The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-13
READY TO GO BACK.
General Funston Says He Returned
Only Because He Was Ordered.

Only Because He Was Ordered.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 12.-Gen. Freder-
ick Funston. talking on the Philippine cam
paign to-day. said: With $4,000 men, If they
are pushed. the war will be over in six
months. but ,of course, 1t won't be ended as
soon as that if the troops are kept in
Manila.
II came back" continued General Funs-
ten, because I was ordered to. I would
have stayed very gladly and wish ! were
there now.
did you ask to stay?"
mo" he answered. 'I would not do that,
but if 1t is thought that ! can be of any
service in the Philippines will go back on
very short notice. / take it that the terms
of enlistment of the State volunteers having
expired, the number of volunteer generals is
being reduced
Discussing the natives, General Funston
said:
'"The best among them are ignorant. Oc-
casionally / found smattering OF educa-
ton. But they are absolutely an ignorant
race and quite incapable OF self-government'
1t is true that they possess much shrewd-
ness and cunning. but In reality the Gnies en- e
this which has enabled them to make as
coed a showing they have made. but this
bev NO r nor of saVernng them themselves
Suppose they were left alone. The Islands
would be a scene of insurrection without
any possibility of restoring peace. ,s,aa Oniy
subdue the various factions and place them
on solid footing. am convinced that the
tSsn nesn way TO she Colonial
nent. modelled on the same lines as the gov
ernment OF the colonies Of Great Britain
should have absolute power over the civil
government, and also the command OF the
United States troops and any native troops
that 1t may be considered Judicious TO or
ganize. This may seem strange, but l am
convinced that as soon as the rebellion is
crushed there will be an entire change OF
heart among large percentage Of natives
and they will be quite willing to carry arms
under American officers.
1.-THE Filipinos are no match for Americans
on the battlefield. In one instance. at
Caloocan. where the Kansas troops were en-
gagged. We lost two men. while personally
counted 112 dead Filipinos. This is, of
leans are certainly as much superior under
arms TO Filipinos as six to one.
'"The seat of all the trouble at this time
is the Filipino junto at Hong-Kong. This
pernicious little body is keeping the war
alive. 1t is in communication with the in
surgents. and 1T supplies Aguinaldo's army
with the hope from which 1t lives Ii sends
out reports of fearful disaster to our troops
that never occur. 1t imagines all manner
of friendly feeling the world over toward
the Filipinos. 1t assures them of all kinds
of outside support without foundation, and
in this manner keeps their spirits alive.
1.-The Filipinos are busiest just now cir
culating reports that the trend of public
opinion In this country Is against the Amer
lean procedure in the islands. They are in
formed by this junto that a majority of all
the States have pronounced against the pol
icy of the administration, and that they
have only to wait until the next general
election. when. the United States Will grant
them their independence.
''Aguinaldo himself is shrewd. but not
clever He circulates and corroborates all
that tho junto sends out and adds to Ii all
that his cunning imagination can devise
With him the campaign Is great confidence
game. If his people could be induced to ac-
cept the situation they would desert him
tomorrow.
so long as those fellows think they have
ghost of a show of holding up their end
they will maintain the rebellion, but If the
American army fights them at every hand
/ believe they will turn a whole and
come fiocking into our camp. and will have
no further use for that prince of confidence
Observation-Disclosures