Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-09-13
FIGHT EVERY DAY.
Island of Luzon Is Terrorized by
Insurgents.
Skirmishes Between Americans and
FiiipinOs are of Constant Occur
renee and Life Is Not Safe
Outside of Towns that
are Garrisoned.

Manila, Sept. 3.-The Filipinos
seem incapable Of realizing the scope
and purpose OF the Legislative func-
tions of the committee of peace.
There is no possibility of separa ting
the legislative from the executive
branches of the government, and
therefore the commissions an
nouncement of its assumption OF
power here has met with childish
comments at the hands of the Span
iards and foreigners, who sneer at
the new arrangement, as they are
apt to do at every beneficial inno-
vatiOn on the part of the United
States authorities. The commission
enters upon the governmental fell
under the following conditions:
\ majority of the islanders de-
sire peace and the resumption of
business under the Americans, but
they are so cowed by long series or
murderous atrocities and destruction
of property by their armed country
men that they dare not actively show
their feelings. especially because eX-
perience has taught them what such
an expression of sentiment will bring
upon them from revengeful rebels.
\ genuine reign of terror is eXer-
cised by insurgents and ladrOnes
over peaceful country folk in order
to collect the revenue and recruits
their operations require; and swift
vengeance is wrcaked in the vicinity
of %arrisoned towns. For example,
the insurgent general. Cables. in the
nrnViDra nG La n 1pDt IN In -
president and otfcchoiders of the
town of Bay, on Iaguna de Bay, Of
fiCials who had been installed By the
Americans, and gave orders that a
similar fate Should be metcd out to
other advocates of the cause. He
also ordered that all Filipino soldiers
who sold their rifles to the Ameri-
cans should be killed.
Any change of policy involving the
withdrawal of the United States
troops without substituting for them
an adequate defensive force. is GER
tain to result in fearful retaliation
at the expense of the fricndlies. The
approaching return of the volunteers
tends to influence the situation un-
favOrably.
III Ilol llI'l IL i-HLoH lHt SlUlNo quo
is fairly we'll maintained and the peu-
pie in that quarter are quiet except
in the provinces of Nucva Eciia and
BUlacan, where there has been a re-
cent Outburst of rebel activity. In
southern LuZon conditions are far
from satisfactory. Life there is not
safe outside the garrisoned towns.
Travellers are subject to ambush by
guerinds. Rarely does a day pass
without an encounter between the
United States troops and the insur-
gents, resulting in casualties, There
are 5000 troops in that district. and
in three regiments over a third OF
the men are sick. The activity of the
enemy increased last month. There
is evidence that the insurgents have
come into possession of new rifles
and that they wish 20 annihilatg
some small American garrison.
Conditions in the Visayans CON
tinue virtually unchanged. The lack
of troops in Samar prevents a@grcs-
sion. NegrOs, Romhlon. MaSbate,
Sibuyan. Tablas and BohoI are tran
quill, all desiring civil government.
Mindanao is also tranquil except
ing two districts, where occasional
encounters with the Filipiuos occur.
The experience of northern LuzOn
shows that the American occupation
of any locality tends to it's pacifcu-
ton and well being. An unsettled
American policy retartls the invest
ment of capital. Nevertheless the
imports for the last quarter and Il
half were greater than during any
equal period of the Spanish regime.
The commission will first organize
municipalities IN the provinces, no.
tably in Pampanga province. Sub
seQuentlv il viii turn its attention
to the need of reform in civil and
criminal codes. passing in due time to
other features of its Instructions,
with the idea Of establishing a cen
tral civil government during the next
IS months.
Twelve Americans have beer killed
during the past two weeks.