Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-23
Ma NES ARE TRUSTED
Confidence Felt in the Philip
pine Constabulary.
VIEW OF GEN. DAVIS
EFFECT OF GOOD TREATMENT
AND PROMPT PAYMENT.
Col. w. s. Scott Tells Why the Ma
tives neutrality-suspicious. of Seeking
the Oficers+A Higher Class.
By WILLIAM f. CURTIS.


Special Correspondence of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald.
MANILA, July %. 1904.
It seems to be the unanimous opinion of
the military authorities here that the ma
tive constabulary and scouts are perfectly
safe as long as they are under the command
of American officers, but you find lingering
doubts to the expediency of trusting
Filipino officers. because they are so easily
tempted and deluded. General Davis. in
relinquishing command of this department.
made some sagacfous observations on this
subject, and said:
1.-THE student of history Of the conquest
by the dominant races of countries inhabit-
ed by black. red. yellow and brown races
will not fail to observe that those conQuests
were almost always effected by armies
which were composed in part and sometimes
principally of these same black, red. yell
low and brown races, who had no compunc-
ton in fighting and destroying their own
people. The native Filipinos under Ameri-
can officers will be as tSue and faithful as
any troops could be, provided they are well
treated and paid promptly.
Notwithstanding the ill-treatment and
abuse these troops received some OF the ma
tive regiments remained true to Spain TO
the last.
THE Indian mutiny has been often re-
ferred to event 20 take warning from
in Incorporating the natives into our local
army but the causes which led to that re-
volt are thoroughly understood now. but
were not in 1878. Another mutiny In In
dia is now impossible as 1t Is to beIieve
| that there ever would have been revolt OF
the American colonies in 1775 If England
had governed them with the same liberty
and justice which now characterfzes her
rule in Canada, Australia and New yea
land
Plan Of President Diaz.
President Diaz Of Mexico was. l believe.
the inventor Of the plan of pacif1cat1ng MS
enemies by organizing them into bands TO
fight In his defense and under the command
of officers that he could trust. He secured
the peace of Mexico by that method He
suppressed brigandage by inducing the
hiRhwaymen to organize themselves lnto
military companies to guard the pubiic
highways, and employed professional pan
dts to hunt down and suppress each otner'
The .'rurales'' Of Mexico, or rural ponce.
which is acknowledged to be one of the most
effective forces in the world, IKE the car
bineers of Spain and baslihers OF ltaly,
were composed originally almost exclusively
of bandits, highwaymen revolutlonists anu
convicts, but by furnishing them plenty ol
active service. by providing them WIN
snowy uniforms comfortable parracks,
abundant food. good horses ana colnpeoe .lAa
officers President Diaz at one ana the Same
time cleared his country Of disturbing eie-
ment and provided himself with iollf ,il
HE military force A similar corps mas peeli
organized in Cuba. and the constaouiaiS ,ba a
the Philippines are in measure OF the
~ Formerly Insurrectos.
asked Col w. s. Scott, the assistant
chief, the other day how many or MS men
were in the army with Aguinaldo
AT the present moment replied Col
onel Scott. I'VE have $50 officers and $685.
lnon-commissfoned officers and privates
Our records show that ] .SG6 OF them were
insurrectos. At one period OF the I ilisu,,
rectton the bulk of the men population
in the Philippine Islands outside OF Ma
Mia and one or two other cities were IN
surrectos in one form or another ne
small percentage OF the pesent IotGe MY si,o
were active insurrectos is probably que
to the fact that the great majority OF the
constabulary are young men. VINO curing
the insurrection were too young TO pear
arms l., A.,
How long do they usually slay III 'io
service?"
| THE constabulary has not been organ
lied sufficiently long to give q Satisiac-
tory answer to that question Inc men
are enlisted for two years. The constabu-
larry was organized first on a very small
scale in but a few provinces. and the
number Of men was only 700 or 500. NJ
has gradually grown to its present
strength by development in order to
cover all parts Of the islands. The term
of the first enlisted men Is just now ex-
piring They are entitled to furlough
after re-enlistment or they are author
lied to return to the conStabulary with
an increase of 81 month In pay, pro-
vided they re-enlist within specified pc
Rod. Like the American soldier, they
generally like to get out and take a whirl
for a time and then re-enlfst- A rough
estimate places the probable number OF
! re-enlistments at from 40 to 90 per cent
However, as above stated, more time is
necessary in order to ascertain the actual
percentage of re-enlistments," replied
Colonel Scott.
What do they go into the service for
employment, love OF adventure. excite
ment, military ardor. or what?" asked.
""The native loves to put on uniform
and carry a gum This is as natural as
some of the inherent instincts in the
negro race in the United States. The e.
fore many enter the service for that rea-
son. great many have natural love
for a soldiers life. and few were SOL
diers under the Spanish regime and have
| taken to it as a profession. Still another
class enlist because 1t is the best thing in
the way of employment in sight"
How many Of the officers are natives"
about twenty-five out Of each 100. These
are serving in the lower grades. At the
present time there are no native captains.
but two first lieutenants. six second lieu
tenants, twenty-five third lieutenants and
fortyfour sub-inspectors are Filipinos.
THE native soldier generally has greater
respect for white man as his Commander
than for a native However, there Is
occasional exception, where native rises
to the proper standard Of discipline and
ability for a command. For this reason 1t
Is inadvisable to have white officers junior
to native officers, as the white officer should
command where they are thrown together
Moreover. the native officer is not compe-
tent in all respects to exercise general COM
mand, except in rare instances"
Experience Of the Officers.
How many officers in the constabulary
have had military political police expert
ence in the United States?"
by combining this question to those who
have had military or police experience in
the United States we exclude the number
who have had the same experience in the
Philippines. and not In the United States
and 300 out of 355 answer the question d.
rect. This also excludes all native officers,
many OF whom have had experience In one
capacity the other, either under the
Spaniards or insurgent governments; also
many soldiers who were enlisted In the
United States. but served only in the Phil
fppines Approximately 325 out of 355 have
had previous military experience"
What proportion of them are reliable