Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-24
ROOT At DESK AGAIN
The Secretary Of War will Take
up Philippine Matters
at Once.
He Does Not Regard the Samar
Instruction With Much
Apprehension.
Military Situation Will Be Left
Largely to General
Chaffee.

Vas at his desk in the war department
yesterday for the first time in two
months. He has returned from his va
cation in the Adirondack mountains in
good health, and, he believes, with re-
Hewed strength to enable him to con-
tinue the administration of the war Of
tice without danger to himself. He at
orce plunged into the work which has
accumulated. and which no one else
could attend to but himself. He will
first look into the Philippine situation,
tho he has full confidence in Governor
Taft's ability to direct the civil govern
lnent and General Chaffee to control the
necessary military operations The in
surrection in the island of Samar is not
regarded as indicating a spread to the
other islands.
The report from Manila regarding the
plans for an uprising in the Tarlac
province of Luzon has not been con-
firmed at the war department, and 1t is
not taken seriously by officials for the
reason that Tarlac is we'll garrisoned.
and there are known to be very few
arms among the natives. The attacks
of the bolomen in the island Of Samar
were serious only because the Ameri-
can troops We're surprised. That island
bears little resemblance to Luzon, and
there is little fear Of such attacks in
Tarlac or any other well populated and
well garrlsoned province OF Luzor.
The war department is leaving the
military situation largely to General
Chafree and General Hughes. who is in
command of the yisayan department,
which includes the island of Sanar.
General Chaffee has sent more troops
to Hughes. and Rear Admiral Rodgers
In command OF the navy in Philippine
waters has detailed number OF vessels
to patrol the coasts OF Samar to prevent
the insurgents from escaping to the 9TH
er islands. General Hughes is well ac-
quainted with the character of the Wis.,
oyans, having been in those islands for
the last two years. and he will take
command OF the troops in Samar to con-
duct the campaign against the bolo-
men.
The first question which Secretary
Root will have to consider will be that
relating to sending more troops to the
philippines. There are now $4,000
troops in the islands, but the regiments
there will be reduced by the expiration
uf terms of enlistment, December, 2,512
in January. 2.163 in February. S,54S in
March, 1924 in April. 1911 In May. and
2.4s2 in. June.
These figures show that 20, 4Sf soldiers.
or nearly one-ha!f OF those now in the
Philippines, Will have to be re-enlisted
or returned to this country by the END OF
next June. They will have to be assem-
hled at Manila preparatory to return to
their homes two months before the ex-
pirntion OF their enlistment. Secretary
Root must therefore decide at once
whether he will maintain the army in
the Philippines at the present strength
of 10000 men. General Chaffee fecom-
mends that there be no reduction In his
force, and Adjutant General Corbin, af-
ter an inspection of the island, agrees
with Chaffee that 1t would be unwise TO
materially reduce the force In the Phil
Ippines below 10000 for some time to
come.
The troops are, in Corbin's opinion.
necessary for the moral effect on the
natives who are still unreconciled to the
present condition. Orders have already
5Leen issued for sending troops to take
the places of those whose term Of SER
vice Will expire in the next three
months. but the department has awaited
the return of Secretary Root and his
decisions on the more important work
Of recruiting men to take the places OF
those whose terms of enlistment Will ex-
pire before the close of the fiscal year.
IF the army in the Philippines is to
be kept at 10000 it is time to begin spe-
oial recruiting for that service" says
the adjutant general. ard Secretary
question. He will be aided in his judg-
inent by the conditions in Samar. and
the sympathy the insurgents there re-
ceiyed from the natives in the other Is
lands. AS for Aguinaldo. there is no
fear of his influence The former leader
of the instruction seems to have be-
come completely reconciled to the pres
Bent conditions. When Aguinaldo heard
OF the death of President Mckinley he
wrote letter of sympathy to. General
sChaffee. His original letter. in Tagalog,
end its translation into English, are now
interesting souvenirs in the collection of
rapers at the war department.. Aguin-
aldo's letter is well phrased, and ex-
presses the highest sentiments regarding
President McKinley's virtues and alb
florence of the manner of his murder
ON OLD WALES CAMPUS.