New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-16
WORK IN PHILIPPINES.
AMERICANS CLEANSING AND
REORGANIZLNG TOWNS.
MANY OLD ABUSES TO BE CORRECTED
DIRT AND DOGS EVERYWHERE
LABOR is CHEAP AND RAPID
PROGRESS is MADE.
PROGRESS is MADE.
Molo. Philippine Islands. Mover

Moio Philippine Islands, November -
After the battle OF Balantang. near uoio, Isle
de Panay the writer ordered TO Aolo with
thirty men and with instructions 20 put the city
IN order adopt American ideas OF government. and
establish some sort Of system where for long
time there had been confusion, disorder and riot
Thirty American soldiers and oficer among
eight thousand native Inhabitants, made up or
Spanish. Filipino. Chinese and several other races
seemed a very small force. but the presence OF the
soldiers was felt Immediately. and gangs OF ROD
bers ladroncs and other broken sections OF prse-
tioally dishsnded and flying array soon disappeared
from Molo. Molo is only mile from the scene OF
the battle and hundreds OF the rebels IN retreat
ing from the battlefield under American fire sought
safety by hiding IN the houses OF the people OF
Molo Many OF these Seeing insurgents hid their
arms. and. managing 10 procure change OF coth-
ing passed OF the city the next day as frlenciy
natives Others showed hight. and were promptly
captured. After caring for these remnants or the
defeated native army. plans were made 10 preserve
order among the residents themselves for street
Nights and inoendiary fires were Of frequent oe-
currence. There police force OF any sort
in the place. and the bad element had things Their
own way after nightflE.
The first movement toward the new order OF
things was begun a Few hours after arriving In
the town and consisted In posting sentinels at the
various roads leading into the place. All Suspicious
characters were stopped and searched for arms and
ammunition ana II either was found upon them
they were taken 10 the guardhoase. system OF
patrol by the soldiers was also established, ana
the main streets were regularly patroued eaen hour
during the day and the night. and all peace dis
turbng characters were promptly arrested. IL old
not require long 10 change the aspect OF the city
by these methods In a few days all fighters
rioters. FIRE ends. ladrones and generally disorder
ly persons were either in the guardhonse where
they could DO harm, or were in safekeeping In
the old Spanish fort now used as i prison, at
folio.
A POLICE FORCE ESTABLISHED
In order 10 assist in the maintenance OF order.
focal police force was formed, consisting OF TWEEN
ty-four native police uniformed In brown suits
and provided with helmets These police were Sc
iected for their physical abilities and general apu-
tude fer the position. They were drilled m the
manual OF arms and setting up drills. so that In
few weeks they turned out 10 be useful police ana
OF much assistance in preserving order and auoIa-
ing protection TO the city. The police AID IN IN
specting the streets, houses, etc.
After affairs put into such shape that II was
possible to sleep night in peace the streets were
taken IN hand. For many years the streets Of all
cities and towns OF the Philippines have been neg
lected Rubbish has been permitted TO gather In all
corners and crevces The Odors rising from many
Of these heaps OF decayng matter were noticed al
over the city, and in places the spread OF
disease could be traced 10 these sources The de-
oayed matter often worked its way into the ground
and contaminated the wells Examinations OF the
well waters usually revealed the presence OF dis
streets
blocked 70 trafic IN many places by piles or
stone earth and foreign matter. Old tin cans
broken boxes and barrels formed part Of the out
m OF every persons yard. while the poorer ma
tives used their yards for dumping grounds. The
soldiers were first pun 10 work cleaning up the
ground about their own quarters. processes anus
ing 10 the natives who heretofore put no faith in
cleanliness OF any sort except that OF the person
Personally the natives clean. for they battle
themselves every morning. but they very slack
about their houses and yards. and have no idea OF
cleanliness there After the soldiers had impressed
about twenty natives into cleaning the grounds
about the barracks and in conveying OF loads OF
rubbish from the rooms IN the large native build
ing used FOR barracks. system of street insDec-
ton instituted. non-commssioned ofacer
and three men. all armed would go down one
street and up another stop a. each house or store
and compel the natives 10 come out and rake and
clean both street and yard. Under the supervision
OF the soldiers the city began appear cleaner at
once In week many tons Of rubbish had been
removed and burned. All day long there
numerous fires going all over the city Rakes were
made and natives shown how use them. In
most cases the natives soon learned how 10 clean
up Al present the mere appearance OF a soldier
is sign for any native who has not cleaned his
yard 10 get 70 work at and clean up Soon
the natives got into the habit Of cleaning up
streets and yards and the work OF inspection is
now much easier There were many arrests at
hrst and even now native is often arrested for
AoN having a clean YARD or Tor making his wife
and daughter clean up while he looks on The
male natives must do the work or hire IL 10 be
done. and not the women and children.
GETTING RID OF THE DOGS
Every city and town in the Philippines under
native control is overrun with dogs and one OF the
hrst things an American officer must do when he
Is stationed in new place with orders 10 Ameri-
esnize The town is 10 plan reduce the number OF
oogs. In Molo several hundred dogs were accus-
toned 20 bark and howl throughout the night
making Il impossible for the soldiers 20 rest About
IS per cent OF these dogs were without owners
were sick, hungry and vicious. The police force as
soon as formed. went 20 work 10 exterminate all
oogs which had owners or which were dis
easeo- The police provided themselves with spears
and began the slaughter In one week the half
starved DOG element reduced to American pro-
portions. and the number OF dogs now in the city IS
aoont what II should be. and peacefully disposed
persons can sleep az night
The Spanish KEEP, the treasures so low that there
was no money 70 pay FOR street lighting new
start had 20 be made. Posts were put I'D ana uttle
lamps attached, and arrangements made for main
tanning hight all night. that II Is possible AZ
present 70 walk about al night without losing ones
way
The Spanish usually managed 10 provide each of
the large cities and towns with hand tub OF small
size. but In every known TO the writer the
pump OF the tub has been out Of order Usually
the handle is gone or the valves do not work or
the pump Is rusted and out OF service Therefore
new start was necessary. and. there being no
apparatus available a was made 10 carry
bamboo ladders and line OF bamboo buckets FOR
carrying water About the only thing to do in case
or IRE Is 70 tear down the surrounding buildings
ano 80 the fire cart is fitted with twenty long FIRE
BOOKS A number OF volunteer fremen are selected
from The natives and drilled. so that az the fire
signal the force viii turn out and accomplish
effective service in tearing down buildings 10 stop
the spread OF the fire and in the protection OF rop
erty while the police force win hold back the