Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-06
Views Of the Philippines by an OBJ
server On Transport.
CHARACTERISTICS OF MANILA
Insurectos Said to Be Active in
Samar Island.
FIG TING PROBABL E
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

anchored off-shore. The trip from Manila
to this place was grand as far as scenery
and weather was concerned. The pilot
must know his business in this section, as
we have been lodging around small islands
all the way. Some Of them are only an
acre In area, 80 suppose are not on the
maps.
number Of small towns were passed,
but none Of any size. All the islands Of
any size appeared to be thickly populated
and signs OF cultivation were seen.
There Is a small village five miles from
here in flames Conflicting reports say that
the insurgents set 1t afire and one that the
Americans
When we were at Manila everybody told
US that the instruction was ended, that
there were only a few armed bands of
robbers now causing the trouble. Here 1t
seems to be rife with war and rumors Of
war. There is company in camp on the
beach In dog tents, and they told US they
were attacked last night. and are now
chasing the gugus in the mountains.
From present indications the whole
Island Of Samar, which is third In size Of
the Philippine group, is in very active
state Of insurrection. It is reported that
the troops on this transport will take sta
ton along the eastern shore Of the Island
of Leyte, so as to prevent the insurrectos
crossing from Samar, SO lively times are
in anticipation
observations at Manila.
We remained in Manila bay ten days
and it was nice and hot. We spent as
much time ashore as we were allowed, as
it was unbearable on board the transport,
where breath Of air was at premium.
1 found Manila to be the same quaint,
hot and busy place. with not a great many
changes since August, 1888. The town did
20 no htrSE, OF hot frno
except along the water front. The streets
have a much cleaner look, and there Is
better order in all things
There are native and American policemen
on the same beats. The former are not II
bowling success from all accounts. They
present formidable appearance. being
armed with pistols and also carbines. The
American policemen look very natty, but
hot and uncomfortable in their khaki uni
forms, with high, thick leather leggins.
They wear Emperor William caps, which
give them a foreign appearance. One Of
them told me their uniform was designed
by the w. c. T. U. Possibly he was jolly
ing me. He also informed me that the ma
no records OF any arrests being made by
them, except Of Cinnamon for revenue.
The commissary frauds were still occu-
plying the public attention. and each day
ments were disclosed. Captain Barrows.
Lieut.. Boyer and a number of commissary
sergeants have been committed to jail.
some with number OF years sentence.
The officers have not been sentenced yet
Several business men are being tried for
dealing in government stores. The expo
sure Of these frauds has greatly benefit
ted the government. as 1t will be fmpos-
sible to buy any stores illegally for years
to come
At home stations it Is customary to sell
the savings on the rations to any person. II
the price be higher than the one offered by
the government. Over here there is q
law against this practice. but has never
been thoroughly enforced until now.
On the water front there are several
piles Of hard bread. each Of which con-
tains many thousand cases. They resem-
BILE the New York sky-scrapers. Bacon Is
also piled in the covered streets. A mill
tary guard Is In charge.
Mining Conditions Explained.
There have always been rumors Of rich
mines in the Philippines. but nothing has
been discovered yet to justify the fabu-
lous accounts sent out to the world at
times. Geo. D. Rice, the newspaper man
who was deported by General Macarthur
several months ago, has been filling space
in the New York Engineering and Mining
Journal on mining in the Philippines. Ac-
cording to a Manila paper his article is a
gigantic pipe dream.
The following Is an account Of how the
mining situation stands in the islands to-
day. briefly stated by Lieutenant Bur-
ritt who has charge Of the mining bureau:
Mining industries In the Philippines are
practically suspended by the fortunes Of
war and the insurrection, and by the pro-
hibittons placed upon the requirement of
title or right to work mines by the Spooner
bin. No mining property, so called, except
placer mining, can be carried on without
the Of powder and dynamite and Of
course the use of these has been restricted
and prohibited in the communities where
martial law prevails. A special permit is
required from the military authorities for
the use Of powder and dynamite, and but
very few Of such permits, II any, have been
granted, so far as l know"
One thousand fnsurgent prisoners vera
liberated while we were at Manila and
given transportation to their homes.
Aguinald0s oath was also given to the
public and Is as follows:
Il, Emilio Aguinaldo, hereby renounce
all allegiance to any and all sO-caTIed rero-
lutionary governments In the Philippine
Islands, and recognize and accept the SUI
preme authority Of the United States Of
America therein. 1 do solemnIy swear that
I will bear true faith and alIegtance
to that government; that 1 will at an
times conduct myself as a faithful and
law-abiding citizen of the said islands,
and will not either directly hold corre-
spondence with or give intelligence to an
enemy Of the United States, nor will I
abet, harbor or protect such enemy; that I
impose upon myself these voluntary obli-
CATIONS without any mental reservations or
purpose OF evasion, so help me God"
The Y. NJ. c. A. has large building in
the walled city and they are doing a good
work with the soldiers. They have a large
library, which Is crowded nightly They
have also several hundred small cots which
are kept nice and clean. The charge is Is
cents per cot.
There is q base ball league in Manila
composed Of soldier clubs. They have an
inclosed grounds, and the games are well
attended on Sundays. Prize fighting Is hay-
Ing a boom, and they have fight weekly.
There was no theatrical amusements while
we were there, except a vaudeville show,
which was very fair.
Public schools and High Prices.
There appeared to be public schools at
every tura in Manila, and the children are
learning rapidly. They are about to estab-
fish schools on the island Of Mindanao,
which Is inhabited by Moros, who are all
Mohammedans. The government is con-
sidering the proposition of sending English
teachers from India Of the Mohammedan
faith who will teach the children the Ian
guage as well as the studies.
The prices Of everything are very high
in Manila. I priced goods in the Indian