The record-union., 1899-04-18
OUR FORCE IN THE PHILIPPINES.

OUR FORCE IN THE PHILIPPINES.
General Lawton is reported to nave
said, on his return from his expedition
into the interior of Luzon, east from
Manila and Laguna de Bay, and which
has been an entirely successful expedi-
tlon, that to establish a stable govern
ment in the Philippines and hold the
points taken, 100000 soldiers will be
required.
doubted. But if it is correctly given 1t
need not occasion surprise. The terri
Tory is very large, the distances great,
the islands very many, and the larger
ones are widely separated. To hold all
the chief points We take will require
garrisons which would speedily count
up with the active force, to the figure
100000. This. however, is upon the as
sumption that the Filipinos are going to
be continually annoying and danger
nusly numerous in arms.
The same dispatches telling US what
Iawton has said also convey the in
formation that the expedition was a
success, the purpose being accom-
plished, namely to scatter the Commits
sioners' proclamations far and wide, to
drive the insurgents back, and to re-
frain from destroying any of the towns
or villages taken, and thus to impress
the people with our power and our hui
name intentions. The belief is enter
fained that the result will be a steady
melting away of Aguinaldo's forces and
influence.
But concerning the necessity for 100,-
QUO soldiers in the Philippines to pacify
the islands and subdue the insurgents
completely, it is to be remembered that
in Luzon alone are we now opposed.
War is on only between Aguinaldo and
our forces. The Spanish, however, held
the entire archipelago with these forces
in 1861. Regular force maintained,
Z regiments Of infantry, 1 Of fortress
artillery, l Of mountain artillery, l of
engineers, 1 of artifcers, .tercios of
civic; guards. 1 veterinary section, 1
company of carbineers, l brigade of
train, 1 sanitary brigade. In all 672
officers, 1860 men and 40 horses.
With the-outhreak of the insurrection
headed by Aguinaldo, Spain sent to the
islands up to April, 1897, Is battalions
of rifles, 3 battaions of marine infantry.
squadron of cavalry, l battery Of
horse artillery; a total of Generals,
ll6 staff officers, SS1 regimental off,
GERS and 27,7GS men. With the second
outbreak of the Instruction in 1898,
Spain sent about 2,O00 men more to the
philippines. Thus the total land force
With which she held the islands in time
OF insurrection- amounted to but 1906
all told. to which she added 1900
specially dispatched about the time we
Went to war with her. Spain had be-
sides in Philippine waters, 3 cruisers. .
large gunboats. 10 small gunboats, 3
sloop gunboats and 3 transports. and
IN 1898 she sent two other warships of
medium character to the islands
With a larger, better class of men.
better cared for. with greater resources
at command and a superior naval force,
We cannot think that we will require a
larger force than Spain found necessary
In the Philippines, nor indeed one so
large, certainly, not for any great
length of time.
very likely General Lawton has
given the newspaper correspondents to
understand that his idea is that the
way to operate is to wind things nm
rapidly, and to that end an ample force
Tor garrison purposes would be neces-
sary probably men to the number
named and credited to his expression
Bus that the insurgents are anv match
.ior the troops we have already in the
Islands is absurd to think They can
continue guerrilla and annoying bor-
der post war, no doubt, but they viii
never again be able to rally a sufficient
force equipped to take Manila or dis
possess US of those positions we do not
voluntarily yield when the object of
taking them has been accomplished.
We repeat, there is every reason for
the belief that Aguinaldo is losing
strength; that the people of Luzon viii
NOT long adhere to his banners, and that
the pacific and humane intentions of
our Government when fully understood
VIII result in placing the great body
OF the Philippine people in sympathy
with our cause
Inc elite of Seville, which is sup
posed TO represent the best and most
honorable there is in Spanish society
mas just proved itself to be vulgar, mar
row. Grabbed and ill-mannered. as 20.