Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-07-06
THE PHILIPPINE SITUATION,
Impressions Of n French Writer.

A prominent French newspaper man, II.
Henri Turot, recently returned from the
Philippine Islands, by way of Vancouver.
Il. c., and sailed for France from New
York June II. Before sailing he was asked
t. outline the Impressions he had formed
in the Philippine Islands.
He said he asked President Schurman of
tie Peace Commission why America has
not established in the Philippines the pro-
tectorate system like that which France
has installed in Tus1is and Anam.
1T is Impossible" replies Mr.. S~churman,
9TH reason is that at Tun!s there is a Fey
and Anam an Emperor. and your pro-
tectorate is exercised over a stable gov
ornment Here We are in the presence of
a regular anarchy, and YOU cannot cstab-
l;sh a protectorate over a government
which does not exist
The Frenchman called on Admiral Dew
ey, who, in the curse of the conversation
said. Il shall be obliged TO you if you re-
peat the following statement IN france:
'AgUinaldo during the war with Spain was
not our ally, as has been claimed. we
never made made a treaty of alliance with
him, and we never promised him anything.
We had a common enemy. He acted on
his side, and we on ours. There has been
no other understanding"
NJ. Turot then visited Florentino Tor
res, President of the Philippine Committee
of Manila. Torres was a Magistrate und-
err Spanish rule, and is a very intelligent
man.
Il hope the war will soon be finished,
for il is running us" said Torres. w
Handed proprletors would accent a govern
mcnt similar to that Of Canada. We in
no way wish for the departure Of the Am
! orleans, for in that case our fortunes
would be swept away"
why so?" asked the F%renchman.
Because it is not only a question "t Az
uinaldo and his troops, of a nationalist
movement, but above all of a socialist and
revolutionary movement oreatel by the
instruction. The lower class OF re"pe
and many of the chiefs are military social
lists. ! will cite, for example, Luna, VINO
for a lone time frequented tine socialists
clubs of Europe; Santiko. who ut n time
had influence among certain sociailst com
%riitteeS of America, and the poet Pateiho'
who IS an enthusiastic socialist. The
movement is directed much more against
TIE capitalists, TO whatever nnt!oi they
belong, than against the Amcr.cars.'
Az to the American troops. Mr.. 1urot
said: Il was struck with the iina nppear-
arce of the soldiers. They are big men,
strong, supple and agile, who hear tcsti-
mony to the beauty of the American race
But unhappily ] know that, precisely on
account of their physical strength, they
experienced great difficulties in enduring
the climate of the Philippine Islands.
This seems p~aradoxical, and get 1t is So
In warm and damp countries 1t is indis-
putahle that very vigorous men do not
cndure the climate as well as smaller and
more degenerate individuals. Besides TINS
the Anne rican troops have, in my opinion,
rations which are too heating. Admirably
supplied with provisions, the soldiers 'an
eat toe much meat and not enough rice
1T is an error not to adapt Themselves bet
ter to the eAigencies of the climate II
which che must live.
"Ihe soldiers fight with great bravery
lbut i. is impossible not 10 remark the lacR
OF discipline among the volunteers. The
latter conduct themselves we'll under fire
but they pay little attention 10 obedience
to their chiefs. Also at times the volun'
teers have committed acts OF really grave
lack OF discipline. IT does not seem to be
pCes.ble to hope for a complete victory
during the rainy season. 1t also seems tC
be indisputable that for this conquest o.
the interior 10000 men will not be tot
many. We know in France what the sys
tenn Of little parcels has cost. 1t is A.
example which the United States woulc
do we'll not to follow