Evening star., 1900-04-25
PHILIPPINE SITUATION
OUTLOOK FOR PACIFICATlON Is
FAVORABLE.
Latest Mail Advices Received by the
War Department-COnfict
With Robbers.

The military situation in the Philippines,
as shown by the latest mail advices re-
ceived at the War Department, is summa-
rized in the following statement, made pub
lie by the department this afternoon:
ION the LIST of January, 1900, the insurrec-
ton in the part of Luzon, P. l., embracing
the province of Manila and the provinces
to the north of it. had collapsed to the ex-
tent that organized resistance to American
control had virtually ceased. different
state Of affairs existed in Cavite, Batangas,
Laguna and Tayabas, the provinces lying
Immediately south of Manila. In this ter
ritory, the richest and most populous of the
island, the birthplace of Aguinaldo and the
rebellion, the insurgent troops were still
intact had in fact been strengthened by
accessions from the north, and regards
equipment, discipline and cohesion We're
equal, if not superior, to any that had been
raised in support Of the insurgent cause.
General Otis committed the task of the de-
struction or dispersion of the forces within
this district to two eXpeditionary brigades.
commanded, respectively, by Brigadier Cen
erals Wheaton and Schwan. In and about
the two towns of Bacoor and linus, in
northern Cavite. there were, and long had
been, insurgent bodies of considerable size,
some of which had actually besieged our
Garrisons in those towns. These insurgent
bodies General WheatOn's command attack
ed and completely routed on January {, 3
and 9.
The further disntegra ton of the rem
nants of this force-giving it, so to speak,
the coup de grace'-of suppresSing the in
sUrgent troops in the remainder of the four
provinces, and of restoring, If practicable,
peace and order therein, fell to the lot of
General Schwan's brigade. In the course
of its campaign his troops covered $50
miles. fought thirty-three comba,s and es-
tablished permanent garrisons in twenty
one towns within this district. 1t set out
on January 4, and its work was practically
fni i.ha al nr E.h hrtta !, o11
ties had then ceased.
''On the contrary, our troops have had
and still have frequent conflicts with the
robber bands that were formed from the
disintegrated insurgent military organiZa-
tions, and who emerge periodically from
their hiding places in mountains and thick
cts to pounce upon inadequately guarded
wagon trains and small parties. But con-
cert OF action or cooperation, save on a
very limited scale, was ended on the latter
date; the control exercised by the insurgent
leaders, except over their small immediate
following. was minimzed and their power
for mischief materially reduced, If not
wholly broken. In the principal towns or
oenters of trade and municipal government.
military forces, generally battalions, have
been placed. These forces operate within
their several spheres under their majors,
for the most part energetic young officers
holding lesser rank in the regulars. and
whenever necessary cooperate under their
colonels. for the battalions of a regiment
are grouped in neighboring places
On the whole. the outlook for the pacifi-
cation of this district and other parts of
Luzon is favorable. In their conflicts with
our troops the ladrones are universally
worsted. Their defeats will become more
and more serious as our troops gain the
confidence of the intelligent and property
owning class; and when the latter become
| unwilling to submit to the robbers exac-
tons, and become willing to guide our
troops to their retreats, their doom will be
sealed. To accomplish this object may
take time, and it is possible some of the
robber bands may be able to maintain
themselves during the coming wet season; !;
but their eventual destruction Is regarded
as certain"