The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-11-15
CHAFFEE ALONE
RESPONSIBLE
Shoulders the Blame For Occur.
rences in the Philippines.
A PLEA MADE FOR CEN. BELL
: REPORTS SUBMITTED BY MEM
BERs OF THE STAFF.
A PLEA MADE FOR GEN. BELL
IIIAsHINGToN. Nov. 80 an

WASHINGTON, Nov 1.-The an
w nual report of Major General
Adna r. Chanee, just made pub
lie, closes Sept. 30, the date when he
relinquished his command of the di-
vision of the Philippines The report
covers the campaign of General ]. II.
Smith in Samar, refers to some fric-
ton that occurred between the civil
and military authorities regarding
Leyte, and discusses the actions Of va
rious officers and the work of the army
IN the suppression of recent insurrec-
tons General Chaffee warmly de-
tends the officers and assumes fun re-
spOnSibility for all that was done under
official orders. He says that the vari-
Gus Filipino bands were of little mil
itary Importance and in time can be
handled by the insular constabulary.
Speaking of the campaign in Samar.
General Chaffee SAYS that he finds
nothing in the written instructions
which was not conferred by the con-
ditions there to be overcome" General
Chaffee says the formation Of concen-
tration camps was necessary to sup
press the instruction in the provinces
of Batangas. Laguna and Tayabas. He
asserts that the civil authorities in
some instances aided the instructions
lists, and says: 1T was found neces-
sary to arrest and cOnfirie 300 or 400 OF
the intelligent class in order to remove
the influence of the masters over the
masses Of the population"
Censure of Bell.
General Chaffee requests the removal
~ of all censure that has been passed
Publicly upon General Bell regarding
the orders, circulars and instructions
which he issued while putting down
the Instruction.
An interesting feature of General
Chahee's report relates to the MOros in
Mindanao and Jolo. He says it will re-
1ulre time, tact and patience to esfab-
lish United States authority over all
the Moro settlements. In this eonnec-
tion he says:
THE sooner the sultan of Jolo's title,
actual or assumed, as sovereign and as
sole owner of land in the Jolo archi-
peiagO is quoted, the better for the sit
uation. Probably there is little doubt
that money consideration would re-
lieve the situation of mis- claim and his
presence; and if this be done, laws, Just
but simple. and so plainly stated as to
be understood by the Moro population
generally, could be enforced through
the dattOs upon their followers with
out much trouble or frequent resort to
force 1t will be impossible for many
years to ignore chieftainships-
and to deal directly with the indi-
Vidual MOrOs as is done with civilized,
Christian people. 1t will, however be
long step ahead for the inhabitants
OF Jolo archipelago when the dattos
are Independent of the sultan and rec
ognize the United States as the only
sovereignty to which allegiance is due
and as the only authority empowered
TO enact laws for the government of
the Inhabitants and the country: that
all the inhabitants are equal before the
law that Christian people have right
TO live. The few simple propositions
acknowledged. the government of the
Moro people would not at all be diff
cult But to advance so far will con-
sumo much time and may result in
national conflict, for the modification
OF present beliefs to accord with the
above ideas will in some cases require
that military force be used
Degree of Force Used.
General Chaffee says that force has
been used only to the degree necessary
TO make it understood plainly that per-
sons entitled to protection cannot he
murdered. and that the authority of
the United States cannot be uues-
toned. The inattention of the United
States forces, he says. has been mis-
understood. and the dattos believe the
troops to be towards and afraid to at
tack their defenses. He says force
must be applied to humble their pride
and assume invincibiiity
Commenting on other sections of the
Islands, General Chaffee says that at
the time of writing his report the army
ing withdrawn from all participation in
civil affairs as rapidly as civil organ
izations can be erected. This has been
completed in all except Batangas and
Samar. where it is expected to be ac-
complished by the end of the year. He
says:
'All parts of the archipelago. exeept
what Is known as the Moro country.
nave been formally organized for civil
government and turned over to IFS Of
Meals. he
perVisory or actual control over its
Inhabitants or their affairs
General Chaffee points out the neces-
slty for more barracks and quarters
and says the 81. 500, GOO appropriated for
the army in the Philippines will not
provide more than temporary shelter. F"
built largely OF native materials He
thinks permanent sites should be pur-
chased and suitable buildings erected
at healthful points in the island.
Health of the Army
Concerning the health of the COM
mand, General Chaffee says:
The oscillation of the percentage of
sick in the command has not exceeded
two and One-half points during the
year. The maximum was Ssh per cent
for August, 1901; the minimum col per
cent for May. 1902 The deaths in the
division for the year as a result Of
Z battle are nine officers and 125 enlisted
men, as against twenty officers and PIG
enlisted men for the previous year. OF
the twenty-six causes of death tabu-
lated by the chief surgeon, dysentery is
the most prominent. Deaths from
cholera he ascribes to wiIful disregard
of timely explained dangerous prac-
tees. and failure to avoid known 10
calities of infection. While the num-
Der of deaths of natives and others not
of the military service reaches nearly
$4,000, the lives Of many thousands of
natives have been saved. he says,
through the influence exercised by the
army in localities where precaution is
regarded as of little or no avail.
Under the reorganizatio army act
there have been organized five compa-
MES of Philippine scouts, a total
strength of 5000. composed of six diff
ferent tribes General Chaffee says:
They are fairly efficient and effective
and when carefully differed serve their
purpose WE'LL
In a highly commendatory statement
General Chaffee acknowledges the as
sistance which the army has received
from the navy.
In conclusion General Chaffee makes
statement of the general character
of the army and the duty of the troops
which is in the nature of a reply to
criticisms that have been made. lie