The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-17
PHILIPPINE REPORT
GEN. BRECkENRIDGE MAKES HIS
ANNUAL STATEMENT.
1T COVERS MANY MATTERS
AND CONTAINS MORE THAN FIFTY
RECOMMENDATION

DIost Serious Criticism of Report Is
on Absenteeism of Officers, Leav-
ing Companies without Captains.
Attributes This to Lack of Officers
in the Army-Army Instruction
Progressing SatisfactoriIy-FOrti
fcatioR of Pearl HarbOr in Hawaii
Also RecOmme nded.
Washington. Nov. 16.-The annual
report of Gen. ]. C. Breckenridge, in
spector general of the army, covers
every phase of the military establish
ment and each department, bureau and
command in the army. 1t contains
more than fifty recommendations and
suggestions relating to improvements
in the army, most of which pertain to
technical matters and minor condi-
tions. He finds much to commend in
all branches of the service and reports
progress and improvements every
where.
The most serious criticism is in re-
gard to a.bsenteeism, where officers are
on detached duty, leaving the regi-
ments short of officers. Thus in the
Philippines, especially, it is found that
many companies are without captains
and the companies in command of
new and untried officers. He attributes
this to lack of officers in the army to
fill the details and detached assign
ments.
Gen. Breckenridge shows that in
struction in the army is progressing
satisfactorily. He recommends the for
tification of Pearl Harbor in the Ha-
waiian Islands as a strategic point. He
says water transportation in the army
is rapidly assuming stable and econ
omical methods
He has the following to say regard
ing his inspection in the Philippines:
During my tour in the Philippines
it was evident on all sides that the
army as a whole was laboring pa
tiently and faithfully to solve the
many vexing problems continually pre-
scented to it. The difficulties encoun
tered and the hardships endured never
can be fully appreciated by anyone
who has not been on the ground and
observed the daily life of officers and
men, 1000 miles from home, influences
and associations. living in commune
ties either openly or secretly hostile
depending almost entirely for their
ssEtEbststence upon the commissary-
where one is always afraid to take
even an ordinary drink of water with
out ascertaining further whether it has
been cooked.
Critics at home may sometimes
search for epithets to apply to our gem
eral officers, but these officers are no
less kindhearted than their critics.
and were anxiously mindful of the suf-
ferings which necessarily fall upon the
innocent in warfare as we'll as the
by which the poor might be
cared for and fed. There is
reason for qualification that our fellow
countrymen have confidence in their
army, and many know what war is
and the reaction has not been sluggish.
That the army performed it's duties
well and bore its hardships uncom-
plainingly is well known to all who
have kept in touch with it since the
opening of the Philippine instruction.
In fact, it has only done those things
which we expect of it and which we
will continue to expect of American
soldiers.
THE crying need of soldiers now in
the Philippines is quarters, and moth
ing will add more to the comfort, dis
cipline and efficiency of officers and
men serving in that division than the
construction as rapidly as possible of
commodious quarters and barracks for
our troops, on sites which will afford
ample room for proper instruction of
large bodies of men in drill and target
practice"
Discussing the American troops and
the Filipinos, Gen. Breckenridge says:
There has been a good deal
of discussion in the public
press and elsewhere concerning
the treatment of the native
Filipinos by the American troops and
some rather serious charges have been
brought against the army, which, how
ever, have not been substantiated. The
conditions of war in the Philippine ISL
ands have been, perhaps, unusual, and
from reasons arising from the conduct
of the Filipinos themselves, who, as
the authorities agree, are sometimes
extremely cruel and treacherous. In
the conduct of the American army to-
ward them the exercises of unexampled
patience is claimed, and the humanity
of the troops engaged has no parallel
in the history of dealing with Asiat-
les.
''The officers of the inspection corps
in the Philippines substantially agree
that extreme cruelty has not been
habitually practiced and that all we'll
founded complaints have led to trial
and punishment of the offenders.