Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-01-23

Washington, jan. 20 Having failed,
after two years strife, in aubduing the
insurreotion in Batangas provinces.
which lies Just south of Manila, and
having satisfied himself that lerient
treatment OF the insurgents is product.
i've of no good results, Gen. j. Franklin
Bell, the military commander in that
province, has determined on the enforce
ment of the war in the most vigorous
fashion, involving reorganization in a
modified form, the application OF mar
tial law in all directions. and the I'm.
sparing pursuit and punishment of the
ratives who act as spies and traitors to
the United States. AL this appears in
long report to the War Department
Just published.
The reooncentration order is dated
batangas, December last In substance
1t provides for the establishment Of a
zone around the garrisons, and the
friendly inhabitants are TO be required
to come under the penalty of confisca.
ton and destruction OF their propertv.
This is said to be necessary to prevent
the collection Of forced contributions OF
the inhabitants by the Insurgents. The
military officers are allowed to fix the
price OF necessaries of life, and it is
promised that the people may return as
soon as peaceful conditions are estab-
lished
This order is followed by a long cir
cular by Gen, Bell to his station com
manders. commenting on existing con
ditions and advising them how TO pro.
coed. Ii begins with the statement that
he shares In the general conviction that
the insurrection continues because the
greater part OF the people, especially
the Weather ones, do not really want
peace He says it is regrettable that
the innocent must suffer with the
guilty, but the greatest good to the
greatest number can best be brought
about by putting prompt end to the
resurrection. Therefore, he directs the
application OF general order 100 in force
during the Civil War in the United
States, which practically regards an in
surgent as a guerilla, and outside the
pale OF civilized warfare, and subject
to the death penalty, wherever such in
surgent does not engage continually in
the war and observe all the rules of
war. However, it is provided that there
shall be no executions without the ar
proyal of a superior officer. Command
ing officers are specially enjoined to en-
courage young officers in hunting down
the insurgents, and it IS pointed out
that there is no Just cause for exoep.
tional caution or apprehension in at.
lacking insurgent bodies wherever
found. At amy rate, under existing
conditions, legitimate chances should
be accepted, says Gen. Bell, as excessive
caution will do the army incalcuable
harm. The best defence against the in !.
surgents he says, is to assume Wig
orous offensive at once to retire in the
presence of the enemy is hazardous and
discouraging.
A special injunction Ia laid on the
commanders to hunt dowa through loyal
spies secret sympsthizers with and con
tributors to the rebellion, many of whom
will be found among the municipal
officers Gen. Bell says that Malvar
and other insurgent leaders have direc.
tion of all town officials in Batangas
and Laguna, and the Town Councils
meet and pass resolutions denouncing
the instruction while secretly inform
ing the insurgents that this Ia done
under compulsion and supplying them
with infJi nation. Therefore, Gen,
Bell declares that neutrality should not
be tolerated; every inhahitant should
be either an active friend or be classed
as an enemy, and acts, not words, must
be made the test. Chief and most i'm
portant among the class OF dsloyal per
sons, he says, are the native priests.
Gen. Bell declares it is practically GER
tain that eyery one In Batangas and
Laguna Provinces is a secret enemy of
the government and In active sympathy
with the insurgents. He orders that
they be given no exemption whatever,
but be brought to trial whenever sutii :
Gent evidence is obtsinable, and adds
that even In case of well founded sus.
picion they should be arrested, to stop
their further activity. 1t is frequently
impossible, he says, to obtain evidence
against influential persons as long as
they are at liberty, but once confined
evidence is easily obtainable. Gen. Bell
declares that the apprehension and pun
ishment of one individual official
wealthy man or priest is of greater i'm /.
portance than the punishment of hun
dred ignorant persons The wealthy and
influential, he says, are those against
whom the most energetic efforts should
be directed.