The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-23
REPORT FROM CHAFFEE.
Situation in the Philippines and
Major walters O6ense.


partment has made public a report from
General Chaffee, dated March II, which
epitomizes the situation in the various
parts of the Philippine archipelago in a
manner that is particularly satisfactory
to the officials here, in view of the con-
gressional demand for exact and late infor-
nation. General Chaffee refers to the Wal
Ter court-martial, then about to convene,
and touches on the Morong disturbances.
forecasting the ultimate settlements;
checks off the work accomplished toward
reducing posts and speaks of the initiation
of the movement for Malvar's surrender,
an event which has since been brought
about.
The chief parts of the report as pub
lshed are as follows: "A general court
martial of Importance meets here to-day.
You probably will notice in the Associated
Press dispatches that it is for the trial of
Major Waller and Lieutenant Day, of the
marine corps. The purpose of this trial is
to inquire into an unlawful execution of
some natives by these officers. The cause
of the execution is alleged to be that the
natives turned on the marines in the noun
tains and tried to take the life of Lieu
tenant Williams. The natives came out of
the mountains with the command, how
ever, and when sent to Bassey from Taclo-
ban it reported to Major Waller that
they had assaulted Lieutenant Williams, of
the marine corps, ard in other ways turned
traitors to the command.
Major Waller, on what'I think a very
slight inquiry, ordered them executed. They
course should have been tried. if believed
to be guilty of the offense alleged. 1 am In
veStigaung one or two other instances
where 1t is alleged prisoners have been shot
Report has not yet been received.
while at Vigan / received a dispatch
about the Morong disturbances and replied
from there. Such incidents need not &C.
casion much anxiety, they are liable TO oc
cur in various provinces for a year or so,
for it must be remembered that very many
OF the people like ladronism. we call
it out here, and perhaps think it easier
to make living by theft rather than hon.
est toll. The Presidente of Cainta has
been a strong friend of the Americans for
long time and has done much TO assist
them in securing arms in that province
He has undoubtedly made for himself by
this course many enemies, and no doubt
this had something to do with his being
kidnapped. The parties who did this. we
believe, belong in the vicinity of this place
The Presdente escaped from them A few
only of this band have thus far been cap
tured.
''Since Nov. 1 we have abandoned PIP sta
tions. This has been accomplished main
ly by Withdrawing detachments into the
station of the captain.
General. Bell continues to capture arms
and men i'm the Third Brigade as we'll as
receiving surrenders almost daily. Since
December he has secured nearly $500 guns
of various kinds, and / presume that at
least 5000 men have been captured or sur
rendered in the same time To show how
there, we are daily finding arms and pick
ing UP men and receiving surrenders on
the very ground that has been most care
| fully covered or gone over with a large
! force spread out during the first two weeks
! of January. What getting now
were secreted then, and we have no knOwl-
edge that even we shall succeed entirely
/ in ohf cd
or throughout the country. IL is very i'm
| portant that We get hold of all the arms
! possible. for it is with these arms that the
ladrones will create trouble when military
| operation ceases. In Cavite province,
which adjoins Manila, satisfied
| there are many arms secreted. but these
| probably will remain hidden for a long
| time
"Senor Dancel called on me and requested
that a letter he had written to Malvar be
sent to him, or. as ne preferred be taken
| TO him by himself. 1t appears that Dancel
| has lately been in Hong-Kong. where he
had talk with the Junto. The Junto au-
thoriZed him 10 say to Malvar that he
| might surrender; that they believed he
ought to do so, as il was now TO the ad-
| vantage of the Junto and the Philippine
people that hOstiities should cease; other
| wise the Congress of the United States was
/ not likely to do anything in a political way
| for the islands. II seems somewhat re-
/ markable that this Junto would not write
/ a letter to Malvar and append their sigma
/ lures TO it i'm order that it might be present
/ ed as evidence which could not be disputed
/ but this they would not do, il seems to
me they are not honest men, Last fall
/ they instructed Malvar 20 prolong the war
| i'm order to force the United States to legis-
/ late for their Independence at least they
/ believed they would gain that in a political
way by prolOnging the war
| Under the Instructions of the JuntO Nal
/ var has remained out and has carried on
/ the war Now they have changed tactics
| and want the war to cease. but they are
unwilling 10 append their signatures TO a
paper which will convince Malvar OF their
sincerity. Malvar himself is suspicious OF
/ everybody. his neighbors and friends, and
| il is next 10 impossible to communicate
with him.
'Lubkan, since his arrival, has written
many letters To his officers still in the
woods advising them 10 surrender These
| have been sent out by General Smith 10
| the parties TO whom addressed. and we
] hear that they will have a conference some
! where near the head Of the Gandara river
| 10 talk matters over. We hear also that
| Guevarra, who was next I'm command in
Samar 10 Lubkan instead of Abuke as
/ mentioned in my last letter, has issued or
ders forbiddng officers 10 pay any attention
10 communications they may receive from
] I.ubkan. as he is no longer IN "A situation