The times., 1899-06-25
he Situation in the Philippines.
Hr-Miois'er fanea in the Review of Reviews.

he had assembled at Maioios a congress
OF one hundred men who would compare
IN behavior, manner, dress. and education
with the average men OF the better ciasses
OF other Asiatic nations. possibly includ-
ing the Japanese The men. whose ses-
sions | repeatedly attended. conducted
themselves with great decorum and showei
knowledge of debate and parliamentary
law that would not compare unfayorably
with the Japanese Parliament The ex-
ecutive portion of the Government was
made up of ministry OF bright men, who
seemed to uniS9stau their respective po-
sitions. Each general division was sub
divided with reference to practical work
There was a large force of under seCre-
tsries and clerks. who appeared to be kept
very busy with routine labor.
The army however. OF AguInaido was
the marvel OF his achievements He had
over twenty regiments OF comparatively
weil-organized. well-drilled. and we'll
dressed soldiers. carrying modern rifles
and ammunition. / saw many OF these
regiments executing not only regimental,
but battalion and company dril with
precision that astonished me- Certainly as
far as dress was concerned the compari-
son with the uniform of our soldiers was
favorable to the Filipinos. They were Of
hceFed largely, except in the higher po-
Sitions, with young men who were ambi-
tlous TO win honors and were not merely
snow lighters The people in all the diff
ierent towns took great pride in this army
Nearly every family had a father. son or
cousin in it. Wherever they went they
reused enthusiasm for the Filipino cause.
The impression made upon the inhabi-
tants OF the interior by such displays can
be readily appreciated Aguinaldo and his
principal lieutenants also made frequent
visits to the principal towns and were re-
ceived with the same earnestness that we
show in greeting successful President
Along with the army there was a Red
cross association, at the head OF which
we're Aguinaido's mother and wife There
we're quartermasters and commissariat de-
partments which were well equipped, in
view OF the lack OF experience OF the men
in charge. The American who thinks for
a moment that we were or have been fight
Ing disorganized force labors under great
error 1t would be difficult TO imagine the
army OF any European country being in
better shape TO fight us than that OF
Aguinaldo at the time Of the outbreak on
February 4, with the conditions of eli
mate and country favoring them
The Limitations of the FiIipInos
The head and front of the revolt IS of
course, the Tagalocs, who are supported
by natives of the country between Manila
and Dagupan and also to the south who are
nominally of other tribes. but practically
and physically the same is made up of a
class of men who are not suited from the
lives they have led to hill or mountain
work. They are chiefly recruited from Ma
Mia and the principal towns to the north
and south Most OF them have been
brought up 10 comparatively lazy lives and
to have all they wanted to eat. The popu-
lation, moreover, which is most affected by
this war is not the hill element. but that
which makes up the great farming and
trading portion.
These considerations are very Important
in view of the effect of the present rainy
season on the eombatants. From the CON
ditions now existing. Il would seem that
the Filipino army and people are going TO
suffer far more than even the Americans
Many of their chief sources of supply are
in our hands; their important markets
are cut off from them or likewise in our
hands; We have captured many of their
stores and accumulated supplies; and now
we are in position to watch the coast
so as TO prevent them from getting further
arms and ammunition. II would seem TO
me. therefore, entirely rational that the
present warfare in the Philippines should
be over by the end Of the next dry season.
which begins in November. With the
Strengthening of General Otis force as row
Planned Dy the government anu Win the
vigorous prosecution of the campaign dur
ing the rainy season, the insurgents will
be so demoralized when the dry season
arrives that few sweeping, decisive move
ments of flying columns into the interior
should effectually destroy all vestiges of
the revolt. While it is difficult to cam
paign in the Philippines at any time. it
is possible in the dry season for troops
to go anywhere and everywhere and be fol-
lowed by the commissariat. There is jungle
and there are swamps to meet. but they
are not impossible after the rains are over,
If such brilliant campaigns can be waged
as are now going on with the rains Pre-
vailing, there is no reason why, when they
are over, the war should not be quickly
ended.