Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-28
REGIMENTS
Organization Of Native Troops and
Police Urged.
TAFT COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS
Would Be Effective in Crushing
Guerrilla Warfare,
THE QUESTION OF LOYALTY

THE QUESTION OF LOYALTY
A chapter of the report of the Taft Philip
| pine commission is devoted to the subject
of Native Troops and Police" and is of
more than passing interest because OF the
prominent part the natives are destined to
play in the future military and civil gov
eminent of the Philippines.
THE question as to whether native troops
and native constabulary are at present
| practicable" says the report, has received
| much thought and a careful investigation
| by the commission. We have felt that its
| consideration and determination was espe-
! cally important al this time in view OF the
fact that the volunteer regiments now in
service here will soon be returned to the
| United States to be mustered out We nave
| sought and obtained the opinions of large
number of regular and volunteer officers
of all rank having their fields of operation
| in all parts of the islands. and there appears
| to be a general consensus of opinion among
| them that the time is ripe for these organ-
zations and this is also our conclusion.
Assuming that Congress at Its next SeS-
| sion will provide for an increase Of the reg
| ular army, it by means follows that
| large part thereof will or should be, sta
public policy and economy alike forbid such
a program, nor in our judgment is 1t neces-
sary.
Ten Native Regiments Urged.
while the American soldier is unsur-
passed in war as it is understood among
civilized people, he does not make the best
policeman, especially among people whose
language and customs are new and strange
to him, and, in our opinion, should not be
put to that use when, as we believe, bet
ter substitute Is at hand. We. therefore,
earnestly urge the organization of ten resl-
ments of native troops of infantry and cav
airy. the proportion between the Two arms
of the service to be fixed by competent
military judges.
."rhese troops should in the main be Of
ficered by Americans. Certainly this should
be the case as to their field officers and
company comm anders. Lieutenants might
be Filipinos judiciously selected, and pro-
vision might be made for their promotion
in the event of faithful or distinguished
service.
The opportunity is offered. for the Sc
lection of such officers largely from the
officers and men constituting the volunteer
regiments now here. who at present
available. and by reason of past experience
and service are peculiarly fitted Tor such
duty. 1t is suggested that a provision
should be made permitting officers OF the
regular army to be appointed to command
in these native regiments without losing
their positions in the regular establish
1--WE have made Investigations az to the
probable cost of one of these native regf-
lnents, the officers Of which are to be paid
as In the regular service of the United
| States. and have. reached the conclusion
| that it will not exceed S5Jo.0OO gold per
annum, and perhaps will be something
! less This estimate is based upon the as
sumption that the privates will be paid SO
Mexican per month, non-commisSioned Off
GERS somewhat more and that special
and cheaper ration, suited to native tastes
/ holt IN, lion he
| regular army ration. Col. Charles A.
! Woodruff, chief commissary. division of
| the Philippines. a distinguished authority
upon this subject, informs US that such a
ration can be supplied at cost of a frac-
ton less than - cents gold per day, and
! that it would be ample and satisfactory.
! The cost of their clothing is estimated as
being the same as that Of the United
States regular
Easily Enlisted.
! 1--WE feel assured that upon this basis
there will be no difficulty in enlisting first
class men. who would only be too glad to
serve upon these terms. Indeed, d number
of intelligent officers, entirely conversan
with the subject, who have favored us with
| their views, express the opinion that a con-
siderably lower rate of pay would accom-
plsh equally good results. In explanation
of this it may be stated that the earning
capacity of the average native. even Of the
better class. is exceedingly low. His eX-
penditures are correspondingly small and
his style of living meager and simple. 1t IS
however, all that he has been accustomed
to, and, never having known anything bet
ter, he is contented and happy with what he
has. Besides he is Unfortunately fond of the
show and glitter of military life, and wears
his uniform with conscious sense Of pride
and increased Importance, difficult of appre-
citation by those who are unfamiliar with
his characteristics and modes of thought.
Not only does he entertain these senti-
ments himself. but it is cheerfully conceded
by his associates and by the people at large:
it adds to his social position, and that of his
family as well. The pay, clothing and Ia
ton. therefore, which would seem INSULT
cient to an American are regarded with a
| very different eye by the native.
Whether these regiments should be en-
rolled as part of the regular army of the
United States or should constitute sepa-
| rate insular establishment. but under the
| control Of the United States Military au-
| thorities. is an interesting question which
| Is worthy of careful consdera ton which
it no doubt will receive. Arguments pro
| and con readily suggest themselves but as
! the question Is not one In any way af-
| fccted by anything peculiar to this people
or by exceptional local conditions, we make
no recommendation In this connection IT
| should be stated that in any event It will
| be necessary for Congress to make pro-
| vision for the maintenance of these troops
| for the next two years. After that time il
| is believed that with the restoration of or
! der and an improved revenue system hon
| estly and efficiently administered that the
| income of the insular government will have
| so increased that it can without difficulty
permanently assume and carry this burden
Police Organization.
| I'VE further recommend that compre-
| hensiVe scheme of police organization be
| put in force as rapidly possible; that IT
| be separate and distinct from the army
having for its head an officer Of rank and
| pay commensurate with the Importance of
| the position, with sufficient number of as
| sistants and subordinates to exercise thor
| ouSh direction and control. This organiza-
| ton should embrace every township in the
| island and should be SO constituted that
| the police of several contiguous townships
| could be quickly modified. The chief Off
GERS of this organization should be Ameri-
| cans but some of the subordinate officers
| should be natives with proper nroyisfop for