Evening star., 1901-12-07
REPORT OF GEN. CHAFFEE
FORCE IN THE PHILIPPINES SHOULD
BE MAINTAINED.
Causes of the Continued Existence of
Guerrilla Warfnre-Barracks and
Quarters for Troops.

Mai Cen Adna r. Chaffee military gov
ernor of the Philippine Islands, in his an
nual report, sums up the situation in the
Philippines from military point of view
by stating that the provinces of Batangas
and Laguna, in Luzon, and the islands of
Samar, Mindoro, Cebu and Bohol consti-
tute the area now disturbed by any en-
bodied force of insurgents, and that to the
physical character of the country; to the
nature of the warfare of the rebels, who
are amigo and foe in the selfsame hour;
to the humanity of the troops, which Is
taken advantage of by the rebels and the
Inhabitants who sympathize with them, and
to the fear of assassination on the part of
the friendly disposed If they give informa-
ton to the American forces, is due the
prolongation of the guerrilla warfare.
No Reduction in Military Force.
Commenting upon the plan Of gradually
replacing military with civil administra-
ton, Gen. Chaffee says: THE withdrawal
of interference with civil affairs does not
contemplate withdrawal of the troops from
their stations to any considerable extent.
On the contrary, this should not be done
hastily. and when undertaken should be
gradual and more in the nature of concen-
tration than reduction of force or abandon>
ment of any considerable area of terri
tory" He therefore recommends that
there be no further material reduction OF
troops before January, 1903. The civil gov
ernments which are being organized. pro-
vincial and municipal, says Gen. Chaffee,
are both new and untried, and there is but
one certain and reliable method of ascer-
tanning the progress of the Filipinos in self
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT by the army.
Quarters and Barracks Necessary.
In anticipation of a partial concentra-
ton of the troops in the Philippines next
year. General Chaffee submits estimates OF
cost for the construction of quarters and
barracks, which, he says, will be absolutely
necessary. The expense Of temporary
buildings should, he says, be borne by the
insular treasury, and that of the perma-
nent quarters by the United States. He
recommends that a permanent post be at
once constructed in the vicinity Of Manila
for a garrison Of two squadrons Of cavalry,
two batteries of artillery, and two full regi-
ments of infantry, together with a hospital
and store houses, the whole to be under
the command of a brigadier general. He
gives $500, 600 as a rough estimate OF cost
for this project. For the construction OF
permanent quarters at other points which
may be determined upon during the fiscal
year ended June, 1903, he estimates the sum
of 100000.
The Disaster in Samar.
report to the terrible disaster which befell
Company c OF the 9th Infantry, at Balan-
giga, Samar, and which. he says, was
largely due to over-confdence in assumed
pacified conditions, and In a people who,
to a great extent as yet, are strangers to
and unappreciative of our humane and per-
sonal liberty, beliefs and actions
Suppression of BriEandage.
In an accompanying report Judge Ad-
vocate General Groesbeck says that the
suppression of brigandage in the Philippines
will most probably be one of the trying
problems of. the future. If the military
arm were left free to deal with the marau-
ders, he says, there would be no doubt OF
their final suppression, but the incoming OF
civil government complicates the situation
very considerably.