Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-06-06
LOSSES IN THE PHILIPPINES.

f'NMANANAf VI W ~ nun ilNAN NNHliNlNA
a list Of casualties in the Philippines, in
reply TO the criticism that character
ICES the loss OF life there as terrible
and appalling" In the two years COW
cred by the figures published. the fatal
tiles We're n officers and liza men.
About 1000 more were rendered hors de
combat; about 30 per cent died OF
wounds OF Of disease. and less than one
hundred had TO be sent home as de-
mented
The list Is long enough and can be
contemplated only With a feeling OF
sadness, hut when It is remembered
that this Is a war record. there Is not
much ground for speaking OF an ZAP
palllng" loss OF life. The British losses
in one single battle-that at splon Kop
on Jan. 20 for instance-were 1900 At
Tugela river 1,l0O. and at Ladysmith,
on the 3Oth Of October. 1870. SO that In
several single battles the British had
nearly as many fatalities as the Amer
leans have had during the entire cam
paign IN the Philippines. The fact Is
still more remarkable, when 1t is re-
membered that the total losses In South
Africa on the British side. during the
seven months war. amount TO 10000 IN
round numbers And yet. even the
British losses are far from appalling
II compared TO the massaCres that have
been Characteristic Of some former
wars In this century. When the usual
percentage OF deaths Is deducted from
the casualties reported in the Philip
pines. the country has cause for con-
graduation that II has been possible for
It's gallant sons TO achieve what they
have done. at the comparatively small
expense Of life.
There can. perhaps be no surer proof
Of the accuracy Of the reports that have
stamped the disturbance in the
islands as brigandage. not war. Our
troops have had 10 chase the bands Of
robbers that have infested the country
as long as history records, and that are
made use OF by political agltators to
cause trouble. They have had TO pro.
tect the loyal people against the thley-
ing tax gatherers, who simply go
around robbing their victims for the
benefit OF the robber generals that
pose AZ military dignitarles.
The guerilla warfare is still going on.
Those who lead It send their agents to
every town and every village and levy
taxes. They do not mean to fight; they
are after the loot. It is stated that the
money Is deposited In banks at Hong
kong and Singapore, and II Is said that
Filipino officers Of rank gorged with
the plumber. have retired from the field
to live life OF ease But the supply
is continuous and others are willing to
run the risk Of a stray bullet for the
chance Of fortune. II Is even suspected
that a general here and there who sur
renders Is moved to do so by the re-
Election. that he has accumulated enough
to live on and prefers dwelling among
his own people TO expatrlation.
Were this not the case the Philippine
war record would be phenomenal. But
as has already been stated, the trouble
there now is not war. but conflict
OF the representatives Of the law with
outlaws.
The Americans are attacked only
when they are outnumbered by the
bandits. Night attacks are most fire.
| quent, and ambuscades seem to be the
only tactics now employed.
How long this win 90 on, depends
entirely on the success our people may
have IN gaining the confidence Of those
who desire peace. When the people can
be organized against the imposition
practlced upon them. the work OF the
robbers will be cut short And at pres
ent It seems to devolye upon this coun-
! try. as It's first duty. TO save the Filipi-
nos from the hands OF their oppressors'
and strengthen them 10 resistance
against oppression. There can be no
doubt that the number Of brlgands.
during the Cuban Instruction and the
subsequent war with this country.
swelled beyond its normal proportions
General schwsn, however, believes that
In a short time the marauders VIII be
reduced to the numbers that were ac-
cepted as normal under the Spanish re-
glme and that our forces may then be
materially decreased This again provo
tbe splendid work done by our soldiers,
al what must be regarded as a small
! raonhce OF life.