New-York tribune., 1902-05-08
SECOND ENDORSEMENT.
Headquarters Division Of the Philippines
ALnr.iln o. lClL


Manila. P. L. March %, 1902
Respectfully forwarded to the adjutant gen
eral of the army.
It is useless for me to make an attempt to
show the necessity for the course adopted in the
Third and Sixth brigades to put end TO the
active insurrection existing there in such a way
that all persons will agree that right action has
been taken; It is impossible, of course, for me
to do this. 1 Will state, however, that personal
contact with the people. a knowledge OF their
methods and sentiments, personal acquaint-
ance with the terrain and what may be done
by an enemy as by troops, are all essential to
determine what should be done before con-
demning what has been done. 1t is also neces-
sary that some other method be suggested and
positive proof submitted that had II been fol-
lowed more success correspondingly would have
followed its adoption. than has been secured by
the present course.
United States in these Islands can be indefinitely
disputed by armed forces without efforts 10
terminate the resistance to that authority. on
the other hand. 1 understand that all means
which justified by the laws Of war are to be
applied in such form as will meet and defeat
the method of warfare adopted by the enemy
II desperate in the last case, more desperate
must be the attack to end It.
Every care has been taken that people re-
qured - remain under military surveillance
shall not unduly suffer for food, shelter or
medical attendance. If needed o,r, ,,r,r,r,
Major General U. S. Army, Commanding
NATIVES WELL TREATED IN CAMPS.
The following is a statement made TO the
Commissary General Of Subsistence by the chief
commissary Of the Division of the Philippines
dated March II. 1902:
We are getting along very nicely in supplying
rice to the natives who are concentrated in ia
tangaS and Laguna provinces. Last week, IN
company with General Wheaton l visited
Binan, Calamba, Santo Tomas. Tanuan ana
Iipa and the way the concentration Of the
natives is carried out up there is credit to the
United States Army. Generals Wheaton ana
Bell both deserve great deal of credit. IN
stead Of being called camps of concentration
the proper name would be camps or instruction
and sanitation" The different barrios, little
villages are gathered, each barrio street
or avenue by itself Then these dlnerent ave
nues are separated by about two hundred feet
from their back yards. where they do their cook
ing burn up the offal, etc. They have their
fire brgades armed with buckets Of bamboo,
about eight feet long. These are grouped
racks every two or three hundred feet, and
every house also is required to keep two or
these filed at night. The houses about
comfortable as those they were required to va
cate. They all have an abundance Of food,
whether collected by themselves or furnished
by the military authorities. The inhabitants
most respectful and very cheerful looking.
They all have the appearance Of being well FED.
No indications of sullenness or discomfort.
Their herds taken out to Craze, and alto
gether 1 really think outside OF a military
standpoint, the natives will be decidedly i'm
proved by virtue of having lived in these well
regulated camps of instruction and sanitation.
The very poor much better off in every
way than they were before, and they
subject by the military to less tyranny than
formerly by the headmen. From military
standpoint, Of course. the concentration has
been most valuable and has resulted In bringing
in nearly every gun and every insurgent behind
1t who has fled to the provinces Of Cavite
and Tayabas, which are under the control OF the
civil government.
SECRETARY ROOTS APPROVAL.
The War Department saw reason to doubt
that the policy embodied in the above men,
toned orders was at once the most effective and
the most humane which could possibly be fol-
lowed, and So indeed IT has proved Within
a comparatively few weeks after this policy
inaugurated the guerilla warfare in Batangas
and Laguna and the adjacent regions, with all
its accompaniments of long continued suffering.
destruction and assassination, has been ended,
the authority of the United States has been
asserted and acquiesced in, and the people who
had been collected and protected in the camps
of concentrati tion have been permitted TO return
again 10 their homes and resume their custom
ary pursuits in peace.
THE Secretary Of War has no knowledge or
any order or orders issued by Brigadier General
Jacob H. Smith TO Major L. w. T. Waller
United States Marine Corps pleaded by the lat
ter in defence before the recent court martial
which tried him at Manila. No such order has
been received at the War Department. The
Waller court martial was convened at Manila
On March II last, under an order dated March
< nv or under the authority of General Chaffee.
noon facts ascertained by him. not then known.
ss far as 1 aware, in this country. The con-
cIusion of the proceeding by the acquittal Of the
defendant was announced TO the department in
a telegram from Gneral Chaffee dated April 10.
1000 Immediately upon the conclusion Of the
trial General Chaffee was directed by cable to