Evening star., 1901-08-09
ARMING THE NATIVES
Successful Experiment in the Philip
pines.
WORK OF THE POLICE And THE SCOUTS
Praised by the Department Com
manders.
A HOPEFUL PREDICTION

The insular division of the War Depart
ment is in receipt of a report forwarded
by General Macarthur from Manila, p L.,
showing the condition and results achieved
by the native police for the months of
April and May, 1901. 1t is made up Of sew
eral returns from department and district
commanders. and shows the force TO be In
high state of Improvement. and the plan,
at first regarded as an experiment is fast
becoming an important factor In restoring
good order and discipline in localities which
for years before and since the war nave
been regarded as unsafe for both man and
property.
The detailed reports are from the de-
partments of northern and southern
Luzon The following brief extracts from
the same Indicate conditions as described
by the army officials themselves:
Gen. Lloyd Wheaton, from the departments
of northern LuZon. says: In general there
has been an increase in the efficiency OF
the police: no material changes, except
that in some new towns the force has been
increased. No loss of arms or bad conduct
has been reported from any section
Caused Insurgents to Surrender.
Gen. j. Fl. Smith says: THE work of the
police throughout the district has been gem
orally good, and the arms have been kept
in a satisfactory condition. They have been
instrumental in having many insurgents
surrender have captured several small
bands, have given accurate information as
to the location of insurgent bands. and
when they undertake to visit towns they are
at once arrested by the police. They are
especially efficient night watchmen, in
arresting petty thieves and keeping down
lawlesSnesS and ridding towns of ladrOnes.
They have arrested many suspected insur-
of,I .rNttr rod ly-A~ riff
Gen. Funston says: They are fearless
and efficient conditions are favorable and
no evidence of unfaithfulness to the United
States at any point He makes special
mention of a clever arrest and capture of
Camay, a noted insurgent by the San Fer
nando police while ostensibly on another
mission
Gen. Bell adds: "The radically changed
conditions will soon warrant organizing
and arming the local police
Gen. r. u. Grant says: "They have done
excellent service and he makes recon-
mendations for extra pay for deserving
men.
From southern Luzon the same generally
favorable conditions are represented Gen.
j. e. Bates says: There has been a.
marked improvement in their condition
since my last report
Gen. ]. F Wade, in writing of the force
adds: There has been steady improve
ment iii the forces
Gen. S. S. Summer says Of them: Work
OF the police has been very satisfactory;
they are of great assistance in improving
local conditions, stopping petty thieving,
warning military authorities of the arrival
of bad characters There is a general i'm
provement at all places where the system
is in operation" He suggests that troops
can be entirely withdrawn from several
pueblos If proper attention is given to
building up the police force.
This native police is purely local in it's
character. 1t is supported by the towns and
provinces. assisted by the insular govern
ment.
The Scouts
There Is another body of men employed
in the islands known as the scouts" This
body is generally mounted and their du-
ties are to patrol the territory outside Of
local governments and not directly under
the protection of local police The scouts
are paid directly from insular funds, and
such being the nature of their employment
they are frequently called upon to assist
the local organizations in preserving the
peace and pursuing marauding bands.
A portion of these forces are called
'Macabebe scouts These Were organized
from the Macabebe, at the town of Maca-
bebe. by Major Batson, under orders from
Gen. Lawton, just before his last northern
campaign, in which he broke up the insur-
gent army. They rendered conspicuous aid
and the success of their employment was
imm ediately followed by the organization
by Gen. Lawton, about the same time, of
Capt. Cashiers 'Tugalo scouts which
ISHutTeu SuCu SlSHdl SeTNlCc IN the north
ern campaign. where they penetrated the
mountains and went up the Mangan valley
to Aparri. Since that experience author
fty has been given to various commanders
to organize natives into scouts. who alone
can differentiate between the Tulisane and
Amigo. In every case their use has been
successful. These scouts. though not regu-
larly enlisted into the service Of the United
States, take an oath OF allegiance and to
faithful performance of their duties. They
have a military organization and receive
about the same nominal pay as regularly
enlisted men and non-commissioned OFF,
GERS, except that it is paid in silver.
From the above it will be seen that the
efforts of the officers in command in the
Philippines to utilize the services Of ma
tiveS in maintaining peace and restoring
the country to normal conditions Is meet
ing with success, and If the predictions of
many of them prove true 1t Is fair to as
sumo that with prompt pay, strict disci-
pline, humane treatment and education the
task Of policing the entire archipelago may
at an early day be substantially confided to
loyal natives under proper American direc-
ton.