The times., 1899-10-24


second Regular Infantry. and former lieu
tenant colonel of the First South Dakota
Volunteers. was at the War Department
yesterday in conference with Secretary
Root regarding his observations in the
Philippines. Captain Frost expressed his
belief that the Filipino insurrection viii
not be of long duration. After his inter
view with Secretary Root Captain Frost in
referring to the conduct Of the last cam
paign. paid a high tribute to the regular
and volunteer forces who patiently bore
the insults of the Filipnos while waiting
for orders to fight. Going back to the time
when everybody was waiting for the sane
ton Of the Peace Treaty with Spain, he
referred to the influence of the anti-ex
pansionists and declared that there was
no doubt that their attitude was greatly
responsible for the insolence of the Fill
pinos while the Peace Treaty was pend
ing in Congress.
The natives under Aguinaldo were of
the opinion" he said, that the treaty
would not be ratified and that the Ameri-
can troops would be recalled. They were
encouraged in this belief by the efforts of
the -eXpansionists to defeat the ratifi-
cation Of the treaty. This was plainly
evident just before the opening of hOstih
ties. / was stationed just where the first
outbreak occurred. The night before /
had ridden along the road toward the mill
tary lines which had been established by
the Americans and the Filipinos. I found
the latter within the lines established by
us and as I was riding along was stopped
by. several excited natives who were shout
ing HaltC, Halto!' When I stopped they
said ] could not pass. An officer came out
and with his sword I drew the lines to in
dICate where they should stay. The next
night a cOTporal's guard was sent to this
very spot and there met another corpcraI's s
guard from the Filipino ranks 1t is a
question who fired the first shot there, but
il was fired and almost instantly there rang
out all along the insurgent lines a complete
volley showing that they had planned be-
fCrehand this very outbreak.
Captain Frost next referred to the ope-
rations that followed and explained that
II was because of q lack of transportation
that the Americans were unable TO push
very far from Manila. The reazon that
the entire line Of the railroad could not be
held he said. was because We had not
cause the enemy tore up the track COM
pleteiy from San Fernando to Angeles.
The only engines we had were two that
had been fixed up from scrap machinery
found in the shops. Then we hal no
transportation for the supplies. That was
one trouble with General Lawton's ad-
vance during the last campaign when he
went TO San Isidro. 1t took him lonz er
then than this last time because he was
compelled TO move slowly. Now that
tnere IS enough transportation it is not so
difficult"
Captain Frost referred to the frequent
criticisms Of General Otis for what had
been termed his too humane policy. 1t
was the better policy, said Captain
Frost. AT the time it did not seem so
10 me. but I soon saw the good effects of
ii. The Filipinos had been tod that if
taken prisoners they would be shot i'm
mediaJely General Otis idea was ID SHOW
TO the Filipinos that the Americans were
their friends When the first prisoners
were taken they fell on their knees and
with upraised hands implored protec-
JiOu. They were greatly surprised when
they were not shot. Then again General
Otis gave orders to allow the amigos to
pass through the lines. This did not seem
just right 10 me al first, but soon I saw
the wisdom OF it, The amigos seemed to
fear the Americans, but soon learned to
know that we would not harm them When
We first took Calumpit the natives in the
vicinity we're very hostile but soon after
when making a second march through the
town the women and men came from their
homes bearing water and fruit for the SOL
dicrs, Iestifying in that way tdeir friend
lines. Of course there were trsacherous
natives among them, but the majority
were not unfriendly after they learned to
know US. Our troops did much on the
battlefield TO show their friendship for
the natives. have seen American troops
give water TO wounded Fflipinos when
they had but one drink in their cantesns
and no prospect Of getting any more for
some time.
Il found on more than one occasion that
we could trust the natives Frequently we
would use them for litter bearers On one
occasion when the Chinese litter bearers de-
serted I put fifteen Filipino prisoners to
work as litter bearers and they performed
their work just as conscientiously as if they
had been Americans instead Of iusurrec-
tos. Then TOO. We always cared for their
wounded and their wounds were dressed
and cared for just as well as the Ameri-
can soldiers This kindness has not been
without result, AgunaldO is becoming
frightened himself, and shows it in his
repeated applications for recognition. The
natives are beginning 10 find out that the
United States is there for their own good
and they are not so easily deceived by
AguinaldO. Captain Frost repeated his
/ statement that be believes the end Of the
insurrecticu is in sight