Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-21
CONDITIONS IN sAMAR.
Recent Fight Between the Constabu-
larry and the Pulajanes.


larry and the Pulajanes.
An officer Of the 21st Infantry, writing
home from the Island Of Samar, Philippine
Islands. has the following to say about a
recent fight with the Pulajanes:
Il expect that you have again been stirred
up by cabled reports from Bloody Samar.''
Another bloody affair has indeed been en-
acted. one to be recorded among the most
serious since our occupation.
AT Mactaon shocking treachery was re-
sorted to. and only the nerve Of two or
three white men saved the day, and held
the situation or ground-notably that of q
Captain Jones. an inspecting officer Of con-
stabulary. The leader. Te Duc-duc. doubt
less feels that the victory is his. His ruse
was complete success.
THE per cent Of killed and wounded, on
his SIDE did not 1t is quite certain, reach
that on the American side. He went away
with more arms than he brought into action.
This is not said as derogatory to those on
our side who held their ground, for there
was some very gallant conduct, though it
was pretty certain that the rush paralyzed
many OF the native constabulary, who were
cut through the back as they fled before
the Pulajanes, pronounced Pulahanas)
1T should be understood that Mactaon
was simply a native village or settlement,
built within few months under Gov.
Curry's supervision. active and earnest SUI
pervision, in the interest of those of that
community who came in from the ranks Of
the Pulajanes after the close of the year g
campaign, in which the most of the 21st
Infantry has been engaged. There re-
manned out however this band. under re
Duc-duc. Meetings had been held with
him, and his promise given to come into
Mactaon, at the appointed time, and sur
render He came-with the result reported
forty Pulajanes buried, number of wound
O. IN q a MI 1naY
either killed or wounded on the governors
side. The affair was entirely one Of the
civil government, the constabulary being
In no way connected with the army. We
were called on again, however. and there
are now two companies of regular troops
(of 2lst Infantry at Mactaon. a very in
accessible section, hiking for the renegades,
and one company even more strenuously
engaged in guarding trains of native car
gadores (carriers), trying to keep the others
supplied with ratfons. By boat supplies
are delivered at Parannas, on the coast
about forty miles south of Camp Cound
From that point a fair trail road has
been opened for thirteen miles where a
road camp is established To this point
the cargadore trains made their first days
march. The next day they go into Mactaon
ten miles, over the notorious Samar trails
rough beyond description. At best the
round trip takes four days
I'VE having serious trouble trying
to get cargadores. Thereby hangs a long
anu iiitSISSlltlG tudpleE TIE nlStUTy Oh
administration in these islands.
THE question of compulsory labor cul-
minated here in Sanar, when 1t was forced
directly under our attention that 1t
could not be ignored.
THE custom In the islands is simply to
notify a native local official that so many
cargadores are wanted, then shut eyes and
mouth and use the men produced. 1t seems
that sufficient light has dawned, at this
late date, on the mind of the ignorant Tao,
or untutored native, to enable him to real
lie that in some way the American idea of
independence carried with II the right to
dispose OF ones personal services according
to ones wish and not under the dictation of
a cacique, these latter being represented by
the leaders or heads of old families or
tribes, and now holding some public posi-
ton as lower officials, members of council
etc. and 1t has spread that Cebu and
Hoilo next to Manila the most important
towns commercially in the islands) would
furnish-the former none and the latter
but twentyfour cargadores, and In Cal
bayog, Samar, town Of 0000, but TWEEN
ty-three could be gotten to volunteer.
I'VE are to quite a degree in the stu
alton SO often experienced with our Indians
when tribes have fought tribes and Indian
scouts have been employed to run down
other Indians"