Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-01-20
BELL WILL Be VIGOROUS.
American Commander Finds That Patience
Has Ceased 10 be a Virtue,
VIII Pursue q sterncr Policy and Put
Into Practice a Mild Sort of
Recommendation,

Washington, Jan. 20--TIaying failed,
after two years Of strife, in subduing
the instruction In Batangas province,
which lies Just south Of Manila, and
having satisfied himself that lenlent
treatment Of the insurgents Is produce
tive OF no good results Gen. j, Frank
lin Bell, the military commander in
that province, has determined upon the
enforcement Of the war In the most
vigorous and determined fashion, in
yolving recommendation In a modified
form, the application of martial law in
all directions and the unsparng pur-
'Fsuit and punishment Of the natives who
act as spies and traitors to the United
States. All this appears from a long
report to the war department just pub
lished. The RECOMMENDATION order Is
dated at Batangas, December last,
In substance It provides for the es-
adjustment Of a zone around the gar
risons, into which the friendly nhab-
der penalty Of confiscation and de-
struction Of their property This IS said
to be necessary to prevent the collec-
ton of forced contributions from the
inhabitants by the insurgents, The
military officers are allowed to tx the
price Of necessarles OF life and II is
promised that the people may return
as soon as peaceful conditions are es-
tablshed. This order Is followed by
a long circular by Gen, Bell TO his sta
ton commanders, commenting on eX-
listing conditions and giving them adj
vice how to proceed il begins with
the statement that he shares in the
general conviction that the lnsurrec-
ton continues because the greater part
Of the people, especially the Weather
ones, do not really want peace, He
says Il Is regrettable that the innocent
must suffer with the guilty, but the
greatest good TO the greatest number
can be best brought about by putting
a prompt end 10 the insurrection.
Therefore ne directs the application of
general order No. 100, in force during
the civil war In the United States.
which practically regards an insur-
gent as a guerilla and outside the pale
OF civilized warfare and subject TO the
death penalty wherever such insur-
gent does not engage continuously In
the war and observe all the rules of
war However. II Is provided that
there shall be no executions without
the approval OF superior officer. Com
manding officers are specially enjoined
20 encourage young officers In hunting
down the insurgents and II Is pointed
out that there Is no just cause for eX-
ceptional caution or apprehension In
attacking insurgent bodies wherever
found. At any rate, under the exist
ing conditions, legitimate chances
should be accepted. says Gen. Bell, as
excessive caution viii do the army in
calculablo harm The best defense
AGAINST the insurgents, he says Is 10
assume % vigorous offensive az once; TO
retreat i'm the presence OF the enemy Is
hazardous and discouragng
a special Injunction is laid on the
commanders 20 hunt down their loyal
spies. secret sympathizers and contrib
utors to the rebellion many Of whom
viii be found among the municipal oili-
GERS General Bell says that Malvar
and other insurgent leaders have die
tatcd elections Of all town officials IN
Ratangas and I.aguna and these town
councils meet and pass resolutions de- |
the lnsurrection while secret |
~ informing the insurgents that this |
is done under compuslon and supply
ing them with Information, Therefore |
Cen Ron declares that neutrality !
should not be tolerated. every lnhabi- |
tant should either be an active friend |
on be cassed as an enemy and the acts |
and not works should be the test Chief !
and most important among the class OF |
.lisl0val persons he says, are the native |
priests Cen Fell declares Il Is prac-
ticaly certain that every one In Bat
anCas and Iaguna provinces rs 2 secret |
enemy OF the government and In active
sympathy with the Insurgents, He or
dcrs that they be given no exemption
whatever but be brought to trial when
ever sufficient evidence as obtainable
and adds that even In case ~ well
founded suspicion they should be ar
rested TO ston their further activity
n Is frequently impossible he says
10 obtain evidence against influential
persons as long az they are az liberty,
but once confined evidence IS easily OBJ
tainable. Cen. Bell declares that the
and punishment, OF one
Individual official. wealthy man or
priest IS OF greater Importance than
he punishment OF q hundred ignorant
persons. The wealthy and influential.
he says are those against whom the
most energetic efforts should be d.
'ected.