The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-11-15
M'ARTHUR'S REPORT
He Views the Situation in the Phil
ippines From Several Points.
DlFFICULTILS OF PACIFICATl0N
Not Concealed by Commanding Gem
eral. DoSen't Seem Hopeful OF Early
Termination of the Guerrilla War.

Washington, D. c., Special.-Maj.
Gen. Macarthur, commanding the
army in the Philippines, and military
governor Of the Islands since May o,
1900, has Submitted his report to toe
war department. 4 considerable por-
Eicn Of the report relates to events
which took place previous to the date
Whel he assumed command, and he
publishes some of the correspondence
and pToclamations OF the FilipinoS OBJ
tained before that time. He refers to
the change CT AguinaldoAs plans TO
abandoning his army organization and
starting u guerrilla warfare. The con-
dit.ons CT the country have afforded
advantages fer such policy, he says,
es they have enabled the insurgents to
appear and disappear at their ccnven-
ience. At one time they are soldiers
and Immediately after are within the
Am,-gican lines in the attitude CT
peaceful natives. A widely scattered
formation of Fiiipinos quickly followed
the guerrilla warfare, which led to a
corresponding dissemination Of Amsr1-
can troops, there being 80 military
stIs,Ons on the archipelago Noyem-
Der ist, 1892, and 4l3 sta.ionS Sept.
1st, 1900. This resulted in a large
NUMBER OF minor affairs, many OF
which did not assume the dignity OF
regular combat, though the casualties
between the dates stated were 26S
Americans killed; $50 wounded and 90
captured, the Filipino losses during
The same period being 1927 killed, 6S4
rounded and 1854 captured.
Gen. Macarthur says the extensive
distribution Of Il oops has strained the
soldiers Of the army to the full limit OF
endurance He says the apparent
t.Csultory work has demanded more OF
Cis :2Nre and as much Of valor as
was required during the period OF
regular operations against concentrat-
I'd field forces OF insurrectionists. Gen.
Macarthur spaaks in the highest
terms Of the service rendered by the
troops amid all labo.s and hardsaips.
1.-The Filipinos," says Gen. Mac
Arthur. ARE lot wariike or ferocious
people. Left TO themselves, a large
number OF them would GLADLY accept
American supremacy, which they are
gradually coming to understand means
/ individual liberty and absolute securi-
ty in their lives and property. They
have been m2dGened, however, during
the past five years by rhetorical sopn-
istry and sentiments applied to na-
tional pride, until power OF 6iscrimi-
mating in matters Of public concern or
private intere1t has ben almost en-"
tirely suspended. AS substitute for
all ether considerations, the people
seem 10 be actuated by the idea that
in all doubtful matters CT politics or
wer men are never nearer right than
when going with their own kith and
kin, regardless Of consequences"
The effort to institute municipal gov
ernment under American auspices car
ried the idea Of exclusive fidelity to
the United States, but this met with
difficulties where Filipinos were placed
entirely in control, and secret muni-
ciral governments were organized in
various towns under insurgent aus
pices TO proceed simultaneously with
the American government and often
through the same personnel. Prest-
dents and town Officials acted openly
in Behalf 0! Americans and sacrretly
in behalf OF the insurgents; and,
para3oxical as it may seem, with con-
siderable apparent solicitude for the
interest Of bC;h."
Wherever there is group Of insur-
gent forces contiguous towns contrib
|. ute to their support and render great
assistance in secreting theso,diers and
helping them to escape. The report
says the success CT the guerrilla sys-
TEN depends upon complete unity CT
action among the native population.
That there is such unity is frankly
acknowledged. but how it is brought
about Gel. Macarthur says he is un-
able to ascertain. Intimidation ac-
counts for tie condition to some ex-
cent. but fear would not be successful
as the only motive.