Evening star., 1899-03-28
INTERIOR OF LUZON
DR.. G. P. Farrell Tells of a Trip He
Made Inland,
NATIVES FULL OF War SPIRIT
AguinaIdo a Shrewd Leader and
Suspicious of Americans,
OUTCOME OF THE WAR

CHICAGO, March 2s-Dr G. p. Farrell,
assistant surgeon of the 1st California
Volunteers, is in Chicago. His regiment
was the first to reach manila last June, and
the captain was in the Island of Luzon
continuously until the last week of Janu-
ary, two months ago. He had unusual op-
portunities to study the conditions in the
islands, as he was selected last October to
make tour of investigation extending
from Manila to Dagupan. He speaks Span
ish 1uently, and for that reason was chosen
to carry on many of the negotiations with
Aguinaldo.
He has traversed the country where the
American troops are now fighting, and in
speaking of the locality, said: The rail-
way line extends up the middle of the val
ley along which our troops have been ad-
vancing. The country in which recent
operations have taken place is very flat
and is simply a succession of rice fields.
Between this valley and the sea is a low
range of hills and, the other hand, is
the coast range of mountains, perhaps 1900
sr 5000 feet high. The rice fields are
that they can be flooded. 1t Is an excellent
country for defensive operations The ma
tiVes can use the dykes for trenches, re-
abandoning a position, they can flood the
fields and thus hinder the advance of our
men. l Lave not seen it mentioned in the
dispatches but l have no doubt that many
of these fields have been flooded"
What do you believe will be the outcome
of the present campaign?
Expects Several Pitched battles.
There will be several pitched battles and
then Aguinaldo army will be dispersed.
The American army in the Philippines will
have to contend with the guerrilla warfare
for several years to come. The natives will
not submit, even if the main body of the
army is demolished and scattered. Still l
do not think the prospect is one that should
be alarming or distressing. Our army will
have an experience in the Philippines which
will be exceedingly valuable and make 1t
all the more enective in the future
How did you happen to make trip
through the isand?"
1T was found advisable to ascertain
what the natives in the interior were doing
and what seemed to be their attitude to-
ward the Americans. The American Off
GERS in uniform who had attempted to ira
verse this part of the country had been ar
rested and sent back, l Travelled as
civilian. That was late in October. AS |
am of English birth l allowed the natives
to believe that | was an Englishman. In
addition to that l spoke Spanish and found
little difficulty in getting along, although 1
was continually stopped and questioned. At
every town the soldiers demanded of me
pass from Aguinaldo. The fact that his
name was mentioned everywhere and that
he was regarded as their leader gave me
some idea of his influence in the island.
went the entire length of the railway line,
from Manila to Dagupan, on the other
coast, and everywhere l found the natives
arming themselves and drilling constantly.
All Were Talking War.
1.-THE one topic of conversation was the
coming fight with the Americans. They
seemed to regard it inevitable and were
not disposed to avoid it. Even the little
boys were marching up and down the
streets and being drilled, and l never saw
more military enthusiasm in any country.
OF course the drilling was very awkward
and the discipline was poor, but the soldiers
We're intensely earnest and enthusiastic
everywhere, and the fact that the new
arms were being shipped in and distributed
showed that some well-defined policy of
preparation was being put into effect
How did the natives get these improved
arms?'
They were shipped in during all last
summer and autumn. As soon as Agui-
naldo established his government he began
to levy taxes in every village and demand
tribute from the residents in and around
Manila, and great deal of this money was
Immediately expended for arms and am
munition. AT Malolos 1 saw Maxims and
Gatlings. There are enough Spanish arti-
lerymen among the insurgents to handle
these guns in an effective manner. It is
evident that the natives have competent en-
gineers with them, for their trenches have
been we'll constructed and so arranged that
soldiers can retreat from one to another
without putting thems elves in range"
You met Aguinaldo often?'
For a time | met him two or three times
day. He impressed me very shr. wd
leader. He was exceedingly suspicious of
the Americans. and / found the greatest
difficulty in getting any information out of
him. At every interview he had one of his
native officers with him."