The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-09-19
ROOT.
Secretary of War.


Manila, August 81, 1900.
Secretary Of War, Washington:
Replying TO dispatch, Commission re-
ports. 1t has tor two months and half
made diligenu inquiries into conditions
prevailing Mass of people has aptitude
for education, bat is Ignorant, supersti-
tous and credulous In a remarkable de-
gree. Hostility against Americans was
originally aroused by absurd falsehOOds
Of unscrupulous leaders. DistrI button OF
troops IN 300 posts has by contact largely
dispelled hostility and steadily improved
temper of people. This Improvement.
furthered by abuses OF insurgents, affirms
that large mum bers OF people long for
peace and are willing to accept govern
ment under United States. Insurgents
not surrendering after defeat have divided
into small guerilla bands under general
officers or become Iadrones. Nearly all
prominent generals and politicians OF in
surrection, except AguinaldO, have since
been captured or have surrendered and
have taken oath of allegiance. Policy
o. leniency eliminating in amnesty had
marked effect to induce surrenders until
defining OF political issues in United
States reported here IN full, gave hone
OF 1nsurgent officers still in arms. of
changed policy and stayed surrenders to
await result of elections. Disturbances
IN parts OF Island, kept up and ayowed
by insurgent proclamation and orders.
N~~N1AOAAt
friendly attitude of majority Of people of
provinces where they occur, but only &C
Jlvlty OF small insurgent bodies in noun
tain businesses whence they issue for usu-
ally harmless night attacks or murder
GUS ambush OF small American souads
or to collect contributions or recruit
from people, terrOrized by cutting ont
tongues, cutting of limbs, burying alive.
murder and plumber Difficulty of detec-
5lon enables insurgents to maintain sur
Velllance over people even in some Oarri-
sOned towns. Uncertainty as to fl1f11re
policy OF United States and Defense
lessness OF people without arms largely
prevent them aiding Americans IN sun
pressing outrages. Despite these difficul-
Ties, maintenance OF status QUO makes for
more peaceful conditions All northern
LuzOn, except in Neuvaecija and Bu1a-
can, are substantially free from insur.
gents. People are busy planting and are
asking FOR municipal organization Rail- |
way and telegraph lines from Manila to
Dagupan 1879 miles, have not been mo-
lesUed Tor I'VE months In excepted prov |
lnces ana parts OF provinces of southern /
Luzons, insurreo60 bands dodge from
one mountain refuge to another and give |
occasional trouble. TagalOga alone ap-
tive IN leading guerilla warfare have sue
ceeded In recruiting bands among the
y lsayans Ia Samar, beyte and parts of
4 anay which maintain themselves by
method described. In Negroes, Cebu.
Romlbon, Masbate, Sibuyan, Tablas,
Bohol and other Visayan islands, little
disturbance exists and civil governmenU
Is eagerly awaited. Near Cayagan, in
aindanao, old Tagalog penal settlement,
considerable force of Ladrones makes
l'ighboring country dangerous and dis
iurbance exists at Surigao, but in south 1
4 this large sparsely SETTLED island at
iamyoanga, Coitabatbo and other points (
he country is tranquil -Four years Of t
var and lawlessness In parts of islands