Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-01-21
END Of LEN|ENT method
= IL .
Inauguration Of More Vigorous Policy
of Dealing With Offenders in
f. Batangas.
General Bells Last Plan Involves Re
concentration and Application
of Martial Law.
Unsparing Pursuit and Punishment oi
All Natives Who Act as Spies
and Traitors.

Washington. Jan. 21-Having failed.
after two years strife, in subduing the
lnsurrection in Batangas province,
which lies just south of Manila and
having satisfied himself that lenient
treatment of the insurgents is produc.
tive, OF no good results, General J.
Franklin Bell, the military command.
er in that province, has determined on
the enforcement of the war in the
most vigorous and determined fashion
involving RECOMMENDATION in a modi-
fed 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 recommendation
order is dated at Batangas. Dec. 8.
last. In substance it provides for the
establishment of zone around the
garrisons, into which the friendly in
habitants are to be required to come
under penalty of confiscation and de-
struction of their property. This is
said to be necessary to prevent the
collection of forced contributions from
the Inhabitants by the insurgents The
military officers are allowed to fix the
price of necessaries of life and it is
promised that the people may return
tanned. This is followed by long cir
cular by General Bell to his station
commanders, commenting on existing
conditions and giving them advice how
to proceed. It begins with the state
ment that he shares in the general con-
viction that the insurrection continues
because the greater part of the peo-
pie, especially the Weather ones,
~ DO Not Really Want Peace.
He says it is regrettable that the in
nocent must suffer with the guilty, but
I the greatest good to the greatest mum.
Der can be best brought about by put
ting promp end to the insurrection.
Therefore he directs the application
of General Order No. 100 in force dur
ing the Civil war IN the United States.
which practically regards an insurgent
as guerrilla and outside the pale of
civilized warfare and subject to the
death penalty, wherever such insur-
gent does not engage continuously in
the war and observe all the rules of
war.
A special Injunction is laid on the
commanders to hunt down through
loyal spies secret sympathizers with
and contributors to the rebellion, many
of whom will be found among mu-
nicipal officers. General Bell says that
Malvar and other insurgent leaders
have dictated elections of all town Of
ficials In Batangas and Laguna and
these town councils meet and pass res
olutions denouncing the insurrection.
while secretly informing the insur-
gents that this is done under compul-
sion and supplying them with informa-
tion. Therefore General Bell declares
that neutrality should not be toler-
ated. Every inhabitant should either
be an active friend or an enemy; acts.
not words. must be made the test.
Chief and most important among the
class of disloyal persons. he says. are
the native priests General Bell de-
clares it is practically certain that ev.
cry one in Batangas and Laguna prov
inces is a secret enemy of the govern
ment and in active sympathy with the
insurgents. He orders that they be
given no exemption whatever. but be
brought to trial whenever sufficient
evidence is obtainable and adds that
even in case of we'll founded suspicion
they should be arrested to stop their
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