The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-25

quarters in Manila, and maintains
branches in all the districts and tenn
porary stations wherever the exigencies
may demand. It is a detective force,
pure and simple, and eventually will be
in close telegraphic touch with all the
islands and the whole ten millions Of
people. Aided by the telegraph divi-
sion and backed up by the whole force
Of the constabulary, it aims quickly and
effectively to police the whole archipel-
ago, and tho an immense amount of
work remains to be done, it will accom-
plish this aim successfully. Its. present
work consists in ferreting out Grimm
ais. ladrone leaders and ladrone bands,
and in securing information as to troops
Of insurgents and outlaws. Its most
important responsibility is to keep an
eye upon conspiracies and all organiza-
tions opposed to the government. It's
personnel is made up Of Americans and
natives. go. II 81.
It is in this division that the native
is proving himself simply invaluable.
He knows the language and the habits
with an outlying village and live there
without suspicion for weeks at time.
The rank and file Of the information
division are used in serving warrants,
making arrests and keeping in motion
the legal machine; but the men Of spe-
cial ability, and they are many, are
promoted and 6 encouraged to greater
usefulness in all tactful ways.
Question Of Language.
This question Of language is diff.
fcult one; but it is solving itself. In
order that the constabulary may be eff
fcient universally and as available in
one island as in another, common
mode Of speech is necessary. When first
enlisted,e recruits from the different
provinces could not talk together, ow.
ing to the difference in the dialects;
but new local polyglota dialect has de.
veloped, which all use without difficult
ty and which has its part in welding
them into a homogeneous mass. It had
it's origin among the regular Filipino
troops. These at present constitute a
force of 5000, which was enlisted fol
period Of four years under the bill
passed by congress in January, 1908
They consisted almost entirely of ma.
tives who had been employed as volun.
teer scouts during the Instruction and
were augmented by enlistments, for the
period named, similar to the enlistment
of soldiers In the Emitted States. Their
officers were made up almost entirely
from nome commissioned officers Of the
regular army, and after two years of
drill and instruction they form an ex.
cellent body of well-instructed and well
disciplined native, troops.
They are entirely distinct from the
constabulary, however. They cooper,
ate with it when necessary and perform
largely the same functions. At. pres.
emit twenty-nine Of the scout companies
are engaged thus. No friction thus far
has developed between the two branches
of the service, both men and officers
the latter being old army acquaintance
fraternizing amicably and cooperating
effectively. The future Of the scout
companies at present is being debated
but if the emulation and. rivalry. prove
beneficial to the general service they
undoubtedly will be continued on the
present plan, and possibly increased
If not, they will be taken over and alb
sorbed in the. constabulary. They now
are divided, into fifty companies of loo
men each.