Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-12-09
WAR DEPARTMENTS
WORK IS REVIEWED
Resume Of Operations of The Army
In the Philippines and
Elsewhere.
SECRETARY ROOFS FIRST REPORT
Outline OF What Has Been Done I'm
Cuba AMI Puerto Itico-.Thc
Future Government
OF Cuba.

Washington; Dec. 4.--Dealing as il
does with large questions of insular
policy; of army reorganization; of
the future of Cuba and the campaign
in the Philippines, the first annual re-
port OF Secretary Root, just made pub
lie, is of exceptional interest.
The report begins with recital OF
the policy followed In reorganisinB
the army IN bccbftlahce With the he
cessities arising from the discharge OF
the state volunteers and from the men
enlisted in the Spanish American war
0nd gives statistics of the past and
present strength Of the organization,
covering in that respect matters dealt
with in the reports of the major gen
eral commanding Ahd Of the admtant
general. II is stated that at present all
the new regiments of volunteers are
in the Philippines or on their way
there.
The operations in the island Of Lu-
zon are next taken up and the report
again points out that the outbreak Of
last February was provoked by the
insurgents themselves, and from
our standpoint was unavoidable, Ere
quent reference ib made In The report
TO general orders TO show the magni-
tude Of the task set for the American
commander with the inadequate forces
at his command when the outbreak
came, and n high tribute Is paid to
the courage Of the troops, who in the
face of great hardship voluntarily con-
sented to forego immediate return to
their homes upon the expiration of
their terms of service. The history of
the operations Of the past season is
rccounted, and the secretary outlines
the plan Of the present campaign
which began in October. This i'm
Tolved the movement of three separate
forces. One was TO proceed up the
Rio Grande, along the northeastern
borders Of the plains, and strike
across to the gulf Of hingaSen: An
other was TO land on the gulf shores
by transports and proceed along the
coast road to unite with the first
force. A third column was TO strike
straight along the railroad TO Dagu-
pans The secretary says these move
ments were executed with energy,
rapiditS aud success, Notwithstanding
deuges of rain. 1t is said that wher-
ever the permanent occupation of our
troops has extended in the Philip
pines civil law has been put in oper-
alton, courts have been established
and education introduced until in Ma
nia there are now better facilities for
primary education than ever before.
Army's Work in Cuba.
A chapter tells of what has been
done i'm Cuba by the army during the
past year. Order has been maintained,
social distress has been nllcviatCd,
sanitation has been instituted and i'm
all respects satisfactory progress has
been made and the part played by our
troops now is but the restraining in
fucnce of their pre- sencc. The re-
vival of industry has been slow, but
has also made gratifying progress, and
the reconccntrados have returned to
the cultivation of their lands. though
the complete restoration of the sugar
industry has been seriously hampCred
by the lack of capital. AS order has
been restored the force Of troops has
been reduced and orders have recently
been given for withdrawal Of eight
of infantry and eight |
troops of cavalry.
In Puerto Rico the year has been /.
devoted to administering and improv- .
rg the civil government Of the island |
and instructing the people in the rudi- !
menta Of self government, at every
step in conference with the leading .
'itiZens. This work has been rctard- |
nd by the unfortunate Industrial con
litions, owing to the lack of markets |
'or products and to distress caused By !
he great hurricane. Nevertheless,
much has been done to correct abuses:
he courts have been reorganizcd, the
writ of habeas corpus has been re.
stored and arrangements have been
rade for the taking of n census.
a compliment is paid to General
.udington's administration of the
luartermaster's department, and it is
said that owing to the experience ac-
luircd, the entire movement involved
II the transportation of large army
o the Philippines has been accom-
,lished practically without loss of life.
iiscase or injury to health. The
clothing of the army, too, was salts
actory, and the food Of good quality
nd furnished promptly. The health
# the army has been remarkably
,ood, and the reports show that the
eath rate among the soldiers in the
from disease is only 1920,
considerably less than in Washington.
'oston, San Francisco, New York and
baltimore. The soldiers killed in bat
le and dying Of wounds numbered AZ
nd the entire mortality was 4s3 for
he past ten months.
The secretary deals at great length
'ith the problem of insular govern ,
lent. He recalls the fact that the
rcaty of Paris vests in congress alone
he determination of the civil rights {
nd political status of the native in
abitants of the territories ceded to
he United States. He argues that this
completely deprives these
eople Of the right to have the islands
'eated as states or as territory pre- {
iously acquired has been treated. or !
ven to assert legal right under the /
rovisions of the constitution, which 5
as established for the people OF the {
nited States themselves. Neverthe-
SIS, he assumes that the intention is
} give them, to the greatest possible {
ltent, individual freedom. self gov
'nment in accordance with their ca 2
lcity, just and equal laws, an oppor- .
nifty for education for profitable in S
lstry and for development and civil
alton. :
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