Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-01

ofncerS TO the Phliippine cOnstaDulary
with increased pay still prevails. only
| two regular constabuary officers hold
| the rank of colonel. They are Col Wal
lace c. Taylor and Col. Thomas l.. MAR,
both of whom were volunteer officers
/
Although all grades of the service are
open to Filipinos, less than one-quarter
of the officers
Few Fiipinos Enter are natives. A
Constabulary Service. passed exami-
nations to lieutenances and captancies.
There are no Philippine majors. although
there is one lieutenant colonel. This is
Lieut.. Col. Raphael Crane. who is on
the headquarters staff as chief of the
information division. The government has
been unsuccessful so far in inducing
| large number Of well bred and well
educated young Filipinos to enter the
| constabulary service. Such as endeavored
to do SO either failed In their eXamna-
tons for commissions or were unable to
pass when coming up for promotion from
grade to grade Thus in the service are
1 a representative body of Filipnos, but
the Philippine government regrets that
| their number is not much greater.
In the twelve years of it's existence
the eonstabulary has been called upon
to wage. many bloody fight
| against ladrones (brigands), to pac-
| ify entire provinces. to dispense bands
of religious fanactics. to fight chol-
| era. to maintain quarantine against rind-
4 erpest, to break up carabao stealing to
| maintain order in the municipalities and
| in the country districts, and win the con-
| fidence of the people at the same time
| In other words constabulary ofhcers ana
/ constabulary soldiers were supposed to
- go -frxL4 bx,t, fnr md
shaking and a good stiff left hand with
/ brass knuckles for sterner duties, ana
| to use both at the same time with equal
| facility.
1t was a trying job in itself to or
ganiZe the service. First Of all few
| hundred Filipinos had to be coaxed and
\ backed into the service To officer and
| to train these raw recruits Capt Allen
i had for the most part a group of men
/ who had never seen service prior to the
/ Philippine instruction and who had
| never commanded men, white. black or
| brown.
Some turned out to be shallow charac-
| ters whose new-found glory went to their
| heads, thus spelling good soldiers to make
poor officers: some were enthusiasts
| whose conception of their duty was the
4 determination as soon as possible OF
every Filipino in sight; others happened
| to be simple. rugged souls. who were
| very earnest in trying to do their duty
4 as they saw It, but who could not dis
play the putty-faced demeanor they were
required to cultivate for the benefit OF
| some lying, treacherous, wholly 1ncompe-
| tent native official whom they knew to
be a soft-soaping officer of the govern
ment by day and either cattle thief or
| the leader of a rebellious band by night
| i
| The year 1905 was the bloodiest in the
history OF the constabulary because of
/ the number
Year 1905 Bloodiest of lad r o e
in History Of Service. vite and Ba-
tangas provinces within a few miles of
Manila, and the organized resistance of
| several thousand armed religious fanatics
| in Samar. Leyte and Mndanao Over
1000 enlisted men and 1913 officers were
in the field continuously. This work was
done in cooperation with regular Amer
lean troops and Philippine Scouts.
| An era OF peace dawned In 1905. ena-
bling the constabulary to reduce its force
and TO bring into play It's civil functions.
Conditions have steadily improved since
then In the Philippine Islands proper. al
though the Mohammedans Of Mndanao
who are not Filipinos, continue to give
/ trouble
One thing that the Philippine constab-
i
Filipino acquiesces readily to discipline
which 10 one Of the cardinal prin-
cipies Of self-government. Another is
| that he Is loyal In a large meas
ure to the Stars and Stripes. Still
another is that he can fight. The cam
paigns through which the Philippine con-
stabulary have gone. and the same Is
true OF the Philippine Scouts, were ardu-
Gus, thankiess and dangerous Official
records ore crowded with acts of coura-
i
Instances OF great personal bravery.
Scores OF Fiiipinos who followed their
4 American officers in attacks upon Moros
cotras, ifugao and ka!insa forts or la-
| drono anhushes wear medals OF, honor
that have been bestowed upon thcm BY
successive governor generals.
| June 30, 1851, Gen. Alien returned To
duty with the regular army after over
six years OF brilliant service In tho Fiji.
| ipp!ns government. lie was succeeded
ity as diplomat and knowledge OF Fill
pino character has made him very sue
/ ccsBful.
Tho principal needs OF the constabu-
larry at tho present time are Increased
/ pay and a
More Pay and Pension decent PEN
Needs Of tho Service. tIrsment avs
TEN, A private soldier averages 10 cents
| a day for food. e25 a year for clothing
| and IS. 50 q month as pay. which Ia below
| the remuneration Of ordinary stable boys,
house servants ana day iaberers.
| In return fer this magnificent salary
the Filipino Ia expected to discharge all
1 Of the duties Of q peace officer and to
| risk his life at all times, AS result of