Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-24
ARMY IN TIE ISLANDS
Reduction Fbm 10000 to
1880.
THE TIME !: Of SERVICE
PROPOSED TO EXTEND IT TO FIVE
YEARS.
50 e.
What the Government and Military
Officers Would Save by Less
Frequent Transfers.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star and
Chicago Record Herald.
MANILA, May %, 1904.
Colonel Simpson, adjutant general of this
department tells me that there are now
only 1880 American soldiers in all the
Philippine Islands. whereas there were
more than 10000 a short time ago, which
speaks we'll for the improvement In the
condition and the tranquility of the people
In addition to the American soldiers there
are 5000 native scouts attached to the
army and about 5000 constabulary doing
police work under the civil authorities. Most
Of the active military work Is done by the
scouts, who are small, wiry, hardy, faithful
loyal fellows. fond of military service and
capable of enduring long marches, fatigue
and exposure that would soon break down
the larger and heavier white man. There
are $500 soldiers in Manila, scattered
among six barracks in different parts Of the
city, and Colonel Simpson says they have
an excellent influence over the public who
like them. Their presence is sort of con-
tinuous entertainment to the native, who
is exceedingly fond of color and music and
motion.
forces around Manila at a new post called
Fort William Mckinley, now being erected
about six miles from town, but Colonel
Simpson says 1t will probably be considered
expedient to retain several barracks in the
city for possible emergencies and keep
small garrison in each.
The health of the soldiers he says. is as
good as at home, even under the two years
term of service. The stations are generally
healthy and much more comfortable than
those in Texas and Arizona. Most of the
men like the climate, but are not allowed
to stay long. Until now the regular detail
ma fuJn
there isn't regular in Manila now who
was here before January l. 1908 The term
OF enlistment for service in the Philippines
is only three years. but If a man is all right
and willing to stay he can enlist for anoth-
er term. Most men are in better condition
to stand the climate at the end of two
years than they were when they arrived.
Extension Of Time of Service.
There is considerable dissatisfaction
among officers and their families because
the War Department has extended the term
of service from two to three years, but
General Davis in his farewell report upon
retirement, recomme nded still further ex-
tension to five years, and his views are sup
ported by many other officers who have
studied the question carefully and believe
that such an arrangement would be to the
advantage of the officers and men as well
as the government What General Davis
Gays is worth reading and 1t is strictly true:
the antIodes and the cost Of their trans
portatio1 both ways Is regarded i'm
portanI there is another reason why the
service should be of greater duration; and
it is the fact, which none can dispute, that
officers and men can bss1nore efficient the
third than the seconl Wear, and the fifth
than the third. ME oYoyst feature of mill
tary service in this trcpfcai country is, of
course, the climate; but, take it all in all.
the liabilities of our race to sickness and
disability here Is not greater than 1t is for
those serving in many parts Of India, Java,
Cochin China, Madagascar, Mauritius. ia
maica or Hawaii. All the countries named
were conquered by white men and have
been largely governed and civilized through
the fundamentally of military men Of the
Caucasian race. If England. Holland and
France Lad adopted the policy Of ~shipping
their troops home every two years, there is
little hazard in saying they would never
have effected the conquest of those vast
tropical regions they now govern with SO
much advantage to the governed
Experience Of Other Countries.
1.-The governor of a province" continues
General Davis, ''or any official charged
with duties that ring him into close rela-
tons with these strange people, either in
hostile OF peaceful way. does not really
become proficient no matter what his apti-
tude or intelligence, until he has had year
for observation and study. and it is true of
the enlisted men that they must learn by
experience how to take care of themselves
In the tropics The tour of duty for officers
and men should be four or five years instead
of two OF three, for the work will be far
better done by a trained army than by new
men or recruits. The health of some will
fail, of course, but with better quarters and
q resort to hill stations the jeopardy Is
slight. When one remembers that there is
no such thing as an exchange or repat r1a-
ton Of the troops Of Holland serving in the
Netherlands, for that army Is exclusively
81. hot fhnra
serving In the Dutch East Indies constantly
for about half the pay our troops receive;
that very large proportion OF the BRUSH
officers in India were born In India; that
hundreds and hundreds of Indian officers
have reached retiring Gge on Indian army
service alone; that the white officers of the
British West India regiment enlisted men
are negroes) have a service with 1t aver
aging ten years; that the French troops In
French Indo-China go out for tours of ten
years. and that many apply to stay longer;
that the overthrow of native rule In Hawaii
was effected principally by American resi-
dents and missionaries who were born In
Hawaii, with these as precedents 1t would
seem TO be we'll to revise the rule respect
ing the tour of duty for American troops In
these GLANDS.
Increased Pay Recommended.
Gen. Davis recommends increased pay as
an inducement and incentive to officers and
soldiers to stay here, 8 or 10 per sent ad-
ditional for each year to a maximum of %
per cent over the regular pay. and believes
that If this was offered fully half Of the
officers ordered to these islands would be
glad to remain.
1.-The transitory stay OF officers which is
now the rule" he says, truthfully, rs a
very great detriment to efficient service.
and besides 1t Is a--oause OF constant ex-
pense to the government" But even that
Increase is not sufficient The government
would save money II it@were to allow an
addition Of 10 per cent to every officer and
enlisted man every year for five years, with
so per cent a maximum instead OF 70
per cent, as suggested by Gen. Davis. The
present cost of transporting soldiers back
and forth is much greater than such an al
lowance would amount to, and there Is an
even better reason for II in that 1t would
scarcely cover the extra expense to which
officers are subjected in; changing quarters
without considering the difference in the
cost of living In Manila and the United
States. Everything here Is excessively high,
particularly the necessaffes of life. House
keepers will tell you that 1t costs from %
to 30 per cent more than at home, and IN
the cases Of high officials. who are required
to live and entertain in a manner becoming
their position, the cost is double what 1t
Is in the United States I was just reading
1 49, T~k~ <DI Nrl