Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-09-29
GEN. JUAN AROLAS.
The Career in the philippines of tho
Present Military Governor ef Havana

The Career i'm the philippines of tho
Present Military Governor at Havana
Prof. Dean G. Worcester. of the Uni
versity of Michigan, contributes an ar
ticle on The Malay Pirates of the
Philippines" Speaking of the island
OF Sulu, where the dreaded Moros made
their headquarters, Prof. Worcester
says: Gen. Juan Arolas was the gov
ernor of the island at the time. Aro-
las, who Is at present the military gov
ernor of Havana, is a man with a his
tory. He has always been an outspo-
zen republican, ready to fight for his
convictions. In the days of republican
success in Spain he is said TO have cast
the throne out of a window by way OF
showing his respect FOR royalty. AFTER
the fall OF the Spanish republic he con-
tinued to display what was considered
% be unseemly activity: n there Is
little doubt that when he was hon
ored with an appointment as governor
OF Sulu, 1t was with the intention OF
exiling him to a place from which be
would be unlikely to return. The town
was very unhealthy, the defenses were
inadequate, and the garrison was IN
constant danger of annihilation, Aro-
las was a man OF many resources anu
OF tremendous energy. His wretcneu
town was peopled by native troops
Chinese traders. and deported conVlcts'
but In spite OF the unfavorabie' eonoi-
lions which confronted him, ne at
once set him1elf TO improving things.
He made prisoners of the Moros, u
compelled them 20 work in strength
ening his defenses until these had been
made im~pregnable. He improved the
sanitation oil the town, changing IL
from a perfect pesthole TO an unusually
healthy place. He constructed water
works, built a splendid market place,
and established a free school system
II a thoroughly equipped hospital.
His town became the wonder OF the
Philippines. Meanwhile he was max
ing soldiers II of his slovenly native
troops. After putting his town in a
satisfactory condition and teaching his
soldiers how I shoot, he sent 10 Ian
lila for authority to attack the MOTTO
stronghold at Nahum. II is said that
his request was three times refused,
and he was warned that his two regi-
ments would be wiped u il he made
the attempt. One evening he sum
moned the captain OF a gunboat which
was lying in the harbor sand ordered
him TO take UP position before Nahum
! and npnn fire ~ do yhpanI nm tho fOl-
lowing morning. The officer refused
TO start. Arolas is reported to have
! given him his choice between obeying
the order (Which, by the way, he had
no authority To giye) and facing a fir
ing squad in the plaza. The officer
decided TO go TO NAHUM, and q strong
guard was placed on his vessel TO see
that he did not reconsider his deter
mination. At II O'Clock that night
Arolas placed himself at the head OF
his .wo regiments, had ammunition
passed, and gave the order TO march
The men had no idea where they were
going, and before daylight found them
selves hidden in the e OF Nahum
Meanwhile the gunboat had arrived,
and the Moros were busy training their
rude artillery on her. Promptly al
dawn she opened fire, and as the Mo-
ros replied for the first time, Arolas
and his men swarmed over the rear
stockade. The Moros were taken
completely by surprise. and although
they fought desperately. suffered a
crushing defeat. The sultan contrived
to escape, but many of the important
chiefs were killed or captured, their
heavy guns were taken. and their for
tifcations destroyed. Arolas followed
up his advantage, and attack succeeded
attack until the fanatical Moslems
were cowed as they had never been
| cowed before. An armed truce fol-
lowed, and continued in force at the
time of our visit. Arolas had several
times escaped unscathed from deadly
peril, and the Moros believed hat be
had a charmed life. They called him
papa" and when papa" gave orders.
they were treated With considerable re-
| spect. He was strictly just. but alb
solntely merciless. Every threat that
he made was carried out to the letter.
Fol- once the Moros had met their mas
ter. and they knew 1t.