New-York tribune., 1901-10-30
PACIFICATION PROBLEMS
THE DANGERS OF MILITARY ovEpco,,
FIDENCE-AN INSULAR CoNsT.pr
LARY-THE ABSENCE OF RoAns


eism in matters purely military, 7 sbor,S p- u
that our troops in the Philippines ara IN aa' say
OF Understanding the powers for rasi.,1e
which the native is capable of develonine =. -
expected and tnopportune moments hal
illustration Of this disposition on the n.r. ~
the average American soldier TO think but 49,
OF the fighting qualities Of the Filipino AZ g.
bayos the other day. where we visited csA
Hughes at his temporary headauartar, =
Samar. We captured" said young off,.
the generals staff "a letter not long ago -
dressed by the insurrecto officer in cono,,.~,
hereabouts to General Lucban. in which ba .~s.
in substance: General in accordance with -
orders, attacked this town at night on sa.n.
day last: fired into il for over an hour br.
there was no response what shall do?' Ava
at the thought Of the insurrecto's dilemma N,
young officer began TO chuckle
Well" ventured to say. what did Won a
about it?''
DO about il? Why. nothing. We pay no AZ
tention whatever to these chaps now. Th.r
shoot into the town every night. They never kin
anything. but 1t seems TO an1use them So ".
let them waste their ammunition"
We'll, didn't you ever attempt to clear tss
surrounding country OF these nightly visitors-s
"Oh. yes; but without much success. You
see we'd start out the minute the firing bega,
The flash Of the discharge indicated the genera
direction. Our men would scour the UNDER
brush in the dark. find nothing. of course and
return. After a few weeks OF this kind a,
thing it became trihe monotonous. and We
quit going after them"
But you have outposts haven't you"'
"Of course we have; but OF what good are
outposts here? Look at that Jungle" and the
officer pointed to black impenetrable mass Of
tropical foliage which seemed to touch the back
Of the nipa huts lined UP on both sides Of
the only street in the town. Why" he con-
tinued. even in daytime outpost can't see
ten feet beyond where he stands. and what
chance he has Of seeing anything at night you
can judge for yourself now"
Behind a bank OF clouds the new moon was
rising at this moment and shedding its light
upon the weather stained and crumbIing tower
of the church and convent beyond. For
minute it rested on the barrel Of an old Spanish
field piece in front of headquarters and then
Ieaped 10 the bayonet Of sentinel pacing
silently TO and fro in the shadow of mango.
Bv it's rays you We're barely able 20 make out
the line of huts and the boat landing at the end
Of the deserted street The flicker OF a talow
din dimIy discernible through the chinks OF a
door. the sombre glare of a pine torch near
window. the querulous winnings Of NANCY
cur. seemed the only signs OF life in the settle
ment hundred yards beyond nothing but
forest and jungle and darkest darkness
How many people i've in this little town.
Little? Why, there are at least ten thou
SAND people here. You want TO know where
they live? All along the shore. on the other
side of the creek, and three or four miles De-
vond You can't see the houses from your boat
but they are there all the same They nesue
in the shadow OF cocoanut groves ana st
against the very edge OF the jungle streets
None except the one you see mere. NO" SOu
viii understand the difficulty OF policing place
like this. ard appreciate. perhaps the na'ars
OF the task which confronts US in maintaining
our authority in the surrounding country How
ever" added he. cheerfuly, we are se''hs
there, slowly but surely"
7 have ventured TO quote this young orncsr a.
some length because what he says renec's'
think the opinion Of a majority OF army n'A
who are now actively engaged in the neia- iH''
opinion. while hopeful in the MAN, is yet ""'
pered by a pessimisn which the hardsnlpS OK
tropicaI campaign-hardships which a thougn'
less public at home refuses 10 associate WIN
heroisrn-tend TO aggravate rather than Anew
ate. This pessimism has in some instances pi'
auced a recklessness and indifference OF wnSa
Ca1bavor is not by any means an exassera'"
axaronla That such indifference carries With
a conter,nt Of the native and his powers lO'
acttve resistance is only too evident one
,bsse davs 7 fear we shall be called upon
nav nrettv dearly for a much needed iesSoi'' =
Is a mistake TO suppose that the Filpii''
cause he has never stood in the open Asa"
the assaults OF American troops Is 'ne''-U
incapable of turning upon his zoe II t"7 0Fp
tuuity should present ITSELF CohuaiS -
notions of our troops, whose 1udsiheh' -
matter is somewhat affected by the poSSe
~ a superior rifle. the native Is eoutaseo -,
bas NO fear Of death. II will be best say n0'
- underrate his tenacity or to ignore
treacherous instincts. which ne VIII "e'
able. I fear. entirely TO suodue.
lined up the other day at the Dasupan ran
vav station-or what is left or H. Ior u a.
treating insurrectos burned IT down a"
stroved as much Of the rolling stock OF 'Ae -
"a they could lay their hands on-was '"e %
nicfpal police Of the place. a score '' .-..,,t-
men of different size. color. buhd anu -, -.
gence. AS we approached they came - -s.s -,rsar
tton and presented arms. the oano III '' .,a
.,rucls nm ..FhereW Be a Hot Time anu
a,,astrurl mob on the other side OF the Ia'' !,
fsnca uncovered. II was all very impressive
course. and immensely sratlfyihS &c o "a
esteem. II was also-which is innh''e'S a.rr
iuportant-an opportunity for lnspecuNs IN
of the governmental machine We nave Sc - :,
the islands. and as such legitimate S"O''~
discussion .atsf
These bodies OF municipal ponce were -. :,
under the military administration NOT 0 va,
assist the troops in maintaining oroe'' - g,c-
10 test the capacity of the natives Io' r,srs
ernment IL goes without saying 'h"' -. ..oI az
chosen with great care ana tha' 'Ne ',.or,riss
srcisad over them by our military auth0f,'
- - al t;r,as absoIute OF course, they na-
- =. -. ..n,. f11rnished 20 the'