The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-28

also violated in handling and buying
large quantities of rice which was sold
at a profit The people who were in the
RECOMMENDATION camp, says General Miles,
were considered prisoners of war; but
were compelled to buy food from Athose
who held them at a large profit"
General Miles characterizes this as un-
precedented.
Judge Advocate General Davis has
made reply to the foregoing in which
he says the instances in which the
atrocities were made were a subject Of
special investigation, resulting in ad
ministrative action as in courtmartials.
AS to some phases of these inquiries,
says General Davis, the Investigations
are not yet complete. TIE distribution of
rice. General Davis says, was a military
necessity. and the profits were turned
over to the insular treasury for use in
further relief.
OF he Moros General Miles says: "The
problem of reducing or controlling these
people in case of continued hostilities
does not appear to be a difficult one.
They are very poorly armed, and have
no means OF withstanding our mountain
artillery and field mortars. Their forts
possess but slight resisting power, and
can easily be destroyed by modern artil-
lery."
OF the roads to Lake Lanao, he says:
AT the time of my visit there were
troops at work on this road. The heat
was intense and there were at the time
20 men sick. and some 200 men on sick
report Unless there be some great mil
itary necessity-and | know nf none-this
work should not be performed by troops.
There appeared to be very great dis
satisfaction and just ground for COM
plant"
The more important observation and
recommendations of General Miles are
as follows:
THE general condition of the troops in
the archipelago was creditable to them
selves and to the country The officers
and soldiers made a good appearance
the effect of the climate is most
serious detriment to the service. The
men go there in perfect health and in
the prime of manhood but as a body are
seriously affected in the course of two
or three years service. Very few es-
cape, but the majority are debilitated.
''As the military stations with but few
CAOcpLiOuo, dIS very IeiHOtS anu l0e
troops are required to be in communi-
ties that are neither beneficial nor con-
genial to them, the service is depress-
ing, and to some extent, has a demoral-
izing effect. During my visits to the
garrisons. it so happened that / did not
see single soldier under the influence
OF liquor.
GAS the result of my observations, it
ic my judgment that the discontinuance
of the liquor feature of the canteen has
DEEDS THAT-TWO SBQ6. g.. g..
been beneficial to the army Now that
the temptation has been removed from
the immediate presence of the young
men of the army they are less likely to
indulge in the use of liquor.
THE number of troops that will be re-
quired to occupy the Philippine Islands
are still problematical. While it is
claimed that the people are pacifed, evil
dences of hostility toward American SOW
ereignty are apparent. The newspapers
published in both Spanish and English
contain almost daily accounts of hostili-
ties, depredations or disturbances OF the
peace. Against these armed bands the
civil government is employing the con-
stabular, a force Of about 5000 men.
81 found a large proportion of the
troops occupying church property, mon
asteries, colleges and converts. This
believe to be entirely wrong and IT
should be discontinued without delay"