Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-07-06

Peace Outlook is Gloomy.
In cable message from Manila to
the New York Herald, John F. Bass,
the well-informed correspondent of the
Herald and Harper's Weekly, says:
The outlook at present is more
gloomy for speedy ending Of the war
than ever before. The method of max
ing raids into the country and then
Withdrawing, leaving the friendly
natives at the mercy of the returning
insurgents, has tended to ALLEVIATE the
population and not materially to
weaken the insurgents.
The organization of the insurgents is
still good and their resources are not
greatly impaired.
The failure this season to take the
railroads running through the valley OF
the rice country above San Fernando
leaves to the enemy immense resources
and fails to protect the interests of
foreign merchants.
With the present methods the war
with the Filipinos can continue in
definitely. The only true method to
pacify the country is to garrison all the
important towns. To do this more
than twice the number of troops
already here, including the volunteers,
are necessary, with several regiments
of mounted cavalry.
-Four thousand men being in the hos-
pital, 1880 in the southern islands and
| $1,000 in Manila, Cavite and small gar
| risons, this leaves only 5000 for active
campaigning.
This number is not sufficient, since
| the troops in the north are in bad con-
| dition, many of the soldiers having ir-
ritated hearts, by reason of over exer-
ton on account of the small number of
troops available, new advances are con-
stantly required and frequent changes
of the exhausted regiments. There is
great waste sof Etime and energy Of the
men by long marches to the front.
The non combatants are more friendly
toward the insurgents than toward the
Americans on account, mainly, of the
petty tyranny of the soldiers.
The isolated insurgent outrages are
only repetition of similar isolated
acts of our own men.
A pioneer and engineer corps is much
needed for the building of roads.
Nothing on this line has been done,
but it is indispensable for the pacifca.
ton of the country.
A government free from the vexations
of Spanish taxation should long age
have been established.
The organs of imperialism will cal
Mr.. Bass traitor for preparing this
truthful picture Of the real situation il
the Philippines, and the Herald will
likewise be accused of traitorous pro
clivities for giving Mr.. Bass dispatch
place in its columns. But the Herald
is an ardent advocate Of the policy o.
imperialism, and cannot, therefore, b.
truthfully accused of printing this in
formation with sinister motives. As
newspaper, it prints the news, as gath
cred by its competent and careful cor
respondent.
1t is wonder that Mr.. Bass dis
, patch escaped the news censors al
Manila, who have been striving will
all their might to prevent news OF thi.
character reaching the American peo
pie. Perhaps they have come to tn
, conclusion that the truth will serv
I their purposes better than falsehood
and have accordingly modified tn
severity of the censorship.
J The information thus conveyed b.
, Correspondent Bass is insignificant
. with the present methods the wa
: with the Filipinos can continue indef
s nitely," he writes, and he also state
r that the non-combatants are NOR
t friendly towards the insurgents tina
: towards the Americans.
i The situation as revealed by MI
4 Bass will doubtless be taken by the &C
9 ministration as pretext for increasin
Q the army and prosecuting the war mol
n vigorously than ever. But it will /
n taken by the majority of the America
h people as an additional reason why tn
70 causeless war, which should never ha,
l. been started, should be brought to
y speedy end.