Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-09-07


While the army censor at the Philip
pines can prevent correspondents send
ing the truth by cable, he cannot
despoi their mail, Hence the letters
of the correspondents, although they |
come to hand FIVE or six weeks after
date, tell the plain, unyarnished truth,
in spte Of the lying censor.
A correspondent whose letters have
attracted wide attention by thor
forceful statements and faithful ear
marks of truth is "a. G. R." of the
New York Evening Post, and his latest
letter presents striking picture of the
conditions prevailing in the Philip
pines. The United States holds today,
he writes, after year of occupation,
and six months of fighting, territory
which includes barely more than one
per cent of the area of the islands. At
Santiago, practically one month of
occupation, three days of fighting, and
two thirds the force sent to the Philip
pines gave us nearly one thousand times
as much territory. The section here
which today may be said to be under
actual American control includes
barely. if anything, more than 3 per
cent of the population of the islands.
The force to which the United States
troops were opposed at Santiago num-
bered hardly one quarter of that which
is commonly conceded to constitute the
Filipino force now in the field. 1t is
assumed that a notable percentage of
the islanders will need no conquaring,
but will meet the Americans with the
'glad hand" and assurances of well
come. The same was assumed in the
beginning with regard to all. No little
stress is laid upon the position of a
certain class Of natives who are called
"friendlies. +" But they are, at best,
of a merely passive friendliness. and
the term mon -combatant" would
probably be more suitably applied to
them. Nor are they quantity to be
depended upon. The man who comes
along today with white rag on a
pole, and shouting, Amigos, amigos, :"
tomorrow may be firing gun from the
thickets.
UnquestionabIy the United States
can smash all these people and estab-
fish itself firmly in the islands. 1t is,
of course, possible that discord among
themselves, or any one Of number of
causes, may lead to the disintegration
Of the insurrectos At the present
time there is no well-grounded reason
to anticipate any such dissolution.
Even should it come, the snake would
be but scotched, not killed. There
would still remain every probability Of
frequent uprisings. With garrisons in
Porto Rico, Hawaii, Guam, Luzon,
Panay, Negroes, Cebu, Mindanao. and
perhaps half-dozen other of the
Philippine islands, with, for some
time. the garrisons in Cuba, the ques-
tion Of the need of larger army would
seem open to no argument. The stay
Of these garrisons in tropical and sub
tropical countries is limited to two, OIL
at most three years. This fact neces
states reserve army in home camp
or barracks, for the relief of those il
the distant islands. in addition to tn,
number required for home service.
Many reports have been sent to tn
United States concerning the bouudles
enthusiasm of the American soldiers t.
remain here and see it out. l hav
sought to ascertain the facts. The
, seem fairly evidenced in the efforts t
organize new regiments from me-
i entitled to their discharge. or fror
/ the volunteer regiments which ar
being returned to the States. Thre
a months ago it was asserted that seve
new regiments could be organized fror
troops discharged or entitled to dis
charge. The estimate dropped to five
then to three regiments. In process @
time. the formation of even one reg
ment became matter Of doubt
Secretiveness at headquarters render
it difficult to obtain such details, br
/ was informed by good authorit
yesterday that supplementary repoi
= had been submitted which concede
some doubt of the possibility ,
% organizing more than six full con
, panies.
A new project has, therefore, bee
sprung, with horses as the bait.
:. cavalry regiment is projected, and it
" said that there are many applicants I,
: saddles. At any rate, the "boundle'
=. y enthusiasm" proposition does not see
!, to be we'll sustained. / have mao
70 some inquiry concerning the class
men who make up this overwhelmiI
number of applicants for re enlistmen
"a "a The majority are said to be "foaters.
y At home they are men of uncerta
= residence. uncertain employment, al
- uncertain income. The majority
~, ~, the remainder are men who conteI
\ plate permanent residence on d
= island. Some look to agriculture
:, some of its departments, others a
"a tempted by stories of gold.mining pc
= sibilities. But by far the greater nul
70 Der want to go home.
- Such is the situation in the Phil
~ pines. What folly to prolong it.
rs ------
es Gifts From ssiispary's o,t,zsns
lie Chief Frederick A. Grier of t
III Salisbury. Md. Fire DepartmsI