colonel Leonard Wood back by saying, “The docks of Manila Bay are clear, Colonel Wood!”

Immediately Colonel Leonard Wood looks to the other commanders as they are preparing to ready the place as he says, “Good; now it is time to flag the U.S. Naval Fleets and the warships closer to the docks of Manila Bay!”

And without any further hesitation, Lieutenant Pollack, Lieutenant Greenway, and, of course, General Bill Shafter are prepared to flag the U.S. Naval Fleets and their warships closer as Lieutenant General Bill Shafter says, “Yes, right away Colonel Wood, sir!”

Quickly all three commanders are ready to turn and leave, although Colonel Leonard Wood has some bags of gear nearby as he says reaching for some flags to wave, “Here, before you go; take these three flags along with you and just wave them in and return back here quickly afterwards. Allow Lieutenant Wright to make accommodations with the Rough Rider men on setting up camp.

Just then, Lieutenant Wright approaches Colonel Leonard Wood as he hands him a map of his plans for making and setting up a camp while saying, “And these are the plans for setting up the camp here on the docks of Manila Bay!”

Lieutenant Wright takes a hold of the plans for making and setting up a camp according to the layout drawn as he starts glaring them down saying, “Right away, Colonel Wood, sir!”

And then, Lieutenant Wright turns with the laid out plans as Colonel Leonard Wood says before he leaves to perform his duties, “You can start by setting your tent up first and then line the other Rough Rider tents up accordingly to the planned layout! And have the tents ready to be relocated on an instant notice!”

Lieutenant Wright turns back with a determined smirk on his face as he replies, “Yes, I will set up my tent and quarters immediately, Colonel Wood sir.”

Lieutenant Wright leaves as Colonel Leonard Wood continues on with laying out the war plans on his agenda. He scrambles and looks through some of his paperwork while setting some of the plans out on the table in front of him. He also pulls out a map of the Philippines that he has been studying along the journey for a while.

He lays the map of the Philippines out on the table while looking them over with a keen eye as he tries to plan some strategies with how to move the Rough Rider troops of his First Calvary in to position. So far, the docks and piers of Manila Bay were deserted, although the Rough Rider troops will have to move in slowly to avoid any ambushes or traps.

Meanwhile Sergeant Ham stands there near Colonel Leonard Wood’s side as Colonel Leonard Wood says to him, “Once we build a line at the edge of the shipyards, we will slowly move out and coordinate moving our camp slowly along with the progress of our advances.”

Below is a link to "The Filipino Dispute" subpage 2.

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Based on a work at https://sites.google.com/site/rodneysorokasbookshelf/the-filipino-dispute