Evening star., 1901-08-09
IN THE PHILIPPINES
Reports From Various Military De-
partments.
SUPPLY OF FOOD FOR TIE ARMY
Health of the Troops Continues to
Be Good.
SURPRISING GUERRILLAS

General MacArthur's annual report Of
conditions in the Philippines July A last,
the date on which he relinIuished control
of affairs, Is accompanied by Interesting
reports from the officers in command or
the various military departments and the
officers at the head of the various staff de-
partments OF the army.
Col s. w. Groesbeck, Judge advocate OF
the division of the Philippines, says that
the prosecution of those guilty of violat-
Ing the law has had a good effect and In
spIred among the disturbing element
wholesome respect for the law. Since Sep
tember 1. 1900 seventy-nine natives have
paid with the death penalty the debts Of
murder, arson. assassination and treach-
cry, while sixty mine others sentenced to
death for similar offenses are now serving
terms of life Imprisonment, their sentences
having been commuted.
Food for the Army.
Col. c. A. Woodruff, chief commissary.
reports that his department has supplied
nearly 100, 900 persons with food, which in
cludes, besides the army of 1900, the re-
tainers prisoners and others necessary TO
the conditions existing In the Philippines.
The sale of stores in the city of Manila
amounted to $4,000 month The supply
of meat has been the most difficult prob
lem the commissary department has had to
deal with Col. Woodruff says beef stew
has made an excellent substitute where
fresh meat and vegetables could not be
obtained. He says that the present army
ration is about perfect for the service in
the tropics Col. Woodruff discusses at
some length the charges of fraud In the
Philippines, and refers to the action taken
in the conviction of two officers and three
commissary sergeant. The losses on the
part of the officers were 1912 and the ser
geants S32S He says that the charges
made were greatly exaggerated Col. Wood
ruff also denies that champagne was IL
legally purchased.
Health of the Troops.
The report of Col. Chas. R. Greenleaf.
chief surgeon, contains considerable Of in
terest. He says the health of the troops
continues good. and the ratio Of non-ef-
fectives has decreased. The immature
youths, the hard drinkers and recruits with
inherited weaknesses have gradually been
sent to the United States. Service in tho
Philippines shows on grand scale the
operation of the law of the survival Of the
fitteSt The most serious feature, accord
ing to Col. Greenleaf. is the steady increase
in Vcnereal diseases among the troops,
showing from S.97 per cent in September,
1900, an increase to 2O42 per cent in April
this year. He recommends that a portion
of the city of Manila be segregated and
placed under medical supervision and in
spectiOn. He says that there Is not much
disability among the soldiers from alcohol
ism.
Guerrilla Warfare Practically Sup
pressed.
Major General Lloyd Wheaton, command
ing the department of northern LuZOn,
briefly discusses the guerrilla warfare, which
has been practically suppressed He says
''unexampled patience and forbearance was
pynrpiSp6 throughout N
the treatment of these savages, habitually
violating all the laws of war as known to
enlightened nations, and the humanity of
the troops engaged in the endeavor to
bring order out Of chaos of robbery, ra-
pine and murder has no parallel in the his
tory Of dealing with Asiatics."
Brig. Gen. W. A. KObbe, commanding the
Department of Mindanao and Jolo reports
that while there have been good relations
between the United States troops and the
natives, there have been many intertribal
and internecine wars, feuds, looting expe-
ditions and quarrels. which have disturbed
the various islands. Upon the whole.
however, he thinks the conditions in his
department are very favorable.
JoIO Slavery.
Regarding slavery he says: Slavery, as
the term is usually understood, does not
exist among the Moros, and radical and
comprehensive measures to abolish 1t would
at this time be premature and ineffective.
The slaves and masters belong to the same
race and live on equal social terms. 1t has
been impossible to obtain any Information
regarding the number Of slaves held any
where
Maj. O. J. Sweet 23d Infantry, reporting
from the third district of Gen. kobbe's de-
partment, says that slavery, although not
recognized by the United States, is still
fact and constant source Of trouble. He
adds that thousands OF Moros are held as
slaves, who are by right free people.
oil t1 hry AoI 4
Orwig. 37th Volunteers, who commanded
the expedition which carried deported Fill
pinos to Guam. In the course of his report
he publishes a telegram from Sixto Lopez
In Boston to Mambina at Guam. 1t Is as
follows:
"Aguinaldo captured. 1 telegraphed to
him IN order that he may solicit from
American authorities that he together with
you be brought to America. desire that
you recur to the American authority
thPrs."
Gen. CrOwder's Report.
Brigadier General E. H. Crowder, mill
tary secretary to General Macarthur, sub
mits report Of considerable interest, much
of which is devoted to the currency, the
scheme for improving which is outlined in
General MacArthur's report In his report,
however, he shows some interesting facts
There has been introduced since the
United States took control a total of S23-
I2J,s1I in United States currency, nearly
equally divided between gold coin and cur
rency notes. He makes an estimate of
S6O1Si.5 800 in circulation In the Philippines,
OF which $4,000 O00 is Mexican and Filipino
silver.
A considerable portion of Gen. Crowder's
report Is devoted to the church question
which involves disputes between the Fill
pinos and the friars He quotes an order
to the commanding general of the Depart
ment of Luzon, which was also sent to
other places where difficulties arose which
directs that no minister Of religion shall be
interfered with or molested In his calling
and that there must be a complete separa-
tton of church and state. No public funds
should be used for the support of a reli-
g7ous organization nor any official project
used to collect contributions for the sup
port OF church. priests or a religious order
Transfers of Real Estate.
Gen. Crowder says that considerable ac-
tiyity has been noticeable in real estate
transfers from religious orders and syndi-
Gates and corporations since the United
States occupied the islands. including those
made few days prior to the fall Of Ma
Mia The transfers reported aggregate
more than 213. $50 acres, of an estimated
value OF 100000 Mexican These lands
were conveyed principally by the Domini-
f Sf a ay1.N 1I.-S