Evening star., 1902-01-20

province, winch Hes JUST south OF Mania,
and having satisfied himself that the treat
ment Of the insurgents leniently is produc-
tive of no good results, Gen. j. Franklin
Bell the military commander in that prov
ince, determined upon the enforcement of
the war in the most vigorous and deter
mined fashion involving RECOMMENDATION in
a modified form, the application of martial
law In all directions, and the unsparing
pursuit and punishment Of the natives who
act as spies and traitors to the United
States. All this appears from long re-
port to the War Department, just pub
Iished.
The Recommendation Order.
The recommendation order is dated at
Batangas, December last, and is as fol-
lows:
ITO all Station Commanders:
I'm order to put an end to enforced con-
tributions, now levied by insurgents upon
the inhabitants of sparsely settled and out
lying barrios and districts, by means Of In
timidation and assa ssination, commanding
officers Of all towns now existing in the
provinces Of Batangas and Laguna, includ-
ing those at which no garrison is stationed
at present, will Immediately specify and eS-
tablish plainly marked limits surrounding
each town bounding a zone within which
it may be practicable with an averaged
sized garrison, to exercise efficient super
vision over and furnish protection to in
habitants (who desire to be peacefuD
against the depredationS of armed insur-
gents. These limits may include the bar
rios which exist sufficiently near the town
to be given protection and supervision by
the garrison, and should include some
ground on which live stock could Craze, but
so situated that it can be patrolled and
watched. All ungarrisoned towns Will be
garrisoned as soon as troops become avail
able.
Commanding officers will also see that
orders are at once given and distributed
to all the inhabitants within the jurisdic-
ton of towns over which they exercise SUI
pervision informing them Of the danger of
remaining outside of these limits, and that
unless they move by December % from out
lying barros and districts, with all their
movable food supplies including rice, pa
lay, chickens, live stock, ETC., to within the
limits of the zone established at their own
or nearest town, their property found out
side Of said zone at said date will become
liable to confiscation or destruction. The
people will be permitted to move houses
from outlying districts should they desire
to do so, or to construct temporary shelter
for themselves on any vacant land without
compensation to the owner, and no owner
will be permitted to deprive them of the
privilege of doing so.
In the discretion of commanding officers
the prices Of necessities Of existence may
also be regulated In the interest Of those
thus seeking protection.
LAS soon peaceful conditions have
been re-established in the brigade these per-
sons will be encouraged to return to their
homes, and such assistance be rendered
them may be found practicable.
-. F. BELL.
"Brigadier General, Commanding.
Course of Action Outlined.
This order was followed by a long tele-
graphic circular addressed by General Bell
to all station commanders, which is proba
bly, the most remarkable document of it's
kind in the history of the United States.
1t sums up the difficulties of the situation
in the Philippines, and outlines vigorous
course Of action for the suppression Of the
inSurrection. 1t also bears date December
8, and is as follows:
IA general conviction which the brigade
commander shares appears to exist that the
insurrection in this brigade continues be-
cause the greater part of the people, espe-
clally the wealthy ones, pretend to desire,
but in reality do not, want peace. That
when all really want peace we can have it
promptly. Under such circumstances it is
clearly indicated that policy should be
adopted that will as soon as possible make
the people want peace, and want it badly.
1T is an inevitable consequence Of war
that the innocent must generally suffer with
the guilty, for when inf1icting merited pun
tshment upon a guilty class it is unfortu-
nately at times impossible to avoid the do
Ing Of damage to some who do not indi-
vidually deserve it. Military necessity fire.
quently precludeS the possibility of making
Determinations. This is regrettable, but It
should be borne in mind that the greatest
good to the greatest number can best be
brought about by putting prompt end to
insurrection. A short and severe war
creates in the aggregate less loss and suf
fering than benevolent war Indefinitely pro-
longed. For reasons here indicated, which are
well known to all, and chief Of which Is the
delay and difficulty in ascertaining the
exact truth it will be impossible to wage
war efficiently and at the same time to
abstract justice in operations unquestion-
ably essential to putting down an insur-
rection which has long continued in the ter
ritory Of this brigade.
Natural and commendable sympathy
for suffering and loss and for those with
whom friendly relations may have been
maintained should therefore take place
subordinate to the doing Of whatever may
be necessary to bring a people, who have
as yet not felt the distressing effect Of war,
to realizing sense Of the advantages Of
peace.
''War In the disturbed portions of this
brigade, and when manifestly necessary In
those portions supposed to be peaceful or
conducted in accordance with the provisions
Of G. o. 100, A. G. O., 1869, which publishes
instructions for the government of armies
of the United States in the field. The
provisions Of this order will be directly ad-
hered to- but no station commander will
put any one to death as a measure of re-
taIiation for assassination under sections
27, %, "a and 14S without obtaining authori-
ty from superior commander nor will the
death penalty be inflicted in any case
without similar authority. G. O.. 100 is now
being reprinted at division headquarters,
and when copies are received they will be
distributed. Particular attention is invited
to the last paragraph of section GO, In par
ticular reference to the possible repetition
Of the Balanguiga AFFAIR.
Ofcers Urged to Use Their Judgment.
Commanding officers are urged and en-
Joined to use their discretion freely in
adopting any or all measures Of warfare
authorized by this order, which will con-
tribute In their Judgment toward enforcing
the policy or accomplishing the purpose
above announced.
''It is not necessary to seek or wait for
authority from these headquarters to do
anything or take any action which will
contribute to the end in view. It Is de-
sired that subdistrict commanders accord
to their subordinate officers and command
ers a degree Of confidence and latitude in
operations similar to that herein conferred
upon them. Such restraint and supervision
only should be exercised as Is dictated by
sound discretion and as may be essential
to securing concert Of action ana co-opera-
tion when desirable, adherence to authoriz-
ed methods, and uniform policy and har-