Evening star., 1901-04-30

'preSldente' of Lamboanga Alvarez was
unable TO control the insurgents, who COM
mitted all sorts OF depredatiOns and burned
and looted part of the town. The actions
of the insurgents greatly aided Midel in
arousing the indignant populace against
them Midel was the chief factor in or
ganiZing a force with which to drive the
insurgents from Zamboanga. His jurisdic-
tion over the place was shortly after con-
firmed by Commander Very of the Castine
and subsequently by General Bates.
The people Of this part of the island are
of three distinct races. The Moros are by
far the most numerous. The head OF the
Moros in the district of Zamboanga is Dat
to Mandi, who is every inch man, and
well fitted to command the ten thousand
fighting men that are said to recognize his
authority. Second to the Moros in number
resented are the Chinese. The head of this
aforementioned race Is Captain Tiawa, a
Chinaman whose word Is law to every ce-
lestial within the limits Of his jurisdiction.
During the Spanish rule Zamboanga was
town of twenty thousand inhabitants,
Christians. Chinese and Moros. 1t was the
seat of the political and military govern
ment of the island. 1t Is the present cap
ital and enjoys the reputation Of having
the most beautiful women in the Philip
pines. The town Is clean and the condi-
ttons for health are good. Sickness among
the troops at Zamboanga is rare. Not
W1thStanding the fact that we are nearer
the equator than Central America Is, the
climate here is very mild and equable Var
ious statements have been made in regard
to the climate Of Mindanao and It's effect
on white people, but the records show that
the percentage Of sickness and death among
the American troops here is far less than
that shown by the health reports of our
American cities. If one is permanently
situated In a good locality, where he can
get plenty of wholesome food, he is likely
to remain well. To be on the safe side the
newcomer to Mindanao should drink spar
lrgly OF water, and that should be boiled
lo1 hapo III
be scrupulously careful about his diet avoid
excesses of all kinds and keep out of the
sun as much possible during the middle
of the day. Malaria and digestive trou-
bleS are chiefly to be feared. The effects of
many diseases much dreaded in temperate
climates are mild here, and aside from the
above named diseases the danger from sick
ness is comparatively slight.
Fortunately the 31st has lost yery few
men: but military funeral for some rea-
son always seems doubly sad. Perhaps it
Is because 1t Is so simple. When Private
Van orman died. 1 remember, the troops
were formed in front of the hospital and
the band played Crock Of Ages while
they placed the casket on the caisson,
which was nothing more than an army
wagon drawn by mules; but it was draped
In black and white cloth, and the casket
was covered with beautiful flowers The
battalion marched to the old Spanish ceme-
terry beyond the fort. and the men Of G
company bore the remains to the grave.
In lieu of chaplain the adjutant read the
burial service, after which the armed es-
cort fired three volleys over Van Orman' a
grave. and the company trumpeter blew
taps Then the battalion marched aWay
and daily duties. for the moment laid aside
were taken up again.
Savages to Deal With.
Conditions in this part of the Philippines
are very different from what they are in
LuZon. These people down here know lit
tie and care less about Aguinaldo, as the
fate of Calixto shows; but the United
States may well have grave apprehensions
as to the outcome of our policy toward the
Moros. These people are simply savages
OF the most cunning and treacherous type
Moreover, they are Mohammedans with all
that that implies. That they can fight is
attested by the fact that Spain sent a
splendid army against them into the in
terror. and the Moros greatly harassed
them, while their defamation was COM
pleted by disease and starvation. 1t has
been well said that our officers on duty in
Mindanao and the Sulus are placed in a
most difficult position, being apparently
damned II they do and damned If they
don't. There Is no standard of punishment
for civil offenses, and each commanding Of
hcer must be the judge Of what Is required
of him. The task of forcing the Moros to
accept our standards is a difficult one and
Is not in keeping with the policy toward
them which the American government has
deliberately adopted. Officers cannot be
judged by the ordinary standards of mill
tary responsibility in time of peace among
civilized people. The 31st was sent to MIN
danao. after Gen. Bates had made his fam
GUS treaty with the Sultan of Sulu, with In
structions to do all that was possible to
keep the peace. One OF the first orders 10