Evening star., 1902-04-30
COMMEND GEN. .CHAFFEE
MANILA MERCHANTS ADOPT
RESOLUTIONS PRAIs1NG ARMY.
But for the Military, They Say, It
Would Be Impossible to
Stay There.

A dispatch from Manila yesterday says:
| The American chamber of commerce has
passed resolution indorsing the action of
| the United States army in the Philippines,
| in an endeaver to counteract what the mem =
| bers of the chamber believe to be the opn-
| ion prevailing in the United States that
officers and soldiers have acted in viola ton
| of the rules of war. The preamble says
| the chamber is composed exclusively of
American business men, who have been
thrown into immediate contact with the
prevailing conditions everywhere in the
archipelago, and it was resolved that with
out the constant watchfulness and protec-
ton of the army in the Philippines no prop
| erty or business interests would be safe,
and that upon it's influence depends the sta
: b1llty of the civil government. The resolu-
ton euiogiZeS General Chaffee, whose
earnest effort has sustained and assisted
the civil authorities in the difficult task of
the establishment of civil government -
and praises his good judgment and hu-
manity, which have won him the admiration
and affection of all loyal Americans in the
islands,
When the trial by court-martial of Cen
eral Jacob H. Smith was resumed today
Pedro Bella, a boy mascot of Company E
of the 9th Infantry, commanded by Captain
Ihomas w. ConneL, who was massacred by
the Samar natives at Balangiga, testified
that he saw Captain Conneil'S death wound
given by boy of fifteen. The witness saw
several other boys of the same age among
the natives who took part in the massacre,
and thought he could himself use a boIo
against soldier
Captain Waldo E Aver, General Smiths
adJutant general, said he had been closely
in touch with all the movements, and knew
General Smiths plans, purposes and feel
ings at every phase. He added that on the
generals arrival the coast was deserted
and he saw the same towns filled with
people when he left But SO far as the
people of Samar were concerned he met
only one man worthy of respect who was
sincere, patriotic and honorable. He must
admit, however, that the man with this
qualification was born at Martinique, of
Tagalog ancestry.
First Lieut. Nandeman of the Dist In
fantry. who had charge of the military in
formation bureau, described, from the rec
ords, the treachery of the natives of Samar
General George Davis has arrived at Lake
LaHo Island of Mndanao. and has had an
interview with nine dattos, who are de-
sirous of peace and friendship. Pappok
one of these dattos, said he did not write
the defiant letter received bv the Ameri-
cans al the time of the massacre of the
American troops in Mindanao He assert
ed that 1t was written in the house of
priest from Taisaira while he was sick
The priest fed the approach of the
troops.
General Davis says the policy of waiting
for a strong force, showing friendship to
the natives ana paying for supplies is hav-
ing good results.
Captain Lea Febiger of the 18th Infan-
try Is clearing the trails. He gets more
work out of the Moros than any one else
When the the reinforcements reach Min
danao the Americans will be near Datto
Bayan,and maye invite the chief to friend
Iy conference and request him to deliver IN
the murderers of American soldiers who
are known to be among his forces If he
refuses the troops will demolish his forts
MOI q SnOt has been fired
Col. FRANK ID. Baldwin of the 4th Jnfan-
Try captured the fort The Moros are now
impressed with American valor. They pre-
Elously thought themselves invincible, the
Spanlards not having reached the lake II
IS peneVed that when the campaign is con-
Guided the most satisfactory conditions will
exist; that the natives will be friendly and
Will fast assimilate with the ways of the
Americans. ~
The cholera statistics to date are as fol-
lows: " 'i
Manila, 605 cases and 4s3 deaths. nrou-
lnces, l,I64 cases and 1,2S1 deaths