Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-24


from the Philippines, and was able to give
| the Secretary much valuable information
! on the condition of affairs in the fighting
sections. Col. Frost is one of the active
young officers of the regular army, being a
captain of the 2Ld Infantry, and was chosen
for this reason to command the South Da-
kota regiment. which has seen such severe
| lighting throughout the recent campaigns.
Secretary Root was much impressed with
Col. Frost's recital
AguinaIdO's First Claim.
"Aguinaldo claimed at the outset" said
Col. Frost, that he keeping his men
armed, not in order to fight our troops but
because he wished to be ready to fight
against Spain when the Americans left
That seemed reasonable to our authorities,
and it was the main reason why steps were
not taken to keep Aguinaldo from arm;ng
his forces. | travelled last fall through the
interior and found the natives very friend
ly at that time. Agunaldo had adopted
English for general use, and I was greeted
by the natives with Good morning and
doou night. He was left in complete con-
troll of the country districts, going 20 the
extent of levying taxes. and this AUTHORITY
simply 'swelled his head so that he would
not let go He would not meet the Ameri-
cans half way in any proposition; our men
were not allowed to go through his lines
without passeS-which they would nor ask
for. am satisfied that the Filipino up
rising in February was prearranged as
they commenced firing simulta taneously on
both sides of Manila the instant the first
shot was fired, clearly showing that there
was a preconcerted plan.
Gen. Otis Splendid Equipment.
AS to Gen. Otis, too much cannot be
said of his splendid equipment for just such
service as he is now performing He has
icnl1 X-a1 id
was anxious at the outset TO pacify the ma
tives, and when the outbreak came he
drove them back at all points. and then
again paused, hoping they would come to
terms The halt at Malolos awaiting re-
suits from the proclamation of the commits
SION has been criticised, but it was obvi-
ously the proper thing undeiz the circum-
stances. 1t has been approved by iisfnter
ested foreign observers, ana has won over
the better class of natives Gen Otis * a
man of splendid character firm when tho
requirements of the situation demanded,
ana yet always agreeable and approach
able ny officers and those having business
with MIN. He is a strong man. so strong
that he makes enemies by his positiveness
OF character. He is a hard working man
ana II THIS eXcites some captious critics 1t
might be recalled that Frederick the Great
was one OF the most hard-wCTking men
He Is conservative, simply because he is
laying a firm foundation for the future.
bOth military and civil.
This Campaign viii End the War.
The feeling when left Manila was THAI
the present campaign would end the war
we all felt that Aguinados strength was
destroyed His force now consists of light
troops, able only to make noise and give
our forces considerable annoyance during !
sleeping hours. With the punishment
which has been inflicted on it, the insurgeat
army Is not one to keep on fighting long"
recurring again n
sdld HIS army has been hampered a |
great deal by the lack of transportation |
iiaclI.,es, which fact has not been general |
ly known. That has been remedied in 1orga
measure by the shipment of horses and |
niules. Cntll this occurred it was impossi- |
Die TO hold many of the places occiIpied !
siilhp!y because there was no means of get |
tlhg through the supplies necessary to sun
port garrisons in the captured places |
AS to the temper of the Filipino people, |
on April u and % my regiment moved |
hattio iron ruillan to calumpit and fought three
battles in those two days At that time
.le country was deserted. Then we came |
it pick 10 the same place on May q when the |
tnIabltants had returned. They lined up in |
M re, oi thelr houses. bringing water and
a1s aIdansoes 10 our troops and giving every |
eHluence or sincere friendship 1t showed |
pie. ~ poo
n" Looting of Churches by Americans.
me stories of American soldiers looting
cnurcheS Is false. AS General Macarthur
advanced, the principal churches were set
on fire by Aguinaldo's men. notably the
churches at San Fernando and Malolos.
and the looting done by insureent
stragglers and Chinese. 1t has been said
that nhumanity was shown to Filipino
prisoners. On the contrary the American
soldier is the kindest hearted man in the
world. L nave seen him share his canteen
ana give shelter to wounded FilipnoS, and
the tlllplno wounded are sent back to the |
hospitals on the same trains with our own. |
In regard to the civil administration the
people nave grown up under a system |
Whlch mas been in operation there for 800
years: rms cannot be disturbed violently, |
put changes must be brought about by de-
grees. General Otis is receiving many sug-
sestiQns as to radical changes but he is
moving slowly so as to prevent violent |
change from old methods"
In the course of the talk with Secretary |
Root Colonel Frost told him of a banquet |
which one of the Filipino generals, General
Garcia, commander of the 4th Division |
gave at Caloocan to the American officers.
AT that time the Filipino captains and
neutenants acted as walters and Colonel |
FROST says 1t bore out the well authenti-
cated statement current in Manila that the
r lnplno ofncerS are the former cooks |
walters and coachmen of the Spanish Off
GERS. |