The National tribune., 1901-10-24

a few hundred miles of hiking over rough
country in the tropics. There is much
more to do, especially in these days Of
advancement, when the object is to bulld
up and not tear down.
We had scattered the Insurgent forces
and aided in driving them well out OF the
way of the better and more clVllzed pof-
tion of the Isle of Panay, and now came
the hardest part of the work, American
izing the towns we had deprived OF pro-
lection, such as it was.
The Spanish had given but little atten-
ton to the cleaning of cities and towns
and everywhere rubbish and refuse were
piled in promiscuous lots, sometimes III
streets where the traffic had to be shifted
to accommodate it, and again III the
wards and at the very doors of the ma
tiycs. Even the most prominent natives,
some of whom had had their sons and
daughters educated in Spain aud other
foreign schools, appeared 10 think 1t all
right to abstain from any attempts at rak-
ing the yards or streets.
Everybody carried weapons, and each
seemed to be afraid of the other. L OFTEN
saw friends bar doors against one another
as soon as the sun went down, only TO
meet in the most cordial manner the next
morning.
One could hear doors and windows in
process OF DelliS bdIISu anu 49,
passed through the streets in the early
evening.
Male and many female natives wore
scanty clothing; looting and incendlarlsm
existed everywhere, and all seemed riot
and confusion.
The commander of our regiment pro-
ceeded to put things in ORDER and beng
a good organizer, knew just what TO 40
from the start. He sent detachments OF
bo 1,n6pr commissioned OIL
GERS to all the important cities and towns
with instructions to provide guard pro-
lection by outposts or patrols and IN ad-
dition to policing and protecting the DIS
tricts, to put the people on footlng
something like that of civilized beings
Here was q new sort of instruction ana
experience for every officer and man in
the regiment.
RUBBISH GOES FIRST.
The accumulations of filth were the
first to receive the attention of our men,
and details were formed for regular street
inspections. at which squads under Ser
geants or Corporals compelled the men OF
the native population to turn out and go
to work with the rake, pick and shovel;
something most extraordinary to them, for
it had been customary for women TO 90
work of this kind for ali time.
The men tried every known scheme to
get out of this labor, even TO bringing IN
substitutes. but no excuse except illness
would be taken, and for weeks the men
worked for two or three hours per day
gathering up and burning rubbish which
had been collecting for years in yards and
streets On the plaZas and in front of the
churches, and everywhere, so that IN
short time in appearance the streets,
yards, etc, would compare fayorably with
those of any American town, and small
pox and other sickness began to decrease.
POLICE FORCE FORMED.
While this was going on the officers
were selecting the most capable young
men Of the town for police, and in each
town of from 5000 to 15,0O0 population
a force of native police was utilized to
preserve ORDER thus aiding the soldiers.
i The non-commissioned officers were de-
tailed to drill the police in the manual
and marching, so as to make them useful
in the event of attack, street riot or ire.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Formerly if house or shack took fire
Il burned to the ground, usually carrying
with it all of the surrounding buildings,
unless the latter could be torn down.
There was not a fire apparatus in all
Panay except broken-down old hand
6re-engine which Spain sent 10 llollo
hundred or more years ago.
The Americans had fire trucks made,
with bamboo buckets, ladders, hooks, etc,
and when a fire broke out trained native
fremen, under the direction of the guards,
proceeded at double time TO the scene
and formed bucket brigade, extinguish-
ing many fires in this way.
Our scntries finally received orders to
prick lightly with the point of the bayonet
the legs Of any overgrown young native
running about the streets without trous-
ers. Consequently in a very short time
the native tailors were working night and
day making nice, clean, white duck suits
for the thousands of native men and boys
who for generations had been taught that
the bfeech-cloth was enough.
What change this made in every city
and town. The beautiful white clothes
were pleasing TO look upon, and once
native got into a suit of white he be-
came a changed man. He would no
longer lounge in the gutter, but would
stand up like q man, and his example
was soon followed by the other members
of his family, so that our presence in the
native towns was indeed a blessing to
the natives.
NO MORE BARRICADING.
Barricading of windows and doors be-
one place, while band concerts and even
ing entertainments began to take the place
of street fights. People began to prone
made in white suits, and revolvers and
bolos disappeared. The change for the
better was indeed wonderful, and a war
which brought the American troops TO the
island to show the natives how to live
was one of the best things that ever hap
pened to the Philippines.
At first it was impossible to purchase
anything for any price, and the only way
to get a pair of rubbers, a shirt, a col
lar, or, in fact, anything, was to send to
the United States, and wait three months
for the articles to arrive.
AS soon as American protection was
given the cities and towns, the enterpris-
ing native merchants ordered shiploads
of goods from American and European
dealers, and at the present time one can
purchase almost anything he desires in
the coast cities, where the natives are
sure of protection from looting, while the
extending TO the interior places.
And what an experience all this was
for u.s. Who while in America would
think OF testing and boiling all drinking
waters? And yet even the privates could
tell just why certain well, river and rain
waters should not be taken unboled, due
to the presence of germs from decaying
vegetation, and in districts where feverS
ragged the privates had TO frequently use
force to make the natives boil and strain
the drinking-water.
The privates were instructed in sani-