The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-04
HARD TASK BEFORE AMERICANS.
German officer Says He Would Need
300. 600 Men to Control FiIipinOs.


100000 Men to Control FiIipinOs.
CHICAGO, Jan. 3.-Maj A. Won Sonnen-
burg, German military attache to the En-
peror of Japan, the man who carried the
message between Admiral Won Diedrichs
and Admiral Dewey, by which permission
was given for the transportation of Cap
tain General August from Manila to Hong
Kong on a German war vessel, is in Chi
cago. Major Won Sonnenburg is the typical
German army officer. He is a broad-shoul-
dered young man with an erect carriage.
He was seen by a reporter at the Audi
forum and related certain hitherto unwrit-
ten bits of the history Of the American
operations in the Philippines. Il am stu
dent of military affairs" said the major.
Perhaps 1 might be called theoretical
warrior" Inasmuch as he has the iron cross
for bravery at Sedan and was in twenty
seven battles of the FrancO-Prussian war,
he is certainly a practical fighter as well.
After the Greel1-Turko war 1 went on
into the orient" he continued. 4 was with
Prince Henry and at the outbreak Of the
Spanish-American war 1 accompanied Adj
miral Won Diedrichs to Manila. did not
witness the destruction of Montejo's fleet
by your Admiral Dewey. but 1 saw much of
the subsequent events. Because of what 1
saw I want to correct at least one false i'm
pression-that there was any i'll feeling be-
tween the commanders of the American and
German fleets. There was a disagreement,
/ admit over the right of the Americans
to search German ships, but that was soon
settled. Then as to the August incident.
There was nothing secret about the transac-
ten I myself was the messenger between
the two admirals in the discussion over the
disposition of August Admiral Won Died
richs asked whether or not Admiral Dewey
would object TO Captain General August
taking passage on one of the German dis
patch boats running to Hong-Kong. Adj
miral Dewey said that he would not if the
former captain general would make some
kind OF IL parole by which he would no
longer bear arms against the United States.
This was given and the incident was closed,
as the diplomats would say.
As to the Americans both ashore and
aboard ship, l may say that never met
finer body of men. | admire your volun-
teers. To my mind they furnish magnificent
material for soldiers but am afraid tney
have a hard task before them in the Phlhp-
pines. l should not want the task of con-
trolling those islands unless had fully $780,
00J men behind e. Those natives are 60
ing to be nara problems to solve Since the
finishing of the Philippine question 1 nave
been connected with the imperial army OF
japan as a student of its methods of mill
tary discipline. To speak very conSerVa-
lively, I believe that, next TO the German
army there is not finer body of lighting
men in the world than that same little
japanese collection of troops. Their disci-
pline is perfect and any nation that picks
q quarrel with the Japanese is going to have
no easy time of it. consider them one of
the most important factors in future Orien-
tai complications"
But when Major Won Sonnenburg was
questioned in regard to these same Oriental
problems he was silent. He said that he
was still connected with the Japanese gov
eminent, and with that OF Germany as well,
and could say nothing. Turning to more
personal matters. he said he was on his
wav 10 Washington with letters 10 Secre-
tarv Alger and General Miles. He would
spend a few days about the department II, IN
washington and then would go on TO Berlin
10 report to his own division