The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1901-10-29
THE PERILS OF SAMAn
Army Officer Tells Of Difficultie:
Of Campaigning.
THE NATIVES NUMBER 100000
Their Character Not Well Under.
stood, Says Lieutenant Colonel
simpson. who Is In Charge OF the
Military Information Division
Probable Campaign Plans.

Military Information Division
Probable Campaign Plans.
Lieutenant Colonel William A. Simp
ton, assistant adjutant general, IL
charge of the military information iii
vision, writing from Washington to tn,
New York Herald, says:
n order to get "A clear idea of the con
2tions In Samar some account of the
physical features of the island is essen
tial. Ii Is the most castcrly OF the vi
sayon group. II has superficial ares
of about 300 miles, about 800 more
than the state of Connecticut. Its great
est length, from northwest TO south
east is about 100 miles, and its great
est breadth. from east to west. is about
seventy-dvc miles. Next TO Luzon anC
Mindauao it is the largest island in the
Philippines
The interior Is very mountainous ano
heavily wooded. The coast line is very
irregular. The island Is well watereu
Ly4 rivers rising in the mountains aud
running TO the coast. The island is al
most destitute Of roads. Under these
conditions it will be easily seen that
commerce is carried on almost entirely
by water. The products raised In the
interior are brought down TO the towns
on the coast in small boats and thence
shipped to Manila.
Ub TO within a short time ago there
wefc but few garrsons in the island,
and they were as rule on or near the
coast. While hostilites were In active
progress in Luzon and some of the 9th.
or islands, Samar was comparatively
neglected, the last complete roster OF
troops In the Philippines, received by
mail and dated Jan. /, 1901, showing
but six garrisoucd posts.
When civil government was installed
In the Philippines, Samar was one OF
the few provinces left TO military rule,
and now that comparative quiet has
bNn restored to most Of the rest Of the
archipelago systematic efforts Will be
made to bring about order in Samar.
The troops now known TO be in the
island consist of the Ninth infantry
except one company in China, the First
infantry, four companies of the Sew
cnth infantry and some native scouts
numbering probably not TO exceed 100.
Late press reports state that battal-
ion Of the Sixth infantry is under or
dcrs to go. This would make about
5000 troops all infantry, as the charac-
ter of the country Is such that cavalry
cannot be used.
The country is about as difficult n
one i'm which to conduct military opera
tlons by land as can be imagined. with
md ntains heavily wooded with thick
undNrbrush and no roads the only usu-
al means of transport IS 10y water. In
going overland trail would have to be
cut tor almost the entire distance and
would pecd much care to keep IL clear.
The attack on Company G of the
Ninth infantry at Balangiga and the
more recent affair on the Gandara riv-
er have attracted special attention 10
the condition of affairs In Samar. In
regard to the latter but meager details
at ae present writing have been re-
cciycd. In regard TO the former there
seems TO have been surprise. No
where more than In the Philippines is
the saying true. "Unceaslng vigilance
is the price Of safety"
The number OF natives in Samar Is
estimated at nearly 100000 Their
character is not well understood. They
are willing to do anything that seems
al the time best to advance their inter-
ests. They may live for months in tie
neighhorhood Of troops and seem to ac-
cept the situation. admitting that
American rule is what Is best for them
and taking the oath Of allegiance. They
uAay be sincere or they may be wearing
a'mask. waiting tor tue first opportu'
nifty to throw it of and Change from
amigos to enemigos.
1t would seem as IL the garrison at
Balangiga had been led TO believe that
all the natives in the vicinity were
friendly. The only safe procedure is to
carry on IN the island n steady system
attic series of operations 10 thoroughly
subduc the malcontents and make it to
their interests TO lay aside the bolo.
Somewhat similar conditions have
heretofore existed in the neighborlng
Vlsayan islands, Leyte and Panay. In
Leyte. little more than half as large
as Samar there were about l,G0C
troops. An active campaign was car
rled on. Parties were constantly in the
field. In Gftcen Eonths there wert
ovcy AGO separate engagements. large
and small. Road building was carried
on continually and as rapidly as possi
BILE.
Panay is somewhat smaller than Sa
mar. The methods were similar e
those in Leyte. About 1000 troops
were In the field. and active operations
lasted about two years. Both these is
Yands are now comparatively quiet. ant
}ivil government has been established
IN both.
General Hughes, in whose command
Panay and Leyte are, has recently hat
Samar added to his command and will
probably pursue the same system Of op
eratlons employed. AS Samar is abuu
dainty supplied with rivers, the interior
of the country can be reached from th'