The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-09-09
GEN, LEONARD WOODS REPORT
THE CONDITIONS IN MINDANAO
GREATLY IMPROVED.

iaFkeiy Due to Fsnst!cal Arab Priests
but Are Growing Less Frequent.
WASHINGTON, Sept. s.-The annual re-
port OF Major-Gen. Leonard Wood, COM
manding the Department OF Mindanao,
Philippine Division Of the Army says that
in the twelve months ended June 80 con-
ditions throughout that department had
greatly improved and that many people
never before subservient to the Govern
ment had been brought under its influence.
The Christian Filipinos had remained quiet
and no troops were necessary to quell dis
turbances among the people OF that class.
Among the Moros conditions had i'm
proved. Slave catching, dealing and hold
ing, Gen. Wood says, have practically
ceased, -and observance OF the instructions
Of the duly constituted authorities has be-
come the rule rather than the exception. '
No statistics are presented with the report
Of the deaths among the troops and OF the
number Of the enemy destroyed. On this
point Gen. Wood says:
1T is regretted that the operations neces-
sary to this end quitting down fanatical
attempts at an uprising) have resulted
in the death of some excellent officers ana
men, killed In the performance OF duty,
and a very considerable loss among the
Moros.'
Dato Ali, a noted outlaw, was still IN hid
ing with q small following somewhere
in the island Of Mindanao. While at liberty.
Dato Ali had been quiet since last October,
and fifteen or twenty thousand OF his fanati-
cal followers had come in from the hills
and jungles and gone to work.
Gen. Wood says that the outbreaks are
largely due to fanatical Arab priests OF a
class which is q disturbing element through
out the East. The disturbances are grow
ing less frequent and less dangerous, how
ever, as every time the fanatics revolted
their losses were very great. Occasional
troubles may be expected from time to
time. but these would be easily handled.
The most recent difficulty. up to June 30,
for there has been one serious outbreak
since then. was at the time of the capture
of the pirate Pala. He had settled in Borneo
and after raiding a British settlement
fed to the Sulu Islands OF the Philippine
group, gathered few hundred followers,
mostly outlaws, and made trouble. The
Governor Of Sulu lacked the power to cap
ture the band and the regular troops took
a hand. Pala and most OF his followers
were killed and a number of rifles captured.
This was the last active band Of outlaws in
Gen. Wood makes a number of recon-
n,endations for increasing the efficiency
of the service. He dwells to a great extent
on the vital necessity OF mobility OF troops,
and reports that daily, instructions under
full field equipment with 100 rounds of am
m,Inition and weight equal to three days
rations, combined with two practise marches
a week under this equipment, have been insti-
tuted The men are being taught to swim
With their entire field equipmeat on. save
in the management OF horses in water.
Nearly every man in the department now
knows how to swim.
On the ability, OF the soldier to handle
himself with full equipment Gen. Wood
field equipment is necessary II we are to
develop what H.. as rule, entirely neg
lected-the marching training Of the SOL
dier-the development Of his ability to
march with his equipment. This ability
depends upon well developed muscles and
be left to be picked up when war is on with
out great risk OF disaster. Mobility is one
OF the greatest factors, and unless we are
counting on always meeting an enemy
as unprepared as We are, more attention
should be paid to the instruction Of the
6OIQl0r IN InhTCnuuk -AAA0 ouoOthS NAlh
the full field equipment on"
To increase the ability Of the soldier in
moving about one Of the suggestions made
In the report is that's shorter overcoat than
the one now issued be given him. per
sonal comfort and convenience the Cen
eral says, must be made largely subservi-
emit to mobility, which Is one OF the greatest
factors in war
In reviewing the work Of the Quarter,
masters Department and the need of
changes, Gen, Wood says that blue army
shirts should not be issued with khaki
suits. The blue formed too good a target
and defeated the purpose Of the khaki
The establishment Of a general service
corps, according to Glen. Wood, is the great
est need of the service. The drain on the
command for drivers gardeners and car
penters should be done away with, and the
civilian element Of teamsters, packers, DO,
would be brought within the pale OF military
discipline by the establishment Of a general
service corps. Gen. Wood thinks also
that there should be an establishment OF
the grades Of first and second class privates
the authority for making promotions and