Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-10-21

,rget the interviews reported te have ,
Aken place between one Of the FiliPi- =
o ENJOYS to Gea. Otis and repre-
OF the Associated Press. d
len. ALEJANDRINo, who is quoted was
ducated in Europe and Designed the
emarkable Filipino iptrenchments
rom Manila TO Tarlac. He was asked
"How long can the Filipino army and
people with stand sixty thousand
American troops7"
BE replied:
Fighting in our way, we can main
tain state OF war and the nscessity OF
, large army Of occupation indefinitely.
You Americans are holding few miles
around Manila, q narrow line OF rail-
road TO Angeles ana a circle OF country
around San Fernaudino. Bot you are
ignorant OF the resources OF Luzon.
We have immense rich, productive
northern country upon which TO draw:
Our people contribute the money and
food which maintain our army, ana
this is done at minimum cost"
He cooily remarked:
'Itis an interesting question what
the cost Co the American people Is OF
maintaining the American troops IN
the Philippines2 We do not, OF course
know the amount, but it must be ex-
cessIve."
He was right. The expenses are now
variously estimated at one million dol
lars per day, and still rising including
of course the amounts spent upon our
other possessions, but recently acquir-
ed.
He continued:
"On the other hand, Filipino exists
with q handful OF rice and pair of
| linen trousers. We do not have to pay
our soldiers, and can practically hold
up their wages as long as we desire.
Even with our present supply OF arms
and ammunition we could keep our
army occupied for years"
He expressed the wishes of Filipino
government in the following language {:
1--WE desire peace, but peace with in
dependence and honor"
The statements made by General
ALEJANDRINo seem to be verified and
the gloomy conditions intensified by
the declarations of w. NEPHEw KlRa
late lieutenant, United States Navy.
In an article to OoLLIKR's WEEKLY oi
New York, issue of October 18th, hi
says:
"That our policy in the past has beer
an unfortunate one, barren Of any re
= suit save that of chasing the insur
! gents around q circle and then our
selves retreating to q point on the cir
cumference until the rain have ceased
], even the most enthusiastic admirer o.
the present administration must al
4 NIT. The fatal plumbers OF the Span
ish campaigns seem to have been re-
peated with startling intensity-that o
uuderestimatinRsthe strength of the en-
e envy, and then sending out isolated de-
q tachments of men to take the places o
those who were killed in battle or dice
: of disease. The fact that the error cal
G be traced directly to the major gener
al commanding who declared, mcrl
than once. that thirty thousand mel
u could easily accomplish the task al
q lotted to him, does not lessen the re
4 sponsibilltV,of the Washington officials
4 Those who believe that AguiRald
commands an undisciplined mob, poor
ly armed and equipped, and possessing
no knowledge or tactics, will find then
a selves sadly mistaken, xs his troop
have been in the field now over q year
aud have succeeded ia smuggling int
she islands great quantities OF arm
J. and ammunition"
He says further:
"Our men, it is true. have shown re
markable courage, and the fact tbs
: they have not yet suffered q single de
10 feat in actual battle places them ia
above the Spanish soldiers; but wins
matters it by what means the end
s accomplished, our regiments are deci
z mated, the men disheartened, and "
= hold little more than We did at the bt
lginniDg of the last cAmpaIRn-Manil
and its surroundings-an iDfinites
e mAlly small part of the great islam
u of Lazon. City after city has bee
captured, and as quickly abandoned
owing to lack OF men. while the insul
sgents have executed eank movement
and again occupied the selfsame point
Of strategic value.
= he continues:
- "And the campaign has been . cost
one in more than one sense for In &C
ID dition to our killed and wounded, it
"a ooA0 bnoe AOAel pCA CChS u ACACA
Lawton's men were overcome by I'll
IN heA at during q recent move against th
enemy. Though many OF them reco'
cred speedily, more than one half ha
to be placed upon the sick list, and su
= aud rain will probably incspacitate til
: rest. Any attempt to initiate IAN o
= tive campaign at this season of I'll
= year will be more fatal to our eau
= than to leave the Filipinos alone. st,
: tistics show Ethat the majority Of con
- panies OF volunteers and regulars
active service have been reduced b
q one half, and it is reported that OF
- com pany went into action having on
- one corporal and nine IprivAtes--tl
- Restricting unfit for duty"
a. As further evidence of the unfort1
4 nate conditions existing, the ChicaI
y RECORD publishes the following list