The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-21
TRYING TO END The WAR
VIGOROUS MEASURES ADOPTED BY
GEN. BELL IN BATANGAs.
Spies and Traitors to he Shown
No Mercy, and Natives to-
BE Concentrated.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2O.-Having failed,
after two years strife. in subduing the
strife in Batangas province. which lies just
south of Manila, and having satisfied him
self that lenient treatment is productive
of no good results, Gen. Franklin Bell, the
military commander in that province, has
determined on the enforcement of the war
in the most vigorous and determined fash
ion, involving recommendation in a modl-
fled 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 a long report to the
War Department just published. The re-
concentration order is dated at Batangas
Dec s last. In substance it provides for
the establishment of a zone around the
garrisons into which the friendly inhab-
itants are required to come under penalty
of cOniscation and destruction of their
property. This is said TO be necessary to
prevent the collection of forced contribu-
tions from the inhabitants by the insurg
ents. The military officers are allowed to
fix the price of the necessaries of life, and
il is promised that the people may return
as soon as peaceful conditions are estab
lshed.
This order is followed by a long circular
by Gen. Bell to his station commanders
commenting existing conditions and Civ
ing them advice how to proceed. 1t 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 re-
grettable that the innocent must suffer
with the guilty, but the greatest good to
the greatest number can be best brought
about by putting a prompt end to the in
surrection. Therefore he directs the ap-
plication of general order No 100. in force
during the civil war in the United
States. which practically regards an
insurgent as guerrilla outside
the pale of civilized warfare ana subject to
the death penalty wherever such insurgen;
does not engage continuously in the war
and observe all the rules of war. How
ever, it is provided that there shall be no
executions without the approval of a SUI
perior officer. Commanding officers es-
| pecially enjoined to encourage young off,
! GERS in hunting down the insurgents, and
! it is pointed out that there is just
! cause for not attacking insurgent bodies
! listing conditions, legitimate chances should
! be accepted, says General Bell, as excessive
/ caution will do the army ncaleulablc harm.
| The best defense against the insurgents,
| he says is 10 assume a vigorous offensive
| at once To retire in the presence Of the
! enemy is hazardous and discouraging.
A special injunction is laid on the COM
| manders to hunt down through loyal spies
! secret SympathiZers with and contributors
| TO the rebellion, many of whom will be
| found among municipal officers. General
| Bell says that MalVar and other insurgent
| leaders have dictated elections OF all town
! officials in Batangas and Laguna, and these
| lie nd
| denouncing the insurrectiOn while secretly
/ informing the insurgents that this is done
| under compulsiOn. and supplying them with
! information. Therefore, General Bell de-
clares that neutrality should not be toler-
| ated. Every inhab itant should be either an
active friend or cassed as an enemy, and
acts, not words, must be made the test
| Chief and most important among the class
of dsloyal persons, he says are the native
! priests. General Bell declares il is prac-
| tically certain that every one in Batangas
| and Laguna provinces is a secret enemy
| of the government and in active sympathy
| with the insurgents He orders that theS
| may be given no exemption whatever but
! be brought to trial whenever sufficient ey-
| idence is obtainable. and adds that even
! In case of well-fOunded suspicion they
should be arrested TO stop their further &C.
| tivity. 1t is frequently impossible he saws
to obtain evidence against influential Der-
sons as long as they are at liberty. but
| once confined, evidence is easily obtaina.
BILE. General Bell declares that the anDre.
| henson and punishment of one individuai
| wealthy man and priest is of greater i'm
| portance than the punishment of a hundref
! ignorant persons. The wealthy and inau.
the most energetic efforts should be di
1 rected.