The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-17
AN ARMY OF NATIVES.
Earnest Advocacy of Filipino Levies
for Defense OF the islands.
Kansas City Star.

Kansas City Star.
The maintenance of a large force of
American soldiers in the Philippines must
be a costly procedure. While the American
enlisted mar is the most efficient in the
world, he is correspondingly expensive.
Secretary Root recognized this fact in the
provision of the army bill authorizing the
enlistment of 1900 native troops in the
archipelago. In an article in the current
North American Review, Maj. Louis l..
Seaman urges a course much more radical.
DR.. Seaman, a New York physician, was
surgeon major in the First United States
volunteer engineers in the Spanish war.
He went to the Philippines with a regi-
ment of regulars and is now in China in
charge of the hospital ship Maine. His plan
contemplates the use of native troops ex-
clusively In the islands.
The American soldier in the Philippines
is paid SIG a month. The heavy cost of
transportation makes his rations extreme
1y expensive. Major Seaman estimates
that each fighting man costs the govern
ment more than $1,000 a year for pay, SUBJ
sistence, cost of transportation, service and
medical attendance. The native Chinaman
or Filipino need be paid only $40 a month.
Other expenses, Major Seaman thinks,
would bring the charge only to 500 a year
penditure. Much of the saving would be
in medical service. The acclimated natives
are not liable to the diseases from which
Americans suffer in a tropical climate.
The chief question is whether the natives
would make efficient soldiers. Great Brit
aims experience throws light on this point.
Kitchener turned the despised Egyptian
peasants into first-class troops. In India
the burden of the defense is on the Gurk-
has and Sikhs, Differed by Englishmen.
Natives of India were in the British force
that helped in the relief of Picking. Regi-
ments of blacks are employed In the West
Indies. When Great Britain secured Wei
Hai-Wei two years ago she at once began
the training Of a contingent of Chinese
troops for its defense. They have devel-
oped remarkably. Even their rifle scores
compare favorably with those of the
average British soldier. Their cost TO the
government is only $50 a year to the man.
In cases where their courage has been test
ed they have been found not wanting.
Spain had 5000 Filipino soldiers in her
service when Manila fell. They were eff
fective troops, and Major Seaman says:
Our failure to secure them for service
under the American flag was promptly
taken advantage of by the willy Aguinaldo
Ii was only a short time before the entire
force was under his control. 1t was in
this way that Aguinaldo was enabled 20
create the disciplined force that has been
able so long to cope with our army of over
81. 900 men,
More than 100. coo Chinese are in the Phil
irpines. They are the most Industrious in
habitants of the islands. A large number
of these, Major Seaman thinks, could be
secured for military service. Friendly Fill
pinos-Macabebes or Ilocanos-he would ex-
pect to furnish the rest Of the troops. His
plan is to discharge a third of the volun-
teers at the earliest possible date, and
make each regiment consist OF two bat
talions of white and one OF native soldiers.
The natives he would keep under white
officers, with a sprinkllng Of natives In the
noncommissioned positions. Gradually the
whole enlisted force could be changed to
islanders. he believes. Such an army. In
his opinion, would be effective, would be
much less expensive than the present one.
and would release the flower of the United
States military arm from service In the
tropics. where war duty is a most exhaust
ing task.