The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-03-24
CRACK FILIPINO COMPANIES.
rive Thousand Finely wrnined scouts
under omcorh Appointed by
the Preaident.

them and see what they are like. are
their way the most wonderful troops
= the world. They viii represent a
force OF 5000 men who act as auxiliarles
70 our military organization In the
archipelago. This body comprises 80
companies OF 100 men each and Is an in
egrM part OF the United States army.
All Of its commissioned officers are APP
pointed BY the president, ranking with
those of the regular service, and two of
them arr native F!lipinos. states the
New York Herald.
These scouts are beautifully drilled
and have an esprit de corps equal to
hat Of crack European troops. They
are proud OF their organization, ex-
'remely careful Of their dress and pune
llious in all matters Of military duty.
The only trouble with them is that they
are too brave. When once they begin
ightiGg It Is impossible to restrain
them, and they eat up the enemy. as one
might say, exhibiting mercilessnoss
which is sometimes very cruel. Rebels
md bandits fear them much more than
hey do our own troops.
II should be realized that these for
midable allies Of ours are not Tagals.
They are chiefly Naeabebes and Ilo-
eanos. and no Tagalog would be allowed
% enlist in enc Of their companies, so
great Is their contempt for that race.
superior, perhaps. in poiRt Of intelli-
gence. but less fierce Our soldiers eau
the Macahebes ''iittie Macs" and fra
ternize with ihem readily. as well as
with the Ilocaaos. who are equally war
l.ke Neither tribe has ever been friend-
+ to the Taeals.
The origin CT this organization OF
50 companies Of native scouts Is inter-
estinE. Theg are a survival Of the old
suardia C.v'ia. whlca cd order keeping
iuty IN she isln-es when The latter we're
under Spanish rule They were dis
,ributed over the archipelago but
hiefy n the nelshhorhood Of Manila,
hsvlas as their headquarters the build
Ing wh.ch subsequently was utilized b.
the Americans 81 the Third Reserve
hospital This civil guard was never
known 70 run away fsom IN enemy. and
snlistments % q we're restricted 20 the
Macabebes and nocsnos exclusively
Al the period Of the outbreak Of our
var with spala the riiiain3s had been
% far suecesrtui sn thc.r rebellion
against sren : tomination that the
snaniards were practically hlockadsd
n the city Of Manila. all the rest Of the
archipelago heinz urder control q the
insurgents. but tie Cusrdla civlle was
stanch 70 Tho iast serving iis loyalty
10 the span'rh ceara rp 90 She very end.
This nilecisaca thty transferred 10 the
Americans. and already they have
proved themselves most faithful and
valuable auSlliarles. being much more
sffective in certain kinds Of military
operations than orr own veteran reei-
ments
Their priaclpal business Is TO gar
rlson towns and hunt bandits. the lat
ter occupation being to them most con
genial pasilme. They aeem to be rat
ural rohber hunters. knowing. as II by
instinct. how ard where TO find the
ladronea. and 1laughtering the latter
without mercy when oYertaken. Two
companies u them recently rounded up
The big band q iadrones under the re-
doubtable chisftaln san Miguel, near
calooean. and captured San Miguel
himself The two American OH
.ers IN command were Lieut. A.
Caldwell. OF Kentucky. most
promising and distinguished young
man. who died the other day. and Lieut..
poss Resee. Of Georgia. who has since
refused g commission In the regular
army offered 70 him as q reward fer his
services.
The war department, al the request Of
he civil governor Of the Philippines.
has inst appointed tea graduates from
military schools Ia this country as lieu
tenants n the eonstabulary Of the arehi-
pelago L viii continue this policy, APP
pointing a ike number each year. and
choosing 1he young men from those who
take highest rank IN their classes al such
schools Excellent results are expected
10 accrue from this policy. which VII
secure for service IL the Philippines
souns officers of q superior grade Of iH-
diligence and. as ia anticipated. Of efa-
cheney.
The constabulary Is an lnsular MILF
tary force. commanded b. officers of The
regular army. Six captains. with hrevst
rank of colonel. command the districts
IN which this arm of the civil govern
ment operates 81 comprises G 1000 men.
and that section Of Il which has head
quarters st Manila IL under Col TEX. "
Scott For the rest II is sufheient 70 say
that the eonatahnlary are a SORT Of local
police Il is their business not 10 police
toNns. but 70 keep order IN the PROV
lnces which are under civil government
and no longer under military control
Enlisimeuts ln this force are made from
the natives Of the Philippines at large.
intending the Taeals
Earthquakes in Philippines.
From records Of 1892 70 1897 II ap-