Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-05-04

Washington, April 2S.-Additional
portions of General Miles report con-
corning his observations in the Phil
ippines were made public last night.
Speaking of the troops building a road
to Lake Lano, Miles says he found 600
soldiers at work; 20 men were sick
and 200 men were on the sick report.
He censures the employment of troops
on such work unless in the event Of
great military necessity. He says:
THE effect OF the climate is the
most serious detriment TO service.
Men go there in perfect health and in
the prime of manhood, but as a body
they are seriously affected in the
course of two or three years service
Very few escape. The majority are
debilitated."
During his visit he did not see a
single soldier under the influence OF
liquor and as a result of his observa-
tions considers a discontinuance of
the liquor feature of the canteen ben
eficial to the family. Miles considers
it work for troops to occupy church
property, and that it should be discOn-
tinued. The damage to these build
ings, he says, will be extensive and
will result in claims for millions
against the United States, which will
have to be paid.
Miles renews the recommendation
made prior to his visit to the Philip
pines that at least one strategic posi-
ton be forfeited beyond the possibil-
ity of capture by foreign fleets. Of
the general condition he says:
'In my journeys through the archi-
pelago l was frequently appealed TO
TO aid in assisting people to obtain
food supply, of which they will be in
great need in the near future. do
not think there is today people so
sorely afflicted as the eight millions of
inhabitants of this archipelago. Their
country has been devastated by war
and several provinces are suffering
now severely as a result of reconcen-
tration in the past. In some places
locusts have destroyed the crops. Pes
thence has prevailed, resulting in the
reported death af nearly $4,000 people,
while it is estimated the number not
reported is fully as large" Portions
of Miles reports were sent to the
chiefs of bureaus, to which replies
have been received.
General Gillespie, chief of the en-
gineers, says no strategic point had
been forced because congress had so
willed it. The plans have been APP
proved by the secretary of war and
the final projects are still in their
possession, but the work is not done.
Surgeon General O'Reilly admits
the bad effect of the climate on the
troops, and says the troops serving in
Texas have shown a greater sick rate
and higher percentage Of deaths than
those in the northern United States,
and so will sickness and death in the
Philippines be greater than in the
United States. O'Reilly does not
agree with Miles on the canteen mat
ter. and cites the effect that the sol
diers in the Philippines have become
addicted to drinking vino.
1.-The value of the canteen,," O'Reilly
says. has always been considered as
a means by which the average soldier,
not drunkard, but a user Of liquor,
can get a few glasses of beer at home
and every day in the month if he so
desires, instead of being attracted TO
saloons. where he is tempted to spend
his month pay at once for vile liquor,
gambling and women. 1t is also very
probable the ratio of alcoholism in
the Philippines is now lower than ever
before. on account of the prevalence
of cholera. The enlisted men have
been so repeatedly warned against the
danger of drinking impure water, the
native soft drinks and freqUenting ma
tive shacks, that having seen the hor-
rors of cholera among the natives and
the comparative immunity of troops, a
decided deterrent effect must have
been produced.
att is understood a reply was re-
ceiyed from Gen. Hughes, who is the
one officer to whom Miles refers in his
report. 1t was not made public at the
war department and little regarding it
could be learned. Miles, however, who
had been furnished copies Of the re-
plies. sent each a note of a few lines
stating the replies to his comments on
affairs in the Philippines were all Of
gentlemanly character save that OF
Hughes.