The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-20
REBELS MUST
Be sUBDUED
Drastic Measures Adopted
by Gen. Bell.
RECOMMENDATION ONE
Stringent Orders Relating to Batan-
gas Province.
RECOMMENDATION ONE
LENIENCY PROVES INEFFECTIVE
wealthy and influential Classes and
Priests the Ones Chiefly
Aimed At.

ter two years strife, IN SuDdulng the IN
surrection in Batangas province, which
lies just south of Manila, and having
satisfied himself that lenient treatment
of the insurgents is productive of no good
results, General j. Franklin Bell. the
military commander in that province, has
determined on the enforcement of the war
in the most vigorous and determined fash
ion, involving recommendation in mod
flied form, the application Of martial law
in all directions and the unsparing pur-
suit and punishment of the natives who
act as spies and traitors to the United
States.
All this appears from long report to
the war department just published. The
RECOMMENDATION order Is dated at Batan-
gas, Dec. last. 1t provides for the es-
Enlistment of zone around the gar
risons, into which the friendly inhabitants
are to be required to come under penalty
of conhscation and destruction of their
property. This is said to be necessary
to prevent the collection Of forced con-
tributions from the Inhabitants by the
insurgents. The military officers are al
| lowed to fix the price of necessaries OF
life, and it is promised ,that the people
may return as soon as peaceful conditions
are established.
Instructions to Commanders.
This order is followed by - long cir
| cular by General Bell TO his station com
manders, commenting on existing condi-
lions and giving them advice how to pro-
coed. 1t says that he shares in the gen
| eral conviction that the insurrection con-
tinues because the greater part of the
people, especially the wealthiest ones, dc
not really want peace. He says it is re-
grettable that the innocent must suffer
with the guilty, but the greatlst gool
to the greatest number can best be
| brought about by putting prompt enc
to the instruction. Therefore he direct!
! the application of General Order No. 10(
in force during the civil war in the United
States, which practically regards an in
pale of civilized 1wsffafe and subject tt
! the death penalty, Wherever such insur
gent does not engage continuously in thu
war and observe all the rules of war
However, it is provided that there shall
be no executions without the approval o
superior officer. Commanding officer.
are especially enjoined to encourag,
young officers in hunting down the insur
gents and it is pointed out that there Il
no just cause for exceptional caution o.
apprehension in attacking insurgent bod
fes wherever found. Says General Bell:
At any rate legitimate chances should b
accepted, as excessive caution will do til
army ,incalculable harm. The best defens
against the insurgents is to asusme vigor
GUS offensive at once; to retire in the presenc
of the enemy is hazardous and discouraging
Hunt Them Down
l. special injunction is laid on the com
manders to hunt down through loyal spie
secret sympathizers with and contribu
tors to the rebellion, many of whom will
be found among municipal officers. Gen
eral Bell says:
Malvar and other insurgent leaders hav
dictated elections of all town officials in Ba
tangas and Laguna, and these town council
meet and pass resolutions denouncing the in
surrection, while secretly informing the in
surgents that this is done under compulsio
and supplying them with information. There
fore, neutrality should not be tolerated
every inhabitant should be either an activ
friend or be classed as an enemy, and acts
not words, must be made the test Chief an
most important among the class of disloya
+ persons are the native priests. 1t is practi
} cally certain that every one in Batangas an
Laguna provinces is a secret enemy Of tn
government and in active sympathy with tn
, insurgents
General Bell orders that they be givel
no exemption whatever, but be brough
to trial whenever sufficient evidence i
obtainable and adds:
, Even in case of well-6ounded suspicion the
2 should be arrested to stop their further act
:, ivity. It is frequently impossible to obtai
, | evidence against influential persons as Ion
, as they are at liberty, but once confined ev
! dence is easily obtainable. The apprehensio
and punishment of one individual off1cia
wealthy man or priest is OF greater impo1
n tanee than tie punishment of hundred ignc
rant persons The wealthy and inf!uentis
f are those against whom the most energeti
. efforts should be directed.