Bennington banner and reformer. (Bennington, Vt.) 1903-19??, 1903-04-30
MILES RECOMMENDS
That Soldiers In Philippines
Be Not Used as Navvies.
MOROS WEAK AND POORLY ARMED
As Camp Life Is Monotonous Duties
should BE Light-Heavy Artillery
Unnecessnry-COnVen should
Not BE Used as Barracks.


Not BE Used as Barracks.
WASHINGTON, April 2S.-The ex
tended report of Lieutenant Genera
Nelson A. Miles concerning his obser
vatlons in the Philippines was made
public by the war department. 1t is
dated Feb. 10, 1903, and covers all fea
lures of his trip through the islands
together with his recommendations.
OF the Moros General Miles says:
The problem Of reducing or control
ling these people in case Of continued
hostilities does not appear to be a diff
cult one, They are very poorly armed
and have no means of withstanding
our mountain artillery and field NOR
tars. Their forts possess but sli sht re
sisting power and easily can be de
stroyed by modern artillery"
OF the roads to Lake Lanao he says:
AT the time of my visit there were
600 of our men at work on this road
The heat was intense, and there were
at the time seventy men sick and some
200 men on sick report Heavy timbers
were being cut, and in every respect a
road of permanent character was be.
ing constructed. Unless there be some
great military necessity and l know
of none-this work should not be per.
formed by troops l was informed that
the Moros had made propositions TO
furnish the necessary men. There ap.
peared to be very great dissatisfaction
and just ground for complaint / was
Informed that NO men can be re-enlist
ed at this point. The performance Of
such labor by troops unless absolute
military necessity exists for ii is wrong
and contrary to law"
The more important observations end
recommendation of General Miles are
as follows:
''The general condition of the troops
in the archipelago was creditable to
themselves and to the country. The
officers and soldiers made a good ap-
pearance.
"The effect of the climate is a 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
escape. The majority are debilitated.
"As the result of my observations it
is my judgment that the discontinue
ance OF the liquor feature of the can
teen has been beneficial to the army.
Now that the temptation has been re-
moved from the immediate presence of
the young men Of the army they are
less likely to indulge in the use Of H.
quor
''The number of troops that will be
required to occupy the Philippine Is
lands is still prOblematical While It is
claimed that the people are pacified.
evidences Of hostility toward Ameri-
can sovereignty are apparent The
newspapers published in both Spanish
and English contain almost daily ac-
counts of hostihties, depredations or
disturbances of the peace. Against
these armed bands the civil govern
ment is employing the constabulary, a
force Of about 5000 men.
Al my JuNElutul the HedNy hTuliery
troops now in the Philippine Islands
should be withdrawn without delay.
as there is not legitimate use for them
in the archipelago.
There is quite as much, IL not more,
need for cavalry in the Philippine Is
lands than in the United States, and
as some Of the cavalry regiments new
er have served in the Philippines /
think it advisable that they should
share their proportion of the duties in
that country.
Il found large proportion of the
troops occupying church property,
moSasteries, colleges and converts. |
This | believe to be entirely wrong.
and it should be discontinued without |
delay. 1t is a serious detriment to
prosperity, and while it may prevent |
destruction by fire to some extent, yet |
the damage done to the buildings will |
be extensive, and 1t will simply result
in claims for some millions of dollars
being brought against the United |
States, which undoubtedly will have