The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-19

preseryation of the Philippines today depends upon the army of the United States. It Is useless to deny that American rule in the Philippines rests upon any other base than the bayonets of Yankee soldiers. Yet 1t Is far from being rule by the bayonet. as the dif- ferences of opinion between the mili- tary and civil authorities, testify. It IS dIficult for the soldier and the civilian to agree upon . point of view in colo nial administration, whatever flag floats over the colony. But despite differences respecting questions or policy, 1t must be recognized that the army Is the basis of both rule and re- form in the islands If the army should be withdrawn today. tomorrow would find the archipelago plunged in- to anarchy.
 It is through the army that the Uni ted States is kept in closest touch with the Philippines, for there are always from 12,0o0 to 18,000 American soldiers here and each one has his family and his friends in the home country. 10 whom he writes letters and imparts his views. Then, too. the various com mands are being constantly shifted from the islands back home, and from the States to the Philippines. The av- craze American citizen sees regular army soldier about once In ten years. maybe twenty. In the Philippines the army is everything, everywhere.
 Valuable as are the services of the army to the advancement of peace and civilization in the Philippines. 1t is probably true that the Philippine ex- perience is even more valuable to. the army. If the United States shall be- come involved in a foreign war. the nation will appreciate the fact that the practical training received in the Phil ippines has been of ipestimable value to the officers and men of our little regular army. The disgraceful record of deaths in army camps during the Spanish American war will not be re- peated when the volunteers have the services of Philippine veterans to teach them how to take care of themselves. A sick soldier can do ~ery little fight ing. and the chief problem of modern warfare is to keep every man effective every minute.
 The Philippines have been the best sible for the American army. rank and file. Here the army has had hard campaigning against organized troops, has successfully put down guerilla war fare of the worst type, has learned how to deal with the widest of saw ages, and has come to know the treach- cry and cunning of the Oriental war HOT. TnGBo things may uG fCtg aeo full some day. Here the soldier has learned the lesson of taking care of his health under the most compelling cir cum stances. He has been attacked not only by every camp disease of the tenn perate zone but also by numerous tropical diseases even more deadly.
 The army has learned the lesson Of long distance transportation Of men and supplies, and has built up an or-
 nf fndmndfnta pansion to meet the requirements of great war over seas. The humtliating delays and raw inef1iciency seen at Tampa during the spring of 1898 would be impossible now--thanks to the Phil- ippines.
 Indeed, if every other consideration be passed over, the Philippines as training school for soldiers is an asset we'll worth reckoning in the national balance sheet. The officers in com mand over here recognize this fact and take full advantage of their opportun- lties.
 Ever since the end of the insurrec- tion, there has been a tendency to con centrate the American forces in the islands into the larger towns, or In large garrisons. leaving the small ana isolated outlying stations to be held by the Filipino Scouts or to be policed oy
 
 ernment. The largest post in the is- lands is Fort William Mckinley. sit- uated on the Pasig river six miles from Manila. It is the first brigade post In the army and is commanded by Briga- dier General John J. Pershing.
 It Is located on historic ground. A short time ago General Emilio Agui- naldo stood on the veranda of the or ficers Club at Fort Mckinley and point ed out to General Pershing the line of defense occupied by his troops in 1889, when they were attacked by the Amer ican soldiers in the first important en- gagement of the insurrection. The American troops advanced over the site of the present Fort Mckinley, and withdrew over the same ground, Gen eral Otis having ordered the with fought to a finish. Aguinaido now lives on his farm almost within sight of this battlefield. He has nothing to do with political affairs, Is consistent supporter of American authority, and is at peace with the world There is not an American army officer In the Philippines but who sings the praises of the ex-captain of the insurrection.
 Fort Mckinley is situated on high ground overlooking the Laguna, the city and May of Manila It has been occupied since 1905. The officers quar- ters are thrown in single line around the three-mlle perimeter Of the site, while the mems barracks are in the middle. The fort could have been made much more beautiful by the adoption of a better system of group ing, and 1t is hoped that in time the handsome new Y. M. c. A. building in the center of the fort. will be built up to" by the government.
 Practically. however. the location of the post as regards facility for train ing troops Is all that could be desired. The modern soldier must have some thing more than parade ground drill. He must have special training in field work to develop his initiative; he must know how to estimate distances quick ly and accurately; he must have prac- tice in scouting and trailing; he must know how to construct field fortifica- tions and nasty intrenchments; in short he must be trained to practical effi- ciency. For this sort or work Fort William Mckinley has a large and va ried territory immediately available A tract of land a hundred square miles in extent Is at hand for Just such uses, while there are ten square miles actu- ally owned by the government in addt- tion to the fort reservation proper Within these limits are hills, ridges, ravines, streams, wooded and bare ground rice fields and rOadways. The artillery may fire every day in the year over a different range. Other arms separate or combined feld practice.
 The garrison at Fort William MeKin- ley consists of two regiments of in- "a