The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-05
Philippine Conditions.


tended interview with General Otis in
Manila, in the course of which much
light was shed upon features of the
Philippine situation that have been inn
perfectly understood here at home.
One point, for example, which has
been the subject of considerable criti-
csm is the fact that for many months
the policy Of the Eighth army corps
seemed to be to capture and abandon
towns repeatedly making no visible
progress. General Otis explains that
by saying that the vital point of attack
was not the town in any case but the
Filipino insurgent soldiers. concentrated
in or near 1t; and more especially their
arms and ammunition. "Our compare
lively small force occupying long thin
line could not Afford the general re-
marked to Mr.. Noyes, "to permit the
enemy to concentrate at any adjacent
and threatening point, and was COM
PEELED to take the initiative and to
strike wherever he showed a DISPOSE
centration movement was prevented, II
the Filipinos were dispersed with losses
and arms and ammunition were cap
tured the action was successful, even
though through lack Of garrisoning
force or on account of the undesirable
poses the village of nipa huts at which
the engagement occurred was not held
after the Filipinos We're chased out.
With the increased force of soldiers
now in the islands it will be possible
to garrison and hold all points Of
strategic value"
In a military sense the dispersal of
the insurgent force has proceeded so
far that with the exception Of a few
bands of from two to five hundred
which turn "amigo" when pursued and
scatter, only to re-assemble when the
American pursuers have gone. the act
i've fighting may be said to have ceased.
This kind of warfare" General Otis
confesses. 'is exasperating to the SOL
diers and from it's apparent unpro-
ductiveness of results arouses the i'm
patience Of the public. Two or three
regiments could march anywhere in
Luzon and destroy everything which
Aguinaldo could oppose to them. While
the real war Is over the need of a large
| and vigilant army here has not passed
| The process of wedding out the robber
bands will be slow and tedious, but the
| result is sure. With an increased cav
| airy force, with a steadily enlarging
lyn 80 al
| islands, with a vigorous pushing policy
| on our part, and with decrease OF
| Filipino sympathy for the robber bands,
which flying before the Americans have
brutally turned their weapons against
| their countrymen, the pacification of
the islands will be FASTENED. Whole
| sections need only to be convinced Of
the permanence of American protection
| against the local banditti to cooper
ate heartily with US. They have been
deferred, and are still to some extent,
by the fear that after while the
| American soldiers will be removed to
some other point and that they will be
exposed to the murderous fury of the
cutthroats who are threatening with
death all who show a friendly spirit
toward Americans. The contrast be-
tween our conduct toward the people
and that of Spanish OF insurgent SOL
diers is appreciated and confidence in
us is steadily increasing. Insurgent
leaders themselves while in the field
have placed their families in the secur-
ity Of American protection at Manila. u
The general says that patience on the
part Of public opinion toward this
necessarily slower and less exciting
phase of the military occupation is very
desirable.
The upbuilding of civil government Is
already, to General Otis mind, the pre-
dominant need. "The problem" h:
points out, 'is to build up a structure
republican in form upon an Inadequate
and unreliable foundation. The start
upon substantially self-suporting mu
nicipal governments has been made
and at many points these are gropina
toward the light. The outline of &
simple form of local government ha.
been framed and put in practical oper,
|
steady, though slow, increase in tn.
degree of Filipino cooperation in sucl
governments. The mass of AguinaIdo':
followers are young and irresponsible
Property owners of intelligence alread,
sympathize with the Americans bu
the Aguinaldists, who promise deaf!
to them as soon as the Americans re
tire. With the garrisoning of the town
this fear will be dissioated. and tn
progress of civil government, of edu
cation and of the reign Of reasonabl
ana fixed law will then be hastened
American protection, schools and loca
self-government will go hand in hand
There are many intelligent F'ilipinos, Il
whom l have the fullest confidence a
the developers of the future of tn
? philippines under the protection an
with the inspiration Of the spirit of tn
, great republic"
OF the larger difficulties In the way q
the civil administration General Oti
gives first place to the relations be
2 tween the Filipinos and the friars. o
! this subject he says discreetly: "In
surgent leaders, in order to keep aliv
, hostility to Americans, have picture
> us to their followers as the allies @
/ the friars determined to restore ther
| to power. and have inaccurately rep
resented me as an ardent Romanist I
the power Of the priests. In pursuanc
of instructions / tried to secure tn
, release Of the friars imprisoned by tn
z insurgents and I WAS accused ON tla