The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-12-07
The Annual Report of Secretary
OF War Root Deals With
the Question.
PHILIPPINES AND CUBA CAMPAIGNS.
Magnitude Of the Task Set for ten,
Otis. With Inadequate Forces in
the Archipelago.
Bish Tribute Paid to the Courage of Our
Troops in the Face of Great Hard
ships lie situatioD is Much
Improved in Cuba.

WAsHINeToS. Dec 3-Dealing as it
does with large questions of insular
policy; of army reorganization; of the
future of Cuba and of the campaign
in the Philippines. the first annual re-
port of Secretary Root, just made pub
lie, is of exceptional interest. The re-
port begins with the recital of the
policy followed in re-organizing the
army in accordance with the necessi-
ties 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 organization, covering
in that respect matters dealt with in
the reports OF the major general COM
manding and of the adjutant general
1t is stated that at present all of the
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 insur
gents themselves and was, from our
standpoint, unavoidable. Frequent
reference Is made to the re-
port of Gen. Otis to show
the magnitude 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 cour.
age of the troops, who, in the face of
great hardships, 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 recounted and the Sec
retary outlines the plan of the present
campaign which began in Octo Der.
This involved the movement of three
separate forces. One was to proceed
up the Rio Grande along the north
eastern 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.
along the abroad to Dagupan. The
secretary says these movements were
executed with energy, rapidity and
success, Notwithstanding deluges of
rain. 1t is said that wherever the per-
manent occupation of our troops has
extended in the Philippines, civil law
has been put in operation, courts have
been established and education intro
duced 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. SAN
itation has been instituted, and in all
respects satisfactory progress has been
made. and the part played by our
troops now is but the restraining in
fluence of their presence. The re-
vival of industry has been slow, but
has also made gra flying progress, and
the reconcentradoes have returned
to the cultivation of their lands, though
the complete restoration of the suga,
industry has been seriously hampered
by the lack of capital. As order has
been restored. the force has been re.
duced and orders have recently been
given for the withdrawal of eight COM
panies of infantry and eight troops of
cavalry. In Porto Rico the
year has been devoted to ad.
ministering and improving the
civil government of the island and
instructing the people in the rudiments
of self government at every step in con-
ference with the leading citizens. This
work has been retarded by the unfor-
tunate industrial conditions. owing to
lack of markets for the island prod ucts
and to the distress caused by the great
hurricane. Nevertheless much has
been done to correct abuses, the courts
have been reorganized the writ of
habeas corpus has been restored and
arrangements have been made for
taking the census