Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-04-04
FUNSTON REWARDED
The Gallant HANSEN Gets His
Deserved Promotion.
The PLAYS REGARDING ACUINALDO.



VIII Bs Tried by Military
Commission.
Washington, April Funston has
come into his own. The president, at
ten o'clock Saturday night, after
conference with Secretary Root and
Adt. Gen. Corbin, decided to pro-
mote the Kansan at once. These APP
pointments were announced. To be
major general, United States army,
Brig. Gen. Lloyd Wheaton, vice Miles,
promoted lieutenant general; to be
brigadier generals in the United
States army, Col. Jacob H. Smith,
Seventeenth United States infantry,
brigadier general volunteers, vice
Daggett, retired; Brig. Gen. Frederick
Funston United States volunteers,
promoted Gen. Macarthur was no.
titled of these appointments in a
cablegram.
Gen. Wheaton was lieutenant col
onel of the Twentieth infantry, with
station at Fort Leavenworth, when
the Spanish war broke out. Gen.
Funston served in his division for
months during the Philippine cam
paign. Funston proposed his plan OF
capture of Aguinaldo to Wheaton, his
immediate commander, and the two
went to Gen. Macarthur with the
proposition.
Gen. Funston's remarkable exploit
In capturing Aguinaldo has taken
stronger hold upon the popular i'm
agination than any other marked
event of the Philippine war, only ex-
cepting Admiral Dewey's stroke in
Manila harbor. Hobson's bold at
tempt to seal Santiago harbor is held
in all quarters to be wholly overshad-
owed by Funston's long, swift and Sc
cret march over mountains and
through jungles into the heart Of the
enemy's country, boldly planned and
admirably conducted in all its vicis-
situdes and crowned with complete
success, whereas Hobson's scheme
was failure through misapprehen-
sion Of certain facts or the inadequacy
of the means chosen to accomplish his
purpose. No detail necessary to Fun
ston's success was overlooked.
In its moral aspect the effect Of
the Filipino chiefs capture will be
far greater than any possible out
come of Hobson's enterprise could
have been. 1t means the end of the
Philippine war. Hence, 1t is not diff
cult to understand why the public i'm
agination has been fired by Funston's
extraordinary achievement due
wholly to his own cool courage, en-
ergy and readiness for emergencies.
There is no gainsaying that the Amer
lean people are delighted with Fun
ston, who Is no mere hero of the pass
ing hour, for this is not the first dis
tinguished act of his military career.
There was felt here real pressure of
public opinion for his immediate and
adequate reward, and il the admins
} tration had failed to satisfy this popu-
lar demand. Kansans believed that the
, administration, and not Gen, Funston,
would suffer.
The Plans Regarding Aguinaldo.
. Washington, April If Emilio
Aguinaldo has violated any of the
avs OF war, and declines to take the
oath Of allegiance to the United
, States, he will he tried by military
commission, to be appointed by Maj
Gen. Macarthur. This is the impor-
tant feature of Instructions sent by
|, Secretary Root to Gen. Macarthur re-
| garding the disposition to be made OF
= the prisoner Gen. Macarthur will
:, make no bargain with Aguinaldo, Civ
: ing him freedom in return for aid In
: establishing recognition of American
sovereignty He will inform Aguin
aldo that the government is disposed
to deal leniently with him and he will
be held for the present as prisoner
:, of war. He will be kept under CLOSE
= surveillance, so as not to be able tt
communicate with his former subor
dinates to the injury of the United
" States. He will be allowed, il he de
y sires, to take the oath of allegianc,
= and then to acquaint the Filipino
generally with what he has done ant
: his views as to their future course.
Should Aguinaldo prove unwilling
to take advantage of the generous
policy of the United States a militar,
commission, which would try him OF
r charges growing out of his conduc
v during the insurrection would prob
). ably recommend his deportation t.
l. Guam.