Evening star., 1901-11-27
the outbreak of the war with Spain may

the outbreak of the war with Spain may
not again occur.
'.I recommend that the President be au-
thorized to convene boards of officers for
the examination of officers of the National
Guard, and other citizens who may apply to
be examined, as to their qualifications to
hold volunteer commissions; that the per-
sons passing such examinations shall re-
ceive certificates, stating the office for
which they are found to be qualified, and
upon the calling out of volunteer force
shall be entitled to receive commissions for
such offices.
II recommend that the War Department
be authorized to arm the National Guard
with the present service small arms used
by the regular army, navy and marine
corps; that the National Guard of the sew
eral states be treated as first reserve, to
be called into the service of the United
States to execute the laws of the Union,
suppress instructions and repel invasions,
the term of service under any call to be
limited to nine months; that the President
be authorized, on the request of the gov
ernor of any state, to detail officers of the
regular army for instruction, staff and In
spection duties with the National Guard of
such state; that the War Department be
authorized to furnish transportation, ra-
t1ons and tentage to officers and men OF
National Guard organizations who shall
take part with the forces of the regular
army In annual encampment and maneu-
vers at national military camps; that the
department be authorized to allow travel
pay, communication of rations and quarters.
or Communication of quarters to officers of
the National Guard attending and regular
ly taking part in the courses Of instruction
at the general service and staff college at
Fort Leavenworth Both of these provi-
sions should be within reasonable limits,
proportional to the numbers of National
Guard organizations in the several states.
II recommend that the President be now
empowered to organize the volunteer forces
whenever called out, In the manner provid-
ed for by the act of March 2 1892 for the
organization of the volunteer force which
has recently returned from the Philippines,
with such notifications shall be necessa-
ry to give effect to the views above ex-
pressed
Pacific Gable Recommended.
strong recommendation is made for a
Pacific cable. The Secretary says:
THE chief of the signal corps again urges
attention to the great Importance of an
American trans-Pacific cable. The require
ments for the use Of such cable by our
own government in Hawaii and in the Phil
lpplne Islands are so great that either it
should be constructed and owned by the
government, or If constructed by a private
corporation the landing rights should be
granted upon such conditions that the own
ers snail always remain, in fact, an Ameri
can corporation, and shall be subject to
such control and regulation by Congress as
will insure government control when nee
essary, and commercial freedom in the use
of the cable at all times.''
Three Retfrements.
The Secretary recommends las a slight
recognition of the obligations of the coun-
try to Major Generals Wesley Merritt,
John r.. Brooke and Elwell S. Otis that
Congress authorize the President to place
them on the retired list as lieutenant gen.
nr,I, hot yl4x
ran officers Of the civil war remaining in
the army be retired in the next higher
grade than their present rank.
Philippine Conditions.
Regarding military conditions in the
Philippines, the Secretary says in part:
AT the date Of my last report, formal and
open resistance to American authority in
the Philippines had practically terminated,
and the Filipino insurgent forces had
adopted a system Of guerrilla warfare,
closely approaching brigandage. To sue
and to suppress It, to afford protection to
the peaceful and unarmed inhabitants and
to re-establish local civil governments had
necessitated the distribution of our forces
to more than 400 stations. This process
continued until a maximum of 5O2 stations
were occupied, holding every important
town and strategic point in the archipelago.
The scattered guerrilla insurgent bands b.
tanned funds and supplies from the towns
and the country in the vicinity of their
operations. The people thus contributing
to the support of these guerrillas had been
rarely interfered with. Prisoners taken in
battle had been disarmed and Immediately
released.
This policy had been adhered to in the
hope that it might make friendly neighbors
of the natives, but, on the contrary, they
seemed suspicious of this beneficence ard
looked upon it as an evidence of weakness
1t was therefore decided to apply more
rigidly to the residents of the archipelago
the laws of war touching the government
of occupied places. Notice of this intention
was given by a proclamation issued by the
military governor, December 20, 1900, fully
explaining the law, supplemented by let
ters of instruction. and followed by more
vigorous field operations. 1t was followed
Immediately by the deportation to the
Island of Guam of about fifty prominent
Filipino insurgent army officers civil Of
hcials, insurgent agents, sympathizers and
agitatorS.
The field work of the army was continued
with renewed vigor from each of the 800
stations, and was conducted simultaneously
throughout the entire archipelago with such
telling results that, with the exception of
Lukban in Samar and Malvar in southern
Luzon, all prominent insurgent leaders with
their commands We're captured or sur
rendered.
Capture of AsuinaIdo.
The most important single military event
of the year in the Philippines was the cap
ture of Aguinaldo, successfully accom-
plished by Brigadier General Frederick
Funston. His capture was soon followed
by the surrender of such prominent Fill
pino leaders as Tinio. Aglipay, Trias and
Cailles, with their entire following
The operations of the field forces were so
vigorous and unrelenting that more than
1000 contacts occurred between our troops
and the insurgents from May, 1900, to
June 3O 1901. in which the insurgent cas-
ualties were: Killed, 1854; wounded. ] 1893;
captured, 6,512; surrendered, % ,O95; with a
total of 1858 rifles and nearly ,OO, 600
rounds of small-arms ammunition captured
and surrendered Our casualties during the
same period were: Killed, 245; wounded,
400; captured, 11S; missing 20.
cannot speak too highly Of the work of
the army in the Philippines The officers
and men have been equal to the best re-
quirements, not only of military service,
but Of the civil administration with which
they were charged in all It's details from
the date Of our occupancy in August 1898,
until the Inauguration of a civil governor
on the 4th of July, 1901.
The recent disturbances in Samar and
southern LuZon are of minor consequence,
and are being stamped out by the vigorous
operations of the troops. Small disturb
anceS Of this character are unfortunately