, 1904-12-24
M0R0S INITIATE
MOST FIGHTING
GENERAL WOOD SAYS THEY BE.
GIN TROUBLE IN THE PHIL
iPPINE DIVISION.
Troops Of the Department Have Been
in Field Greater Part Of Year
oueIiins Uprising and Preventing
Slave Trade and Kindred Abuses
Annual Report From Commander.

~ ~ DSS. 81.
Wood, commanding the department of
Mindanao, Philippine division, in his
annual report to the war department,
says that the troops of the department
have been in the field a great portion
of the year, quelling armed uprisings
and preventing slave trade and kin
bred abuses. He says that in almost
every instance actual fighting was in
itiated by the Moros.
Conditions among the Moros
throughout the department are gen.
orally peaceful" says General Wood,
who adds:
THE establishment of civil govern
ment and the extension over them of
certain laws and regulations have
caused some excitement n at times
serious resistance, especially the law
prohibiting slavery. In some sections
active hostility has been endangered
by Il prNjence, especially in the
Lake Lanao region, where almost con-
slant murderous attacks on working
men and soldiers were the rule until
the effects of the recent expeditions to
the Tarca side of the lake, combined
With expeditions to other sections of
the Lanao, were felt by the Moros."
The power of the Moros of that sec
ton. he says, has been completely
broken.
Continuing, the report says:
In Jolo affairs are quiet. The
prompt crushing of Hassan's uprising
has made a deep impression on the
people, and the abrogation of the Bates
agreement has done much to bring to
an epd the unfortunate conditions
which existed under it."
Dato Ais party, the report adds, is
the only band Of Moros now openly
hostile, and it is small and is being fol-
lowed by troops and scouts. Gen.
Wood says it is believed there will
not be any very serious resistance of
authority by the Moros in the future,
but there will be constant work of a
police character requiring the s OF
troops and constabulary.
The report shows that trials by gen.
eral courst-martial have diminished for
enlisted men and increased for officers.
Gen. Wood recommends encourage
ment Of the local shipping interests Of
the islands, the use Of a repeating shot
gun loaded with buck-shot and a As
caliber revolver for outpost duty. He
says that while the United States has
increased the expensiveness Of the ma
tive Philippine soldier as compared
with the native soldier under Spanish
rule. I'VE have not increased his use
f~ulness for the purpose for which he
is maintained"
Speaking of the scouts, Gen. Wood
says:
1T is a question If We have not dim
inished their capability for the work
they are supposed to do considering
the standard maintained by the amount
of equipment which we have given
them, and the rations furnished them"
remarking that prior to enlistment they
virtually lived on rice and fish. The
report says the shoes furnished are u
suitable for natives, and 1t adds:
The scouts ability to do excellent
marching barefoot should be improved
and his feet kept in condition to do SO
We have swathed and toggled our
tropical native soldier, whose native
clothes weighed only a few ounces and
hung loosely on him, with az the cloth
ing requirements Of those for the tenn
parate zone"