The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-19
AS FRENCHMAN SEES TT.
Hundred Thousand MEN Needed q
Conquer Aguinaldo.

Copyright, 1899. the Associate Press.
New York, June IA prominent
French newspaper man, III. Henri Turot.
special correspondent of L'Eclair and Of
L'Monde Illustre, and chief editor Of
La Petite Republique and La Lanteerpe.
recently returned from the Philippines
by way of Vancouver, B. G., and sailed
for France today in order to report the
result Of his mission TO his papers. Be-
fore sailing he was asked to furnish the
Associated Press with the impression he
had formed in the Philippine islands,
and he did SO, in the following terms:
MY first visit was to Gen. Otis. In
reply to my question IL he was satisfied
With his campaign and IL he hoped to
promptly terminate 1t, the General re-
piled; L am satisfied with the results
achieved and from this time on hope to
accomplish in the quickest manner posi-
BILE the patriotic task oonfided to me by
my government
Mr.. Schurmann on whom next
called, is a man of high intelligence and
of profound erudition, but unhappily,
believe he is powerless to observe salts
factory results.
Why said to him, has not Anne
RIGA established in the Philippines the
protectorate system, like that which
France has installed in Tunis and An
nam9
" 1t is impossible replied Mr.. Schur-
man. You cannot establish protecto-
rate over government which does not
sxist.
- But asked, lin default Of pro.
tectorate will you aocede to the Filipinos
the same regime as exists between Cana.
da and Great BritaiuP'
Such a system is outlined In the last
proclamation which we addressed to the
Filipinos,' he replied. In the first place
We insist that the sovereignty of the
United States be accepted and recognized,
but, after that, we are quite disposed to-
wards an understanding with the Fill
pinos.'
admiral Dewey received me on board
the Olympia. He said: 'Aguinaldo has
around him too many generals and too
few soldiers to resist us. The Admiral
said he recognized the insurgents as good
fighters, but that they were incapable
of military tactics. He denied that dur
ing the war with Spain the Americans
ever made an alliance with Aguinaldo,
We had common enemy he said.
He acted on his side and we on ours
''Florsntino Torres, president of the
Filipino committee of Manila, said that
even though the committee could come
to terms with the commission that Mr..
Schurman represents. it would be neces-
sary to cause Aguinaldo to accept and
he feared there would be considerable
difficulty in doing this. For myself.
said President Torres. 1 would accept q
government similar to that of Canada.
The better class hero in no way wish f-r
the departure of the Americans. What
we fear above oil else is that q socialist
and revolutionary movement will be
created by the insurrection. The political
movement is directed much more
against the capitalists to whatever ma
tion they belong, than against the Anne
rican.'
Regarding the declaration of Torres,
the Philippine committee, with which MIR.
Schurman is treating. has no real autho-
rity, aud fear no satisfactory results
will be obtained. Socialism explains
the dissensions whish exist among the
Filipinos and naturally will result in
the Americans finding, before the con-
clusion of peace. serious support among
the better classes.
"Gregorio Araneto, the first minister
of justice of the government Of Aguinai-
do, and many other influential Filipinos,
confirmed the statements of Torres. l
was struck with the fine presence OF
your soldiers, but they experienced great
difficulties in enduring the climate of
the Philippines. They fight with great
bravery, but the volunteers lack disci-
pline. / think it is absolutely necessary
for the success Of your conquests to re-
place the volunteers as rapidly as possi-
BILE by regular troops. 1t seems to be in
coutestable that for the conquest Of the
intsrior 100000 men will not be too
many"
NAVAL CHANGES.