The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-25
YEARS OF TROUBLE
Ahead Before the Philippine
InsurrectiOn Ends.

New York. May 25.-A Herald letter
from Hong Kong. dated April q, say
After one has been in Manila and had
a few candid ak with people who
have been on the ground for a long time
he begins to suspect that the islands
are in no such "paciied" condition as
the people of the United States are
prone to believe.
There are about 24O garrisons in the
Philippine island, each of which has
succeeded in coWing the region pounded
by its ~outposts- The natives behave
themselves while they are in the imme-
date presence of American soldiers
with loaded guns. Blu it is not advisa-
BILE for any white man to wander be-
yond the outpoSts of a garrison, espec-
tally if he is unarmed. He is in danger
of being shot from ambush or set upon
and bOloed- Any traveller who wishes to
so from one garrison to another must
be accompanied by a guard of soldiers.
The railway from Manila TO Dagupan is
being operated but there is a heavy gar
fison in every town and a night and day
day guard at every bridge. Wagon and
pack trains are fired on from ambush
every day.
These attacks are not reported unless
some one is killed or wounded. The
soldier who is called upon to perform
any duty outside OF a garrison is in
greater peril han he was when the in
surgents moved in large bodies.
Formerly when eight or ten were kill
ed in a skirmish the news was cabled TO
America. but the correspondents cannot
keep track Of the scattered assassina-
tons of the guerilla campaign. The
news never reaches the public except
through the official reports in Washing
ton. y dozen American soldiers may be
killed at a dozen remote garrisons and
there is not a line of cable news to show
for a total fatality that would mark a
serious engagement. So it happens that
for many weeks there has been little
news cabled from Manila because the
fighting has been small and ~desultory
and scattered over a vast area
1t is true that the insurgent armies
have been scattered. that many of the
/ leaders of the insurTectiOn are now un-
der surveillance in Manila, that Aguin-
aldo has been chased into a remote hid
ing place and that the reorganization
and mobilization of a large army seems
practically impossible. On the other
hand, it IS true that the spirit of rebel
lion and still active and that the insur-
gents continue a Fostering and plum
derlng in small bodies that
/ cannot be trapped into battle.
Ihere IS much testimony to the effect
that small bands Of socalled robbers or
Ladrones commit d-epredations on ma
tlNeS Cinnamon as we'll as on Amer
leans, and that they prefer a rowing life
OF bTlgandage to d quiet agricultural
career IN a nlpa shack. but the fact re-
mains that the primary object of their
organization is to Kill American soldiers
and continue the struggle for Filipino
Independence So you may call them
"Ladrones," robbers, bandits OF any
thing else you choose without material
" changing their attitude toward Amer
lean rule.
1t is commonly believed in anil
that the Filipino republic retains its
organization, necessarily sub-rosa in
many sections, that taxes are still col
lected and that the operations Of the
guerilla bands are directed by the lead
ers who are now assembled in Manila.
enjoying the leniency of the United
states government. Nearly every one TO
whom 1 spoke was frankly of the opin-
ion that the Filipino leaders had come
into Manila and put themselves on
parole SO as to get together for a con-
ferenceS and -reOrganize. No one believes
that they have really chosen to accept
American rule without further protest.
Although the present fighting is car
ried on by small bands, it does not fol-
low, as most people at home seem to be-
lieve, that these bands are independent
of each other and represent so many ir-
responsible private enterprises. Colonel
Montenegro, of the inSurgent army, who
surrendered and came into Manila the
other day to renew old friendships, told
me that A~guinaldO, before fleeing from
Tarlac. r-eorganized his army into small
companies and ordered a guerilla war
fare.
The most significant fact tending to
prove that the Filipinos are not in a
peaceful mood is that the arms used
III 4AC L1A dNC ~ -DEE4 ShL .
rendered. It is estimated that the in
surgent had a total of %, 900 rifles, most
of them Mausers. with a few Spring
fields and Remingtons. Only 5000 OF
4,000 rifles have been captured or pur-
chased. The government now pays $50
(Mexican) for every rifle turned in by
q native. As a result of this Hber Offer
many old R~emingtons and defective
S~pringields have been given up, but the
natives have not yet begun to turn il
the new Mausers with which they die
their fighting. There must be abOui
is, 200 rifles remaining in the hands OF
the insurgents and the Americans seen
unable to buy them or capture them. L
is only fair to conclude that the Fill
pinOs are keeping these p be
cause they expect to use them again.
There is a difference of opinion as t
what will happen during the rainy sea
son which begins in June. Very few O
L the people with whom I communicated
/ seemed to believe that the inSurgenti
: would attempt to r-eOrganize larg,
l armies. It is thought more likely tina
. they viii continue their guerilla tactic
and probably try to cut off and over
z Whelm some Of the weaker and NOR
remote garrisOns. One thing is certain
they will not remain inactive. They ar
} sure to keep UP a show of resistance t
: American authority until after the No
vember election.
> Among Manila business men, who ar
anxious to have ~unhindeFed trade re
, Iations with the interior provinces o
Luzon and to hav the products of a
the islands move freely to the ports
there seems to be no doubt that two o
three years must elapse before the Phil
ippines resume a normally peaceful con
l dition. They seem to think that it wi
take at least that long to tire out tn
instruction element and coeTce it int
2 good behavior.