Connecticut western news., 1901-09-05
FILIPINOS UNDER ARMS
MacArthur Says They Are Less
 Than a Thousand.
EVERYTHING GOING SMOOTHLY.
Former Governor General of Philip. pines Believe. Civil Government by Natives Will He Possible In Time. Better Element Progressive.


 pines Believe. Civil Government by Natives Will He Possible In Time. Better Element Progressive. New York, Sept. 4.-Major General Arthur MacArthur. who recently re-
 turned from the Philippines. came to
 New York yesterday from Washington
 to pay his respects to Secretary of War
 Elihu Root previous to his departure
 for his home in Milwaukee. Il had very pleasant call on Mir.
 Root yesterday afternoon" said Gen.
 eral Macarthur at the Waldorf AS toria. '.There was nothing in the na-
 ture of a consultation. 1 called merely
 to pay my respects. When l left Ma
 nila, my official connection with the Philippines ceased"
 General Macarthur will remain here several days and then will go to Mill waukee, where elaborate preparations are being made to welcome him. The
 ceremonies will begin on Sept. II with
 a grand parade of the state troops and
 a banquet by the Merchants associa-
 ton. There will be minor functions
 that will extend over several days. MacArthur to Succeed Merriam. It Is understood that General Mac Arthur will be placed on the waiting list for awhile to give him rest and that after the retirement of General Merriam, now in command of the de- partment of Colorado, he will be as- signed to that command. with head quarters in Denver. He said 1t would not be in good taste for him to dis cuss this matter, and he would neither
 deny nor confirm the report.
 Have you anything to say regarding the criticism of the methods employed by General Funston in capturing Agui-
 naldo?" General Macarthur was asked.
 "Only this," he replied. "All credit for the achievement belongs to General Funston, but any criticism of the
 methods he employed should be di- rected to me, as General Funston
 merely was carrying out orders given by me. They are discussing this mat ter In Europe" he added. much more
 than the people here appear to be do ing"
 Speaking of present conditions in the
 Philippines. General MacArthur said little remained to be done compared
 with what has already been accom-
 plished.
 Everything Is going smoothly there
 at present." he said, thanks largely to the efficient cooperation of the war
 department under the direction of Sec
 retary Root There are less than 1000
 men under arms against us. They are divided in two groups, one in the
 southern part of the island of Luzon
 under Malvar and the other under Luc- ban on the island of Samar. There is
 some disorder In the island of Bohol,
 but otherwise the islands are compara-
 lively quiet" .t= Must Retain Large Army. How soon 1t would be expedient to
 reduce our army in the islands Gener-
 al Macarthur was not prepared to say,
 but for the present, at least, he says the military force there should not be al- lowed to fall below 10000.
 Ut Is not the number of men we have there, however, that has to do with overcoming the bands that yet remaiu
 under arms" he said. "1he number WIG now have is as good as a million would be. The Filipinos have retired to the | fastnesses of the mountains, and 1t Is
 only by cutting off their source of sup. plies, as we have done, that we finally | can overcome them. It Is difficult to de scribe these mountains. They are vast | ly different and more difficult to get about in than any we have in this | country"
 General Macarthur believes a civil government can be organized by the | Filipinos in the course of time that will l be satisfactory not only to them, but to the United States.
 There is very evident desire on | the part of all the better element tC
 adopt English ways" he said. ''They
 realize that American rule Is there to | stay"
 As to the frauds in the commissary | department, General Macarthur said there was no indication of any further
 trouble. The total loss to the govern. | ment, he said, was not more than $T50
 but he nevertheless deplored the fact
 that any officer should have yielded to
 temptation.