The Red Cloud chief., 1898-10-07
GEN, JUAN AROLA9.
Tho Career In the philippines Of tie
Present Military Governor OF Havana

Present Military Governor OF Havana
Prof. Dean e. Worcester, OF the Uni
vcrBity OF Michigan, contributes an at
ticlc en- Tho Malay Pirates OF tho
Philippines" Speaking of the island
OF Suiu. where the dreaded Mo,os made
their headquarters. Prof. Worcester
says: Gen. Juan kroias was tho gov
ernor OF the island at the time. NO.
las. who Is ut present the military cav
ernor OF Havana. Is a man with "A his
tory. lie has always been an outspo-
ken republican, ready to fight for his
convictions. In the days OF republican
success In Spain no 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 no con-
tinued to display what was considered
to be unseemly activity; and there IN
little doubt that when he was non
ored" with an appointment as governor
OF Sulu. Il was with tho intention OF
oxlling him to u place from which no
would be unlikely to return. The town
was very unhealthy, the defensts were
inadequate. and the garrison was IN
constant danger OF humiliation. hro-
las was a man OF many resources ana
OF tremendous energy. His wretched
town was peopled by native troops
Chinese traders, aud deported convicts;
but in spite of the ~unfavorable conui-
lions which confronted him. nc AZ
once set himself to improving things.
Ho made prisoners OF tho Moros. n
compelled them to work In strength
oning his defenses until these had been
made impregnable. He improved the
sanitation of the town. changing IL
from a perfect pcsthole to an unusually
healthy place. lie constructed water
works. built n oplendid market place.
and established n free school system
and a 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 q
satisfactory condition and teaching his
soldiers how TO shoot, he sent to Man
LA for authority to attack the Moro
stronghold at NAHUM. IL 10 said mat
his request was three times refused,
and he was warned that his two regi-
ments would be wiped out II no mado
|, the attempt. One evening he sum
moned the captain OF n gunboat when
was lying In the harbor and ordered
I him to take up position before NAHUM
and open fire at daybroak 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
4 no authority to give) and facing a mr.
ing squad in the plaza. The officer
' decided to go to NAHUM, and q strong
I guard was placed on his vessel to sec
I that he did not reconsider his deter
mination. At IL o'clock that night
Arolas placed himself at the head OF
his two regiments, had ammunition
n passed, and gave the order to march.
q 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 theil
o rude artillery on her. Promptly a
dawn she opened fire. and as the MO
ros replied for the first time. Arolas
and his men swarmcd over the real
n stockade. The Moros were taken
completely by surprise. and although
they fought desperately, suffered {
crushing defeat. The sultan contrlvet
to escape, but many OF the importan
IS chiefs were killed or captured, theil
n heavy guns we're taken, and their for
Il" tifications destroyed. Arolas followed
n up his advantage. and attack succeeded
d attack until the fanatlcal Moslemi
d were cowed as they had never beef
n cowed before. An armed truce fol
# lowed, and continued in force at TIL
It time of our visit. Arolas had severa
times escaped unscathed from deadl,
e peril, and the Moros believed that h
had a charmed life. They called hin
10 papa" and when papa" gave orders
they were treated with considerable 70
spect. He was strictly Just, but ab
Is solutely merciless. Every threat tina
!" he made was carried out to the letter
d For once the Moros had met their mas
10 Ter, and they knew 1t.