Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-24
TO ARM THE NATIVE S
Proposed Organization Of Cuban and Fill
ipino B gimena
Withdrawal of American Troops
From the West Indfes-General
LawtOn's Plans.

The question of the withdrawal Of Ameri-
can troops from Cuba and the substitution
of Cuban military establishment Is under
| consideration by the President Secretary of
War and the officials at the War Depart
ment. 1t has been practically decided to
organize about three regiments of native
troops.
April II, 1900, has been tentatively Sc
lected as the time when the substitution Of
Cuban troops for American troops shall
commence. There are about 5000 American
troops in Cuba at present and it is expect
ed that the number will be reduced to 5000
by the LIST of May. The troops to be with
drawn will consist almost entirely of cav
airy and infantry. The artillery troops at
Havana are all needed for the care and
protection of the Notifications of that city.
+ The proposed Cuban regiments will be the
nucleus of a Cuban army to be built up
gradually by accessions from time to time
of other native regiments. When the time
comes for the complete withdrawal of the
authority of the United States from Cuba
the Cuban government will find its author
ity backed by a weil-organized military
establishment.
1t is designed to have the change in the
form OF government made gradually and
the organization of these regiments is
merely one of the preliminary steps to that
end. The regiments will be enlisted. or
ganized and differed under the advice of
high Cuban officials, and the process of
Iduudl SUBSTITUTION OF CUBAN Tor American
troops will also be carried out along lines
recommended by them and approved by
Cen Wood.
Native Force In Philippines.
Before his death. after giving much
thought to the subject, General Lawton
worked out plan for the maintenance of
order in the Philippines after the close of
actual hostilities, which was submitted to
Gen. Otis, and is, presumably, the plan
which will commend itself to the War De-
partment, when the time comes and the
moment is near at hand to replace the
regular troops by other forces competent
to preserve order,
General Lawton's idea was 10 create a
force of native police, whose officers at
first in all grades and finally as condi-
tons improve, in the upper grades alone,
shall be Americans.
Some such force as this is now success
fully employed in Cuba by General Wood
under the cognomen Of rural police
Owing to the racial differences among
the inhabitants of the Philippines, it was
General Lawton's idea that there would be
no difhcuity in securing police who should
be proof against disloyalty in the districts,
apart from those of their nativity. to which
they might be assigned. That this theory
cessful use of the Nlacabebe tribe by Cen
eral Lawton himself. and by General Young
later on. in his redoubtable chase after
Aguinaldo in the north of Luzon.
ne hdCaDepeS were thoroughly loyal,
proved to be most excellent scouts. were
fearless soldiers and their appearance al
ways struck terror to the hostile Tagals.
An Invaluable consideration in the employ
ment of native police of this kind would be
their thorough acquaintance with the coun-
try and the inhabitants, which would be of
inestima BILE assistance in running down law
breakers.
Alleged Capture OF AguinaIdo.
Because Of the similarity Of feature and
figure of the Tagals the American troops
have had great difficulty in distinguishing
one individual from another or in telling
friend from foe.
Indeed there IS a story in circulation
among some of the army officers who have
just returned to Washington from Manila
that the army actually captured Aguinaldo
III CaVite province. put him IN jail for If
teen days asa suspicious amigo and then
released him. only to hear of his identity
after he had got away. The ability of the
Philippine leader to make up as a China
man, or Chino as they are called in the
Philippines, is said to be remarkable and
only fellow native is able to penetrate
such a diSguiSe