The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-11-19
GEN. JUAN AROLAS.
The Career in the Philippines of the
Present Military Governor of Havana


Present Military Governor of 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 he 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-
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 of
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, it was with the intention OF
exiting him to a place from which he
would be unlikely to return. The town
was very unhealthy, the defenses were
'AAA~duaNN, AN IL bdii "NS 80
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 condl-
lions which confronted him, he at
once set himself to improving things.
| Ho nnodo nricDnar, nf thn MnrnS 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 a splendid market place,
and established a 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 a
satisfactory condition and teaching his
soldiers how to shoot, he sent to Man
lila for authority to attack the Moro
stronghold at NAHUM. 1t is said that
LIE lCqucSI was lnItt liuiCo iSiuSSN'
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
RI Ctort hrn1ao &c, ronnptnd IN have
given him his choice between .obeying
the order (which, by the way, he had
no authority to give) and facing a mr.
ing squad in the plaza. The officer
decided to go to NAHUM, and a 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 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
n the Moros were busy training the1I
rude artillery on her. Promptly a.
dawn she opened fire, and as the Mo,
ros replied for the first time, Arolas
and his men swarmed owe the real
stockade. The Moros were takeI
completely by surprise, and although
they fought desperately, suffered {
crushing defeat. The sultan contrivet
to escape, but many of the importan'
. chiefs were killed or captured, theil
heavy guns were taken, and their for
J tiications destroyed. Aro.as followed
up his advantage, and attack succeeded
attack until the fanatical Moslemi
were cowed as they had never beer
cowed before. An armed truce fol
lowed, and continued in force at tn,
time of our visit. Arolas had severa
times escaped unscathed from deadl!
= peril, and the Moros believed that h,
had a charmed life. They called hin
8 papa" and when papa" gave orders
r they were treated with considerable re
spect. He was strictly just, but alb
, solutely merciless. Every threat tina
he made was carried out to the letter
r For once the Moros had met their mas
, ter, and they knew it.