Evening star., 1901-10-07
CAPT. CONNELL WARNED
PRIEST TOLD HIM OF A FILIPINO
PLOT.
In Spite of Precautions the Garrison
at Balangiga Was Taken
by Surprise.

A dispatch from Manila yesterday says:
Maj. Morris c. Foote of the 9th United
States Infantry. who has returned here
from the Island of Samar, was in Ba-
langiga the day before the disaster to Com
pany c. He says that Capt. Connel had
been fully warned and had taken what he
(Maj. Foote) considered every necessary
precaution. Information that a plot was
brewing among the Filipinos came to Maj.
Foote from a priest. who said that it was
In the plans OF the popuiace at both Ba-
lapgiga and Basey to attack the garrisons.
and that the Basey garrison was to be at
tackled from a cockpit in the rear Of the
barracks. Orders were Immediately given
to demolish the cockpit. and extra guards
were stationed.
There Is intense feeling throughout the
army because of the massacre. which
would not be the case to any such extent
had it been the work of ordinary insur-
gents. The latter might have been ex-
pected to commit such an outrage. Feel
ing Is particularly intense in military cir
cles because the authors Of the massacre
were pacif1coS, most Of whom had taken
tn, oath Of allegiance, and many Of whom,
including the president Of Balangiga, were
actually holding office.
Some Of the after effects are already
shown at many points, particularly at Bau-
Ian and Caloocan, in the province Of Ba-
tangaS and Manila, where dissatisfaction
is manifesting itself, although it is not
likely to be allowed to go far.
On the other hand, the officers and troops
at all the garrisons throughout the archi-
pelago feel that the disaster conveys les
son to themselves of the necessity for in
creased vigilance.
of Oakley Brooks, military prisoner order
ed to be deported. The supreme court re-
Gently issued writ of habeas corpus di-
recting the production of the prisoner, but
fh.a mil ifoV ot,th 70
him on the ground that the only tribunal
having jurisdiction of military prisoner
is the federal court. While the Philippine
courts were established by the war powers
of the President. the military authorities
contend that they are to be regarded as
provost courts until Congress has acted.
The members Of the supreme court and
majority of the members of the Phil
ippine commission hold opposite views,
but it is understood that the Attorney Gen.
eral believes the military contention to be
correct
Gen. Chaffee, discussing the matter to-
day, said: Il am most deSirous to SuS-
tain the civil courts in every possible way,
but feel that 1t would be very unwise in
the existing circumstances to allow the
civil courts to interfere in military affairs,
as 1t Is occasionally necessary for the mil
ftary authorities to act in cases where it
would be unwise, in the interest Of the gov
ernment, to make public at the time the
reasons for acting. Should the claim now
be disastrous to the influence of the army
in the island. Every prisoner sentenced
by a military commission would have re-
course to habeas corpus proceedings. Even
Howard Che alleged deserter) is awaiting
the decision in this case in order to try to
secure his own release by a writ Of habeas
corpus"
Representative John F. Shafroth, who has
been travelling in China and the Philippines
for the past four months, has returned to
his home in Denver, Col. Speaking of the
conditions in the Philippines, he said:
Peace has been practically restored.
There is still a little insurrection In Sa-
mar. but aside from that everything is
fairly quiet I do not believe. however.
that the retention of the islands will be
profitable, as the government will have to
spend great deal of money on them, even
in times of peace.
."It costs now between O.OOO, 600 and $751;
100000 year to keep the soldiers there.
and even If the number Is reduced to 10000.
the expense will still be greater than the
profits from the islands will warrant The
islands are unquestionably rich, but their
benefit to the United States will not ma
terialize until a generation or two shall
have passed and the need for an army in
the islands shall have gone"