New-York tribune., 1902-06-26
METHODS IN BATANGAS.
MORE Of GENERAL WHEA-
TONS REPORT.
HOW GENERAL BELLS DRASTIC But
HUMANE POLICY SUPPRESSED
THE INSURRECTION.

Washington June % CSpeciall.-Major General
Wheaton. with his admirable story of the dis
rersai Of the ladrones and the creation OF peace
full security in Luzon, published in The Tribune
on Monday, inclosed an instructive report by MS
immediate subordinate and representative IN the
field Brigadier General ]. Franklin Bell, on the
military methods he pursued in Batansas. winch
General Wheaton declares should be model IN
sunpressing instructions under like circum-
stances II is a recital of facts likely TO dis
pose of many criticisms hastily passed on the
conduct of tre army in the Philippines and
ought TO 90 far TO establish the American sol
dfer's reputation for consderate treatment OIL
an ignorant, superstitious and barely SEMI
civilized foe General Bell says in part;
Upon careful consideration Of the SITUATION
terrain and attitude OF the people Ihsht any
day for q week after my arrival during & Mnlc.
time ] interviewed every proniieii' ih'tls
Filipino within my reach who had Uhe lePu'o
fioH of really desiring peace. IT became PPi aPPti
e-1t thas the only way that I could posSl"iS
succeed in putting end TO insurrection Wltllh
the territorial limits of the brigade Woulo ne oe
cutting off the income and food OF the lhsui-
gents and by crowding them so perslslehiE
with opera tions to wear them out 10 aNold
as far as possible doing damage TO persons VINO
wished for peace. it was plainly deslrahIe ana
essential to afford this class an opportunity 70
separate themselves from the lTreconclahie-
had learned OF the imposition and eNactofs'
and was assured that there were many peoPle
who contributed to and assisted the lnsurreC-
tion solely through fear OF refusing to do So II
was Impossible TO Judge who wanted peace ai!'.
who not 1t was earnestly desired 10 aSolu
making war against any who really wanted 10
he neacaful and to protect them against the
veneeance of insurgents. 1t not desired TO
confscate OF destroy their food, but II was
learned that the insurgents had accumulated
large quantities of food in the mountains ana
other hiding places formerly uninha hited. ana
that a large number Of natives, either under
compulsion from choice. were aiding and as
sisting living with them. Insurgents claimed
they had enough food accumulated to last NAL
vars forces for two years 1t was necessary TO
confiscate and TO bring into the towns. or De
stroy this food. 1t was also necessary to pre-
vent the people living in outlying districts from
contributing food to the Insurgents
Some of the leading people who were in con-
troll in Bauan. place four miles from the town
sf Batangas. had concluded prior TO my arrival
that they wanted peace bad enough TO fight for
it, but found themselves confronted with the
same problems as indicated They solved the
difficulty for themselves without instigation or
suggestion from any one by passing a munich
pal act requiring ali the people to come from
the harrios and outlying districts into the town,
and to bring all their food with them. When
this was accomplished they went after the in
surgents and in a very short space of time
ceeded in killing, capturing or forcing to sur
render every insurgent in their jurisdiction
They then had peace. the people returned TO
their homes, and a consequence Of this deter
mined and voluntary action on the part of the
town. 1t has suffered less than any other in the
province One strong minded. determined man,
the Chief Of Police, really the person TO
whom credit is due for this sensible attitude and
action. and had there been equally strong and
determined men In every town. the struggle
against the insurrection in Batangas would have
ended long ago.
ZONES OF PROTECTION
Encouraged by the attitude of Bauan in the
belief that could turn the people against the
insurgents. notwithstanding that they We're all
Tagalogs, determined to work with this end in
view. a policy OF permitting neutrality
consequently adopted, but / realized that il
would do no good TO try TO force the inha bitants
TO be our friends To give the pacfcally in
clined opportunity themselves from
hardship and TO preserve their property (Which
practically consisted of food supplies alone), and
10 protect them against enforced contributions
to insurgents, l established zones of protection
sufficiently close TO all towns to enable the small
Garrisons TO give protection TO people living
therein against the vengeance and oppressive
exactions Of the insurgents. AS friendship can
not be created to order by force / deemed il best
not to compel the people to enter these zones as
the council Of Bauan had done but merely TO
offer them the opportunity, and permit them
decide for themselves whether they would be
friends or enemies. As a consequence. no one
was forced TO enter the zones but many were
forced by the insurgents TO accompany them
with all their effects to the mountains.
In consideration Of this latter fact, before
beginning active military operations, period of
SIX days was given TO having all troops hunt
these intinidated people, and bring them with
their families and food, into protected zones
During this period thousands of natives went
out under escort TO get and bring into the towns
food supplies which they had hidden outside
pursuant to orders from insurgents. When op-
erattons did begin natives permitted to G
company the troops by hundreds the
pose OF bringing back TO town rice and palay
hidden by insurgents in the mountains and
found by troops. Many thousands pounds of
food. which had been taken from the people by
insurgents. was recovered and restored to them
As a consequence. Notwithstanding the concen-
tration. the poor people have this year had
larger supplies Of food than they have enjoyed
for many seasons. There has been absolutely
hunger within the territorial limits Of the
brigade and suffering that account. AS
another means to prevent the insurgents from
procuring food. the ports had been closed
December 10 These provinces have never raised
enough rice TO feed them through the year. II
has always been their custom import it, and
when the rice supply seemed low il neces-
ssry for the goverEmon mt to import from Manila
millions Of pounds Of rice for sale people liv-
ing in protected zones. To those entirely with
enable the poor TO earn money with which
hay rice extensive road work carried in
conjunction with the campaign. the money to
pay these iahoreTs being derived by imposing
road tax those who preferred to pay rather
than work and from special appropria tions by
the civil commission. This has resulted in
greatly improving the roads in the provinces
of Batangas and Laguna. As the campaign
progressed many additional people voluntarily
Tor peace waxed stronger every day. and ma tives
volunteered assistance to Americans at every
hand and in every town.
CARING FOR THE SICK.
When these volunteers could be trusted they
were armed and sent 10 the mountains and al
ways succeeded in performing service of
value, but more frequently still they returned
with hundreds of women and children released
from the intimdating influence of insurgents
ano entering the zones under protection afforded
them. Of these people, the able bodied men
Were examined, and those found TO be insurgents
were detained prisoners Of .rar. The rest
were permitted 10 join friends IL they had any.
In the zones, but II they had none food and
shelter were provided for them. At the town of
Batengas those who We're sick were placed in
hospital provided for the purpose where they
fn. chea food