New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-20
FILIPINO SOLDIERS.
THEIR LACK OF DRILL AND MALTREAT-
MENT OF GOOD RIFLES.

BREAKING SIGHTS OFF MAGAZINE GUNs-THEIR
WILLINGNESS TO RUN AND THEIR
wRETcHED CRAFTSMANSHIP.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: About a year ago Joined the American
forces in the Philippine Islands in the capacity
of a lieutenant and since then have been en-
gagged in several battles and skirmishes with
the insurgent army / have also been in a num-
Der of expeditions against the native forces and
guerilla bands in the mountains, and after a
careful study OF the situation have come TO
the conclusion that, although some of the Fill
pino leaders are superior in training and mill
tary education, the great body of troops en-
listed in the native army ought to be engaged
in some other occupation than that of warfare.
OF the forty fifty times in which / had the
privilege of engaging in battle. skirmish or ex
petition against the native troops / noticed
that in every instance the enemy ran away after
having remained in the trenches long enough to
fire a few volleys. or held their position on the
mountain side or in the Jungle just as long as
it safe do So and not moment longer.
If the insurgents had occasionally stood their
ground in the face of the American charge, it
would put different light the matter, but
they invariably I have therefore come to
the conclusion that the members of the native
Another feature of the situation which
gagged my attention was the fact that they shot
most Of their bullets into the clouds. Why an
army of to-day, some of the soldiers of which
armed with the most improved types of
modern rifles. and many with good rifles
any other army, should do poorly in shooting
is Of the mysteries of the campaign. 1 once
saw entire company of insurgents in excel
lent position fire two volleys at a squad of our
at a distance of three hundred yards and
not one shot took effect
Still another mystifying problem in connec-
ton with the service in the native army is the
matter Of inspection and drill. This is very
sloVenly, and, Of course. is entirely the fault of
the officers. They evidently get the habit of
letting things themselves from the Spanish.
II was formerly the custom of the Spanish Off
GERS in the garrisons in these islands
come into contact with the privates except at
inspection. The officers We're too lazy to drill
the in the manual or in target practice and
when 1t came to fighting it was usually every
man for himself. Another factor which has
done much toward rendering the native army
non-enective is the fact that the soldiers re-
ceive practically pay clothing They are
fortunate to get a little rice and ammunition.
These four elements appear to me to be the
chief reasons why the Filipino army has so little
success against the American forces.
THE FLEET FOOTEDNESS OF THE NATIVES.
In every conflict with the insurgent force. I
have always observed that the natives keep in
view one idea, namely, the best means of getting
away when the Americans charge. Every forti-
hcauon is fitted with a rear channel for escape
Not shack can be found occupied by native
soldiers in which it has been forgotten to cut a
little hole IN the rear; all the finely constructed
trenches are built with view of getting out and
running when hard pressed. A native leader
will not encamp his force where there is any
likelihood Of being trapped. In a recent expe-
dition from noilo across the island of Panay
with six hundred men the writer noticed that
the native forces were invariably encamped
upon the lines Of high ridges of mountains from
which point Of view they could see any Ameri-
can troops approaching for miles. In three in
stances on this march our advance guard only
came into contact with the enemy, for they al
ways had time to pack up and escape before
the main body could reach them. The natives
are trained runners. and. being light of foot and
free from weight of-equipments, leave us behind
the long run.
1t is a difficult problem, this chasing of native
soldiers over the sun baked mountain ranges,
and frequently brings disaster to the men, for
there are man traps and pitfalls everywhere
over which the native leaps for he recognizes
the marks, while one or more soldiers may be
entrapped before warning is given. The fact
that the native soldier can run however, is in
the end detrimental to the success Of the native
army Knowing themselves TO be feet Of foot
the F1ipinos are always willing to test their
running abilities with the Americans and as
soon as a line of their trenches is charged one
can see many Of the natives making prepara-
ton TO retreat. This sets the example for the
Others in the trenches, who may be willing to
hold their ground, and in a few minutes the off,
GERS lose all control and the entire force climbs
out and scampers off. If the natives could not
run so well they would feel safer in their
trenches. and would hold them against our
charges.
CONCERNING RIFLE PRACTICE.
Practically the only rifle practice the insur-
gent. army receives is what 1t gets during
skir1ltsh with side. Under such conditions
the MINDS of the officers necessarily occupied
in directing the movements Of their men, and
they have no time to instruct in firing. Conse-
quently, each soldier aims and fires as he sees
fit. They rarely go TO the trouble of raising
the rife TO their soldiers but bring the butt of
the piece up under the arm, just above the belt
and fire from that position with the muzzle of
the piece at elevation which usually carries
the bullet TO the clouds. I have seen two native
soldiers holding a magazine rife while a third
worked the magazine, not one of them sighting
the rife. Their idea in this was probably TO
make much of buster possible in order
to make that particular spot dangerous for any
TO approach. Native soldiers delight in
working anything like the magazine of a rifle
for then they can imagine that they are doing
great execution After every conflict with the
American forces they always hold a jubilee. be-