Evening star., 1901-04-03
Aguinaldo Expected to Use His
Influence for Peace.
HOPES HELD BY GEN. MACARTHUR
Size of the Garrisons Will Be
Maintained.
DISPATCH OF THE TROOPS


taken the oath Of allegiance. 1t appears to
be the accepted view, however, that the
oath would not have been administered to
him IL he was held to be in the position Of
one who had committed an offense against
the articles Of war. The taking Of the oath
In itself is regarded as giving him status
Of loyalty to the United States, quite diff
ferent from those still in arms. On that
point, the War Departments instructions
for the government of armies in the field
follows:
1.-The commander will throw the burden
of the war. as muchas lies within his
power, on the disloyal citizens of the re-
volted portion or province. and if he deems
it appropriate, or IL his government de-
mands of him that every citizen shall, by
an oath of allegiance, declare his fidelity
to the legitimate government, he may eX-
pel transfer, inprison or fine the revolted
citizens who refuse to take the oath, etc.
whether it is eXpedient to do so, and
whether reliance can be placed upon such
oaths, the commander or his government
have the right to decide
In the present case it appears that Gen.
Macarthur has considered 1t expedient to
have AguiraldO take this oath, and has
apparently held that reliance can be placed
upon the oath. The army regulations
make no distinct provision, however, that
the taking of the oath shall give complete
iIDeIly 10 d. person, dltnOuRn the above
quoted provision shows that those mani
Testing loyalty by subscribing to an oath
of allegiance are to be spared from the
hardships of war, and that only those re-
naming dsloyal are to be visited with the
harsh treatment of war.
ORenses Against RuIespof War.
The War Department authorities say that
offenses against the articles of war, ex-
cepted in the proclamation Of amnesty, re-
60.
some of the Filipino insurgents have COM
mitted. Only recently five Filipino off,
GERS were executed for such offenses 1t
is not known here whether Aguinaldo was
in any case responsible for such crimes
If he ordered them or countenanced them
he may Still be prosecuted under the ar
ticles of war, and If found guilty executed
or otherwise punished, as other Filipino
offenders have been punished. But from
the fact that General Macarthur allowed
him to take the oath Of allegiance 1T is
assumed that the commanding general
does not hold Aguinaldo chargeable with
violation Of the articles Of war.
Indeed. those most familiar with the
procedure in such cases hold that the oath
would not have been administered if the
prisoner was to be tried for such an Of
fense. 1t is said that during the civil war
the practice obtained of liberating a pris-
oner as soon as he had taken the oath Of
allegiance. and he was not allowed to take
the oath so long as there was any offense
against him calling for the restraint of his
liberty.
Treatment of Agufnaldo.
1t is hardly supposed, however, in the
present case. that the American authori-
ties in the Philippines will show such an
excessive generosity to the late tnsurgent
leader as to turn him free without strict
surveillance of his future movements
1t Is quite probable that General Mac
Arthur Ina a Of in, ha
leader under his eye, and will undoubtedly
avail himself of the good offices which
Aguinaldo will now be able to exert in 10y
aliZing the remnant Of the insurgent forces
He will be granted all possible immunity
consistent with the conditions, being treat
ed kindly meanwhile. and his movements
restricted only to such an extent as may
be considered necessary by General Mac
Arthur. The governor general has hopes
that a great deal may be accomplished
through Aguinaldo.
May Have Given Promises.
In view Of the fact that the War Depart
ment declines to give out the full dispatch
Of Gen. Macarthur in regard to the condi-
tions under which Aguinaldo took the oath
of allegiance to the United States the i'm
preston prevails that he has promised to
render valuable assistance in having the
insurgents lay down their arms and accept
the terms of the amnesty proclamation It
is said that negotiations are actually In
progress for the complete surrender of the
insurgent forces and general acknowl-
edgment of the absolute supremacy Of the
United States.
1t is understood that Aguinaldo as an
earnest Of his good intentions toward his
captors, will shortly make an address to
all his late companions in arms, telling
them of the hopelessness of further resist
ance and suggesting that they Immediately
accept the liberal terms Of the United
States Important developments along
these lines are expected within the next
few days.
GarrisOns Must BE Maintained
Meanwhile it is recognized by military
any radical reduction in the military forces
in the Philippines at least until stable
civil government has been fully established
in the archipelago. Consequently, the army
In the Philippines will not be reduced for
made In the dispatch of regular troops from
the United States to take the places of the
returning volunteers.
The transports fitzpatrick and Logan will
leave San Francisco April and 10, re-
spectively, carrying together about 2.eOo
troops, including detachments Of the LIST
Infantry, 4th Infantry. 11th Infantry and
the 9th and 10th Cavalry. The transports
leave later in the month, but they will go
out comparatively empty, as there are no
more available troops in this country for
service in the Philippines. Those under
orders to that country will give Gen. Mac
Arthur force of $4,000, which is believed
to be sufficient for all military purposes
under existing conditions.
May Reduce Naval Forces.
Granting that the capture of the Fill
ptno chieftain and his subsequent taking
of the oath of allegiance hastens the end
OF the insurrection in the Philippines, the
effect upon the American naval represen-
tation in Asiatic waters will be a very
considerable reduction of the naval force
in the east. There are at present about
fifty-seven Of our naval vessels on the
Asiatic statioNAa. greater number than has
ever before been mObiIized there, and in
clude among them many Of the finest bat
tie ships, cruisers and ironclads in the
American navy.
Many Of them viii undoubtedly be brought
home to form the nucleus for new squad
rOns.s It Is very probable that the Euro
pean station. with headquarters In the
Mediterranean will be revived, and also
that the recreation Of the old South Pacific
station will follow.
There has been a marked shortage of
officers 70 fn important assignments in