Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-24
WAR ON THE NATIVES
GEN. LEES INSTRUCTIONS TO
TROOPS IN THE FIELD.
Warned Against Exercising the Water
Cure or Other Unsanctioned
Cruelty or Severity.


carried on by the American troops in Min
danao Is indicated by the orders issued
by Gen. Jesse NJ. Lee for the suppression
of the ladrones and insurrectos. March
q, party of twenty or thirty ladrones and
insurrectos. under Adriano Conception, an
insurrecto who had escaped from prison,
entered the town Of Surgao. Mindanao.
ABOUT noon and. evidently result of pre-
arrangement. was Joined by about 100 ma
uves The town was occupied by constab-
ulary; the sentinel at headquarters was
overpowered; the building looted 100 rifles
taken. including twenty-five Krags; 1900
rounds of ammunition. 1900 pesos (civil
funds) and a number of constabulary uni
forms. Inspector Clark of the constabu-
larry was killed and several other Ameri-
cans wounded and missing. A few provfn-
ciai officers and teachers. with some side
arms and very little ammunition, took
refuge In the provincial building and kept
the fnsurrectos at bay until $50 D. m.
when they abandoned the town and re-
treated Governor Taft as a result Of this
called upon the military for assistance and
Gen Jesse M. Lee. with two companies of
the nth. arrived at Surigao on the 18th of
march. and having assumed command OF
the revolt.
Instructions to Troops.
The following instructions were issued to
be observed and carried out by troops
operating in the field:
Commanders on the spot will use every
possible facility in strict accordance with
the rules Of civilized warfare in obtaining
accurate Information of the whereabouts
of the outlaws and insurrectos Pres,-
denies and other local civil officials will be
Scouting will be vigorously pursued to 10.
cate the enemy.
Natives will be employed as guides,
couriers and to carry rations on the trails
when necessary. Bancas and barotos will
be hired as required. Runners with i'm
portant news will. be sent to these head
quarters from time to time when there are
no other ready means available.
when necessary. supplies may be pur-
chased. Pack ponies and carabaos may be
impressed IL necessary, payments being
made for such service in all cases or GER
tificates given to present to the proper
officers at these headquarters for payment.
"In cases of absolute necessity guides
and native carriers may be impressed. but
1t is believed that there will not usually
be any occasion to do so, as It is expected
that local civil officials will cooperate with
the military forces in the operations for
the common good Should any or these Dc
lukewarm or Indifferent their names ONCE
and residence will be recorded and re-
ported.
'Indiscriminate arrests will not be made.
but confined to those who were paruci.
commanders will carefully note and re-
mort the feeling and bearing OF natives
toward the forces engaged IN neiu opS.a
tions In cases of arrest due investiga-
tion will be made and noted for report, ana
IL guilt probable. the parties. evloence anu
witnesses should be turned over 70 hsa,
civil authorities or sent to these neaoQuai~
ters to be dealt with under the CIVIL law
Warned Against Cruelty.
..The division commander directs thae =
property of any kind is seized De care1u'
that we do not go beyond imperative ne
cessity No property will be Destroyer save
such as captured from outlaws ana re-
moyal impracticable. Let there be no wa
ter curing or other cruelty or severity .nas
is not plainly authorized without straineo
interpretation of laws of war. Inc lore,
going instructions will be str1ctiy carIieo
out Looting of any and all KINDS Is apso-
lutely prohibited, and any one VINO us
eraces our uniform by engaging IN SUCH
harbarous practice will be punished on the
spot. . Va.
lax vigilance nor fail to push operations
with all possible vigor against the outlaws.
they will pursue head off and strike these
outlaws wherever they can be found ana
capture and destroy them; In snort let the
blows be so effective that any survivors
will never forget the lesson. The detacn-
take care of themselves and administer
crushing defeat to any of the enemy they
may meet. I'll,
commanders Of the various columns Will
keen these headquarters fully informed OF
events necessities for supplies, when and
where they should be sent, in order that
nothing may be left undone to make the
operations successful.
Enemy Must Be Followed.
s.lf the enemy scatter they must be fol-
lowed relentlessly to their hiding place and
DESTROYED or captured. One cool-headed
good American soldier is equal to at least
four or five of these outlaws. and brave
constabulary can readily give them ocds.
..It must be borne In mind that the United
States troops and constabulary are operat-
ing for a common end, to insure protection.
peace and prosperity to every well-disposed
inha bitant of the province. All must CO.
operate, pull together without cavil, Ques-
ton or friction of any kind.
'It is impossible to go into matters OF de-
tail and instruct each officer just what he
should do in all cases. nor is 1t desirable to
do So the purpose being to leave each
otricer with a free hand to vigorously pur.
sue the work as his judgment tells him
will be best to achieve results. but such
results must be obtained by such lawful
means that success will not be marred by
any well-founded complaints OF undue Sc
verify and fragrant misconduct to vex and
annoy superior authority.
Keep clearly within the plain laws OF
war; using the seventies when necessary.
but not forgetting the humanittes enjoineo