The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1909-08-20


Of the Twenty-thrd and Twenty-ifth /NM
United States infantry, chased the 7 -
Wouldbe revolutonaries back into Nv
the Businesses of the Davaoan hills S<&kl
ana, within AZ hours me first no. v3H
ice OF the difficulty reaching head vWXps
quarters the first internal serious Vl
trouble since the organization of the W
corps was at an end. W.
The Philippine constabulary was w
organized just nine years ago At the
conclusion of the Instruction of
1S9S-l9OO the military governor of
the Phlllppines Gen. Arthur Near
thur, issued the following order:
In order to encourage among the
people the idea of self-protection
against robbers and rowing bands of
criminals, with which the country
abounds, department commanders are
authorized 10 arm the local police in towns
where such action in their Judgment. would
be prudent and eXpedient. For this purpose
acquisitions may be submitted to the division
headquarters for caliber As Colts revolvers
and an adequate supply of ammunition This
arm will be replaced at an early date by a
more suitable weapon.
For the better performance of the duties
contemplated it is desired that the organiza.
ton of police be systematized and, If possible.
the scope of action extended so as to make
these constabulary bodies by means of mount.
ed attachments, conservators of the peace
and safety of districts, instead of combining
their operations to areas limited by the bouu-
daries of towns and barracks
Department commanders are empowered to
enforce the provisions of this order by appro-
pirate instructions"
By the autumn of 1900 some organization of
the constabulary had been effected and in
February, 1901 the Philippine government
"a N aH IN thn
scouts then on duty, an embryo of the present
efficient constabulary force numbering 2,571
men.
The newly organized body had an amusing
completely of personnel and diversity of ar.
mament. 1t included every race and every
color, every language and every degree of
civilization, from cultured Castilians of the
Maecon drive to the dusky savage of Minda.
mao and Negros. The catalogue of their weap
ons was fully as mixed as their racial afiia
tons
The organization grew in numbers and in
popularity. At first the ill-disposed were prone
to take chances with the little "coppers
They had seen them as soldiers of the army
of Aguinado driven from point to point by
the husky soldiers of the United States until
they had become imbued with the idea that
running was their chief and only accomplish
ment. 1t took but few brushes with them
I'D SHOW lHdI tuey Hdu gained something oil
Uncle Sans determination to do things in his
own way and when the way of the proserver
of order and the native disorganizer ran
counter something had to drop, and drop hard
Gradually the good work of the constabulary
became understood and with the spread OF
their reputation for keeping things straight
the minor disorders of the urban and agricul
tural communities became fewer and fewer
When at the last qualification of the civil
lied and semi-cvlized portions of the islands
became an established fact the constabulary
took up the work of teaching the hill tribes
the head hunters and professional ladrones
that tie plying of their various forms of nefa
rioUs business or pleasure anywhere near
constabulary post a highly unwholesomt
pastime When the linen and others go
enough of going out trouble hunts the con
stabulary organized little trips on their owl
account and went back into the woods to dral
out the real bad men and teach them the art
of behaving themselves even under their owr
vines and banana trees.
One of the most remarkable things about
the organization of the constabulary has beer
their extreme amcnabfity to discipline anc
their readiness TO assmilate western ideas Of
conduct and department by the members oil
the force. In the illustrations will be noticed
photographs of detachment of Moro and Su
bano recruits. These pictures OF the same
group of men were taken only four months
apart. In the first the barefoot disheveled
turbaned band had Just entered the service