New-York tribune., 1901-12-07
ARMY IN THE PHILIPPINES.
cr>pp,I. CJ1AFFEE SAYS AIS FORCE
CANNOT BE REDUCED FOR
ANOTHER YEAR.

Washington. Dec. 6.-The War DEPARTMENT to-day
made public the first annual report OF Major Cen
eral Adna r. Chaffee Military Governor OF the
Philippine Islands. General Chanee sums up the
situation in the Philippines from a military point
Of view by saying that the provinces OF Batansas
and Laguna, in LuZon, and the Islands or oaInar'
Mtndoro Cebu and Bohol constitute the area now
disturbed by any embodied force of insurgents He
savs that to the physical character of the country
IN the nature OF the warfare of the rebels. who
are friend and foe In the same hour TO the hu-
manity of the troops, which Is taken advantage
of by the rebels and the inhabitants who sympa-
thize with them and to the fear OF assassination
on the part of friendly disposed If they give in
formation to the American forces, is due the pro-
Iongation of the guerilla warfare
Commenting the plan of gradually replacing
military with civil administration General Cha1ee
says:
does not contemplate withdrawal OF the troops
from their stations to any considerable extent IN
when undertaken should be gradual and more in
the nature concentration than reduction OF force
or abandonment OF any considerable area of terri
tory.
He therefore recommends that there be no fur
ther material reduction of troops before January.
1903 The civil governments which are being or
pan,zed-provincial and municpal-General Chat
fee says both new and untred. and there Is
only certain method of ascertanng the progress
of the Filipinos in lf-government-namely OBJ
servation by the army on the military govern
ment of the city of Manila General Chaffee says:
In the government of Manila for three years If
the military have done nothing more 1t Is every
where apparent that an excellent foundation has
been laid and turbulent and hostile communlty
brought to observe the laws ana indlvlduaiy I De
ness severity of treatment of the inhabitants
In expectation of partial concentration of the
troops in the Philippines next year General Chaf-
fee submits estimates of cost for the construction
of quarters and barracks. He recommends that a
permanent post be constructed at near Manila
for o
batteries artillery and two full regiments of In
fantry together with hospital and storehouses
the whole to be under the command of a briga der
general He gives S5o0000 rough estimate of
cost for this project and says that 900 should
be available Immediately in order to take full ad-
vantage of the dry season For the construction OF
permanent quarters at other points which may be
determined in the fiscal year ending June. 1905. he
estimates that s2.oOOOOO is required
General Chaffee devotes a considerable portion of
his report to terrible disaster which befe Com
pany c. 9th Infantry at Balangga, Samar. and
which he says largely due to overconHdence
In assumed pacifed conditions. and in a people
who to a great extent yet, are strangers to and
unappreciative of humane and personal lib
erty beliefs and actions" American soldiers, he
says. fail to discriminate between real and assumed
friendship on the part Of the F1l,pinos % ,urs 10
the date of the last table m m 9go 5g oeeas
and 2e officers and 494 were captured
speetor OF general Of the Division Philippines
speaking of the discipline of the troops in the ISL
and serious infractions of the reguatons but says
that there is lor na sboW Of m
in sautng superior officers, the criticism applying
General Groesbeck says that the suppression Of
brigandage III the Philippines probably VII H. be on, one
were free to deal With n the tsr na
there G wod Be no Of %
picates the situation considerably.