Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1898-10-21
GEN. JUAN ARoLAa.



Present Military Governor Of Havana
Prof. Dean C. Worcester. OF the Uni
versity Of Michigan, contributes an ar
ticlc on The Malay Pirates Of the
Philippines" Speaking Of the island
OF Sulu, where the dreaded Moros mada
their headquarters, Prof. Worcester
says: Gen. Juan Arolas was the gov
ernoS Of the Island at the time. Aro-
las. who is at present the military gov
ernor Of Havana, is q man with a his
tory. He has always been an outspo-
ken 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 q window by way oil
showing his respect for royalty. After
the fall OF the Spanish republic he con-
tinued to display what was considered
to be unseemly activity; and there Is
little doubt that when he was hon
ored" with an appointment as governor
OF Sulu, II was with the intention OF
exiling him to a place from which he
would be unlikely to return. The town
was very unhealthy. the defenses were
inadequate. and the garrison was in
constant danger Of humiliation. Aro-
las was a man Of many resources and
OF tremendous energy. His wretched
town was peopled by native troops,
Chinese traders, and deported convicts;
but In spite of the unfavorable condi-
tions which confronted him, he at
once set himself to improving things.
He made prisoners OF the Moros. and
compelled them to work in strength
ening his defenses until these had been
made impregnable He improved the
sanitation Of the town, changing II
from a perfect pesthole to an unusually
healthy place. He constructed water
works, built splendid market place.
and established a free school system
and thoroughly equipped hospital
His town became the wonder OF the
Philippines. Meanwhile he was max
ing soldiers out Of his slovenly native
troops. After putting his town in a
satisfactory condition and teaching his
soldiers how tc shoot, he sent to Man
la for authority to attack the Moro
stronghold at NAHUM. 1t is said that
his request was three times refused,
and he was warned that his two regi-
ments would be wiped out If he made
the attempt. One evening he sum
moned the captain Of a gunboat which
was lying in the harbor and ordered
him to take up position before NAHUM
and open fire at daybreak on the 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 give) and facing fir
ing squad in the plaza. The officer
decided to go to NAHUM, and strong
guard was placed on his vessel to see
that he did not reconsider his deter
minaticn. At IL o'clock that night
Arolas placed himself at the head OF
his two 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 rear Of NAHUM.
Meanwhile the gunboat had arrived,
and the Moros were busy training their
rude artillery on her. Promptly at
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
20 escape, but many of the important
chiefs were killed or captured, their
heavy guns were taken, and their for
tifications destroyed. Aro,as 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 that he
had charmed life. They called him
papa" and when papa" gave orders,
they were treated with considerable re-
spect. He was strictly just, but abb
solutely merciless. Every threat that
he made was carried out to the letter,
For once the Moros had met their mas
ter. and they knew it.