The Washington times., 1901-10-07
Circulation Statement.
Vic RcpOrt on Snmar.

The report of>Ihe War Department on
the island of Samar is instruc tive, but
il is not satisfying From it we ac
quire scme information as to the island
and its people, and the intimation Is
given that the report is made in view
OF the strong measures at once to be
adopted for the stamping out of all
armed resistance there. Perhaps this
IS the best that the department could
dc in the circumstances. At the
same time the people would have been
glad TO learn from the report why the
insurrectIon in that island was not
crushed long and long ago. The char
acter Of Lucban the insurgent leader,
seems to have been fully understood
and it has been known that he was at
the head OF a considerable force. Why
then has the situation not been proper
ly met, and why have the American
people been so egregiously deceived
respecting the true state of affairs in
the archipelago?
According to this report SaElar was
not occupied by American TROOPS until
about the last Of January, 1900, a year
and nine months after Admiral Dewey
destroyed the Spanish fleet in Manila
Bay. During that period it is safe TO
say that General Otis reported doz-
en- times that the war was practically
over. Since then We have had many
more reports of a similar character.
Suddenly, and without a single note Of
preparatory warning, comes the news
that the American troops have met
with a disaster not only shocking in
its details, but probably the greatest
in its magnitude that has attended the
military operations of our forces since
hostllities with the natives began. Now
we are officially told that lighting in
Samar has been almost continuous for
nearly six months past.
Not one person in hundred in the
United States dreamed of such con
dition existing. There has been moth
ing in the reports to give the faint=st
intimation of it. In spirit of we'll
grounded suspicion, many have BEEN
dubious as to general conditions in TIE
Philippines. Some trouble was fairly
TO be anticipated in the large island OF
AIindanSo, but very few imagined that
within the comparatively small terri
tory OF Samar the rebels could make
such showing Of strength. There has
been 10 fighting of consequence in
LuZon for many months past, and
the United States has had in the
neighborhood of sixty thousand troops
in the Islands. Repeatedly we have
been assured that the people OF Luzon
were, with only few exceptions. loyal, I
and that to all intents and purposes /
the war was ovet. Why was any sucn
information given out if it was not !
true? Why were many thousands of /.
American soldiers kept at points where :
everything was peaceful and the people
loyal, while in districts here large
bodies If natives We're armed. hosii,e
and aggressive, The United States mil
itary forces were too weak fairly 10
deal with the sitlatiOn2 II it appeared
that the outbreak in samar were a new
one, and that the military authorities
had been taken by surprise. such quss-
tions might be construed as mere cap
tious fauIt-fudirg. but with a report
staring US in the face, which shows
that there never has been peace in Sa-
mar, and that the hostile conditions
were fully understood by the War De-
partment, the queries propounded are
not TO b. considered either captious or
impertinent.
This is a matter in which the Ameri-
- -aeople are deeply concerned. They
have to meet the bill Of expense and
every life needlessly sacrificed leaves a
void in some family circle. General
Chaffee is popularity believed to be an
able and an energetic man 1t is to
be hoped that he will manifest both
qualities in dealing with Samar. Until
the contrary is shown the people are
to believe that he Will But
the fact remains that they have here
tofore heen grossly deceived, and that
hereafter, for time at least, they win
be more suspicious than ever of peace
reports from the Philippines.