Washington sentinel., 1901-06-22
$2OSA HEAD.

Gen. Bates Sheds Light on Condi
lions in the Philippines.
Gen. Bates. lately in command
OF the Department of Southern
Luzon, in an interview here, des
cribes conditions in the Philippine:
as very little advanced toward.
pacification beyond what they were
before Aguinaldo's capture. Pub.
lie opinion in this country leaned
strongly to the view that the bot.
tom had fallen out of the Philip
pine rebellion with the downfall oi
its leader. Cabled accounts OF
captures, surrenders and voluntary
acceptance OF American control by
the rebellious natives justified the
inference that there could at most
be but few insurgents outstand-
ing and their operations would
largely be confined to guerrilla
warfare.
This roseate view is not sus.
tanned by what Gen. Bates says.
At one time, he admits, the Fill
pinos had aS, 900 modern rifles, OF
which we have probably secured
5000. This estimate would leave
5000 still in possession OF the
enemy, and as it is likely there is a
man behind each rife, it will be
seen there is yet formidable force
to be overcome before peace is re-
stored. AS late as the end OF April,
when he left the islands, Gen. Bates
says it was unsafe for an American
to 60 away from a garrison with.
out an escort. The Filipinos are
.iIhort OF ammunition, it is true, but
they are manufacturing powder
and forming shells by taking a
strip OF tin and making a spiral OF
it and then soldering it together.
They are In extremities, doubtless,
but 5000 or 10000 determined
men, fred with an ambition tor in.
dependence, fighting at home and
tor their homes, are capable OF
making this country pay a price,
in life and treasure, that will "stag-
ger humanity" as President
Kruger said of the war in South
Africa. That Gen. Bates does not
indulge the hope OF an early ter
mination of hostilities may be sur
missed when he counsels the reten-
tion OF SO, 900 men in the archipel-
ago for an indefinite period.
A serious problem tor the future,
Gen. Bates says, is the question OF
the iriars, settlement of which
will eventually devolve upon our
Supreme Court. There is contin-
ual irictio 1 over this matter, and
it will be conceded that he added
somewhat to the termoil when he
assumed to forbid the payment OF
rents to agents of the large estates
because oithe disturbance caused.
The Filipinos are a knowing peo
pie, and when they see that our
military authorities will uphold
them in refusing to pay rent we
may be sure they will not miss an
opportunity to get even with their
old enemies, the iriars, by raising
a rumpus with the real estate
agents. Gen. Bates method oil
solving a troublesome question
was an easy one Tor himself, but
when the Supreme Court comes to
pass upon the legality OF his arbi-
trary act it may be found that the
generals peace OF mind was Sc
cured by adding another perplex-
ing issue to the already compli-
Gated Philippine question and verv
probably at the peeuniary loss of
our Uncle Sam.
Yet another interesting phase of
the Philippine problem came out
In this interview. People at home
In the States were aware that our
dark skinned subjects had been
paid for at the rate OF Sa a head
for 1000, 900 souls. This. it was
assumed, had given US ownership,
But it now turns out that It was
subject to the claims of the slave
holding chiefs, vino have found in
Gen. Bates a man who is for peace
regardless OF cost. President Nc
Kinley, through his Paris Peace
Commissioners, fixed the value OF
the Filipinos--iree and slave--to
the United States at ga apiece.
Gen. Bates In addition fixes the