The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-02
SEC. ROOTS REPORT
de Goes into Detail Regarding the New
Possessions.
ARMY OPERATIONS IN The WAR
Fill Not Entitled to Full Self.
| q sssernment
~ ~ ;s 81,
UNDER TEkn, 'ssNs TREATY.
he Outlines Proposed Government for the
Island Of Cuba.
is NO DOUBT THE ADMINISTRATION POLICY
Snys that the Treaty with the sultan
of suiu liz Subject to Congress
sional Action.
lie Outlines Proposed Government for the
Island Of Cuba.
is NO DOUBT THE ADMINISTRATION POLICY

| Washington, December 1.--Dealing as it
does with large questions of insular poll
| cy, of army reorganization, of the future
of Cuba and OF the campaign in the Phil
ippines, the first annual report of Secre-
tary Root, just made public is of excep-
tional interest
The report begins with recital OF the
policy followed in reoreanizing the army
in accordance with the necessities arising
from the discharge of the State volunteers
and of the men enlisted for the Spanish
American war. and gives statistics of the
past and present strength of the organiza-
ton. covering in that respect matters
dealt with in the reports of the major
general commanding and of the adiutant
general. II is stated that at present all
of the new regiments of volunteers are IN
the Philippines or on their way there.
The operations in those islands are next
taken UP and the report again alleges that
the outbreak of last February was pro-
voked by the insurgents themselves and
was from the administration standpoint
unavoidable. Frequent reference is made
TO the report of General Otis 10 show the
magnitude of the task set for him with
the inadequate forces at his command
when the outbreak came, and a high trib-
ute is paid to the courage of the troops
who, in the face of great hardships, vol
UNFAIRLY consented to forego an immed-
late return to their homes upon the ex-
n RAT Of tbair
history of the operations Of the past sea-
son is recounted and the secretary out
lines the plan of the present campaign.
which began in October This involved
the movement of three separate forces
One was to proceed up the Rio Cvinde
along the northeastern borders of the
Plains and strike across to the Gulf of
Lingayen. Another was to land on the
gulf shores by transports and proceed
along the coast road TO unite with the
first force. A third column was to strike
straight along the railroad to Dagupan.
The secretary says these movements were
executed with energy, rapidity and sue
cess, notwithstanding deluges of rain. 1t
is SAID that wherever the permenant oc-
cnpatlon of our troops has extnnded in
the Philippines, civil law has been put
in operation. courts have been established
and education introduced, until at present
in Manila there are now better facilities
for primary education than ever before.
A chapter tells of what has been done In
Cuba by the army during the past year.
Order has been maintained, social distress
has been alleviated, sanitation has been
Instituted and in all respects satisfactory |
progress has been made and the part
played by our troops now is but the re-
straining influence OF their presence. The |
revival of industry has been slow, but has
also made gratifying progress and the re-
concentrates have returned to the Guilt |
walton OF their lands though the complete |
restoration OF the sugar industry has been !
seriously hampered by the lack of capital |
AS order has been restored, the forces of |
troops has been reduced and orders have
recently been given for the withdrawal of |
eight companies of infantry and eight |
troops of cavalry.
In Porto Rico the year has been devoted |
TO administering and improving the civil |
the people In the rildiments of self-gov-
eminent at every step. This work has
been retarded by the unfortunate indus
trial conditions owing to lack of markets
for the Islands products and to the dist
tress caused by the great hurricane.
Nevertheless much has been done 10 cor
rect abuses. the courts have been reor-
ganized the writ OF habeas corpus has
been restored and arrangements have been
made for taking the census
A compliment Is paid to General Luding-
toms administration OF the quartermaster's
department. ard IL is said that owing 10
the experience acquired. the entire move
ment involved in the transportation OF a
large army to the Philippines has been
accomplished practically without loss of
life. disease or injury TO health. The
clothing of the army, toe, was satisfactory
and the food OF good quality and furnished
promptly. The health OF the army has
been remarkably good and the reports
show that the death rate among the sol