The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-11
ARMY OFFICERS
ARE LAUGHING
Amused Over Lettars Of London
Newspaper Correspondent.
RlliCUlE BUT 10 REStM 7 MEhT
Caused by English Criticism OF tn: Amerl-
Can hNy's Work Ia the Philippines.
A Konserscsl Statement.
RllilUlE But 10 REStA T MENT

WASHINGTON, May ll.--Army officers al
headquarters. many Of whom have served I
in the Philippines. are laughing AT the
London Daily Mails investigation o. ne
American campaign in the archipelago
Tho first letter from Manila. the eist
Of which was given in The World, in
which II was said that the American
campaign has made no impression IL the
Islands. snd that the firing line does not
extend beyond The coast. provoked more
rnicule ihan resentment az tho war o.
Zee
Col. cl-rence r. Edwards, Chief OF the
Bureau OF Insuiar Affairs. said 10 The
correspondent:
THE story Is simply absurd. u is true
that there has been a great deal OF as
iross IN many provc.nces theoughout >he
islands. hut Il was due 20 natural causes,
with which tho American occupation had
nothing 10 90.
DTrFIcI LTIrs IN THE WAY.
First. rinderpest destroyed over N per
sent 81 the csrabo, or work cattle. Then
sura, a species Of slsnders attacked the
hsrses Chsl.ra claimed shout 1890 VIC
tirns ard the lT-year locusis destroyed
many AZ the crops. Naturally this com
b!ned attack Of pestience, following six
wear. Of war. threw people out OF en-
pleyrrsnt and u brissndec- or ladronlsE.
L.drAa..m feurishcd unuer Spini.h rule
favorable nourl.h.d unocr SDsuisn rue
slS 4. nsthiax new in the ISLANDS. 1he
recent outbreak. of il are seins prompt
ly stamped cut as IL .hcwn b. the sue
.....rl ..rpaisn in ska! ard the one
rev N progress in Aosy, which prom
i-.. 20 be equally succession.
"Ths assertion that the is,aaCs are
act pscir.d beyond 10. coast I. nonsense.
There are male teacher. end other ciYi'
sAsioye.. in town. Tar IN tAe interior
that are ret fsrri.sned either by troop.
or ,,sn.ahuiary and they 90 freely and
yithsut~ danger from one p.rt or thr 81
.rS. 10 another in most sections. There
is no DANCE at all In the ncrth or IA the
4 south. and We believe II will soon he
equally safe for civilians all thorush the
/ is.srd..
MEANS OF IMPROVING CONDITIONS.
Heretofore the lack 81 = nnancicl
standard has mad. the government and
people subject to constant losses nv ek-
ch.use .nd made bushes. = gamble. \
Philippine currency bill passed by the. la'i
4 Congress will quickly remove these con
dItions We sre now shipping the new
coins End In few months thc gold stand
ard will he fully established. Besides
this. the Philippine commission Is pro
jectins large public improvements whics
will furnish employment that Will go IA
to relieve the distress and repair tn
ravase. OF pe.tlence
the conditions in tn. Philippine!
might n. compared 10 the Nsrtniqu'
disaster, the hurricane in Porto Rie'
or the out0resk 81 yellow fever IN Cuo'
after the war. In all ot thes, cases tn
United States contributed in human
t.rian wsy 70 relieve the distress. Tia
:. what We are doing in the Philippines
but we are doing It in moro systemat
way on broader scale.
Other officers recently returned frou
the Islands dismissed the subject Wit
the remark that at looks if the Mo
eorre,pondent had been talking 10 Capt
Belairt"