Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-12-08
ROOT'SFIRSTREPORT
Secretary of War Gives In
teresting Information.
NSULAR POLICY, ARMY ORGANIZATION
Intention of the United states Is to
Give Her New Possessions Free
dom and Self Government In the
Fullest Measure Possible.

Fullest Measure Possible.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-Dealing as
it does with large questions of insuar
policy, of army reorganization, of the fu.
ture of Cuba and of the campaign in the
Philippines, the first annual report of
Secretary Root, just made public, is of
exceptional interest.
The report begins with a recital of the
policy followed in recognizing the army
in accordance with the necessities arising
from the discharge of the state voun-
teers and of the men enlisted for the
Spanish war and gives Stats
tics of the past and present strength of
the organization, covering in that respect
matters dealt with in the reports of the
major general commanding and of the
adjutant general. 1t Is stated that at
present all of the new regiments of vol
untcers are in the Philippines or on their
way there.
The operations in those islands are next
taken up, and the report again points out
that the outbreak of last February was
provoked by the insurgents themselves
and was, from our standpoint, unavoida
bic. Frequent reference is made to the
report of General Otis to show the mag
nitudc of the task set for him with the
inadequate forces at his command when
the outbreak came, and a high tribute is
paid to the courage of the troops who, in
the face of great haldships, voluntarily
consented to forego an immediate return
to their homes upon the expiration of
their terms of service. The history of
the operations of the past season is re-
counted. and the secretary outlines the
plan Of the present campaign, which be
gan in October.
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 alleviatcd. sanitation
has been instituted. and in all respects
satisfactory progress has been made, and
the part played by our troops now is but
the restraining influence of their pres
encc. The revival of industry has been
slow, but has also made gratifying prog
ress, and the recOncentradoeS have re-
turned to the cultivation of their lands,
though the complete restoration of the
sugar industry has been seriously ham
percd by the lack of capital. As order
has been restored the force 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 devot
cd to administering and improving the
civil government of the island and in
structing the people in the rudments of
self government, at every step in confer
encc with the leading citizens. This
work has been retarded by the unfortu-
nate industrial conditions, owing to lack
of markets for the products and to the
distress caused by the great hurricane.
A compliment is paid to General Lud
ington's administration of the quarter
masters Department. and it is said that
owing to the experience acquired the en-
tire movement involved in the transpor
taton of large army to the Philippines
has been accomplished practically with
out loss of life, disease or injury to
health. The clothing of the army, too,
was satisfactory and the food Of good
quality and furnished promptly. The
health of the army has been remarkably
good, and the report shows that the
death rate among the soldiers in the Phil
ippinos from disease is only 11.20. con
sidcrably less than in Washington. Bos-
ton, san Francisco. New York and Bal
timore. The soldiers killed in battle and
dying of wounds numbered ~. and the
entire mortality was Si3 for the past ten
months.
The secretary deals mt great length
with the problem OF insular government.
He recalls the fact that the treaty of
Paris places in congress- alone the deter
miuation or the civil rights and political
status of the native inhabitants of the
territories cedcd to the tinted States
Concerning Cuba, the report says the
control which we are exercising in trust
for the people of Cuba should not and of
course will not be continued any longer
than il is necessary to enable the people
to establish suitable government TO
which the control shall be transferred.
which shall really represent the people of
Cuba and be able to maintain order and
discharge international obligations.
y strong recommendation is made for
the laying of Pacific cable as "A matter
Of great military and political impor-
tance. The cost of such a cable is placed