The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-08-07

of demonstrated fitness for his rartic-
ular duty, II they have M ex-
cellent work. There are no better Off
GERS in the American army than these
lieutenants of scouts. Besides a keen
interest in the work, they possess the
qualifications essential to success in
this particular lire OF ~duty-tact, in
finite patience and the ability to con
troll their temper no matter the
p~rovocation. There is no more certain
way for an officer to lose the respect
of his men than by losing his temper
and this is especially true when he is in
command of native troops.
Taking them throughout, it a be
said Of the cou officers hat they are
born soldiers and the whole army
bears testimony TO their special itness.
Doubtless there are others who, given
the opportunity, would have done just
as we'll, but, judging by results, none
could have done better. Some of the
best of these men. the men Who have
had the most experience and the great
est success With scouts. are the first
l~ieutenantS. As the law stands, there
is no opportunity FOR these men to Sc
cure promotion, although most of them
have been in command OF companies
and have demonstrated their ability as
company commanders. 1t is to the in
tcrest of the service that the bill to
create scout captafncies, to be filed as
the lieutenancies are now filled, which
is pending in congress, be enacted into
law"
Speaking of the characteristics of the
Filipino soldiers, Major Duncan laid
stress upon their temperance, their uni
form sobriety and their general relia-
bility. In three years service as COM
mander Of a battalion he has. he says,
had occasion to discipline not more
than half a dozen men for intemper-
ance. They do not quarrel among
themselves. Indeed, the male Filipino
seems to be particularly free from a
tendency toward personal alteration.
'In all the tim / have served in the
Philippines said Major Duncan. II
recall just one instance of two Filipino
men engaged in a fight. I have upon
! er's hair, but just one fight between
Filipino men,"
Major Duncan thinks the Tagalos, in
habitants of Luzon, the best of the
scouts, but other officers who have
Visayans are equally certain of the su-
islands. which also is high tribute to
the Filipino en- masse, showing that
those in closest touch with respective
divisions of the population give first
place to that element with which each
has had especially to deal.
In his annual report for 1907 Major
General Wood, division commander,
pays high tribute to the efficiency Of the
scouts. making special mention of the
operations in Samar n Leyte against
the Pulajanes-the last important up
rising of natives in any numbers.
These two islands are mountainous, af-
fording a fine field for armed bandits.
The Pulajane outbreaks differ from
ladrone operations, the latter being in
their essence merely the gang rob-
berry dear to the Malay heart, while
the former include gang robbery, with
its accompaniment Of murder inc pill
lage. and also takes on a religious turn.
At one time there were as many as a
thousand Pulajanes In arms on the
Island of Samar. The leaders preached
divine inspiration. posed as popes, and
had a form of governmental organiza-
ton. Their chief business, however,
was the destruction of towns n bar
rios Inhabited by peaceful Filipinos and
Major Harry S. Rowland, who en-
joys the distinction of being the young
est. man of his rank in the service, was
in command of the scout battalion
whose especially good work in samar
and Leyte" General Wood SO strongly