Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-01-05
Rifle Makes Menace
Of Moro, Says Pershing
BELIEVES PEOPLE ARE
NEARER PACIFICATl0N !
THAN THEY EVER WERE.
Brigadier-generaI, Well Vers-
ed in Conditions in Southern
Philippines, Local Visitor

take away the menace, to a large eX-
| tent.
So said Brigad.er- general John J.
Pershing, homeward bound after
tour in the oMro country, when seen
at army headquarters this morning.
General Pershing is the ranking pas
senger on the Sherman, which sailed
at noon today for the coast, after a
"a hour stay in port.
General Pershing probably knows
/, mere about the political,
| military and social-:n the southern
] islands of the Philippines than any
| one else in the service Of Uncle Sam,
| for he has served two tours of four
| years each in the Moro country, the
| first as military governor of Minda-
mao, and the second as civil governor
ed.
Governor Is Satisfactory
II believe that the Moros are near
er to pacification and prosperity than
ever before" continued the general.
only some very foolish move, which
might antagonize the people by stirr-
/ ing them to religious frenzy, will
| check the peaceful development of the
/ province under the new civil govern.
/ ment planned for it.
"The removal of the American
troops win not affect business eondi-
tons for the worse, because their
| places are being taken by Scouts,
/ many of whom have families to sup
port, and who distribute their money
| more. The American soldier, as a
rule, either saved his pay against his
return home, or else spent it. in
amusements which did not help legi.
innate business. There is great sat.
isfaction over the appointment of
i Frank w. Carpenter as the first civil
governor, and the people are predict.
ing a very successful administration.
4 General Pershing had nothing Ia
| say of the Philippine policy OF the
j present. administration, and did moi
care to discuss politics. He aid say,
however, that in his opinion the pres.
ent three-year tour in the islands was
/ too long, and that il any change is
contemplated, it should be to cut it.
rather than lengthen 1t.
Achievement Of Pershing
i Possibly the most striking achieve
J. ment Of General Pershing has beer
the disarmament of the Moros. Prior
70 1911, though an attempt had beer
made to locate all firearms among ths
Mohammedan population, no restric
: ions whatsoever we're placed upoI
the possession and carrying of those
) long kniVes--krises, barongs. kampi
lans-which in the hands CT Moro:
are more deadly than rifles. The bear
ing Of cutting weapons was a sign O
: nobility among these men of Islam
: The datu. accompanied by his re
: tainers bearing aloft those keen blade
with handles of ivory or go'.I, many O
theh being priceless heirIooms. be
iJieVed himself in possession of the in
sigma Of sovereign power-compar
aDle to the axe borne before the Re
man consul: Indeed, in the bygon,
days Of datu rulers, the knives di,
represent to the masses of the peoDl
: the power of life and death in no fig
/ urative sense. Disarmament meant
, therefore. Lot only increased persona
security and the removal of continue
( temptation to brawl and murder;
7. meant the breaking down of the las
2 existing barrier to the full recognition
/ Of American sovereignty.
2 Bought Up Firearms
In 1911 General Pershing issued a
executive order prohibiting the pc;
= session of firearms, and the carryin
CT cutting and thrusting weapons. TIL
Mo"os we're offered fair compensate
for firearms turned in by Decembe
l, 1911. After that date coercion wa
employed where necessary, and tn
Gesultory resistance of the SuluS Gu
minated in the battle of Bagsak. o
June 18th last. About 1000 firearm
have been taken up since disarm;
ment proceedings began, and rests
ance to the measure is practically q
an c1.l. The disarmament order ha
J now been enforced, and outlaw band
run to earth in the five districts {
the Moro province. 1t may be tI%ltl
fully said that the peace which no
prevails in this province is more pr
IL found than the territory has eve
. known since the ancestors of its wa
- like t!ibesmen landed on these shore
far anterior to the dawn OF h!stOr,
t. General and Mrs. Pershing were e1
5 tertained last night at a reunion di
| rer given at the University club by tn
c. generals classmates of West POin
D. So These inCluve Majors Smith. lia
T. denann. al Penn. and Lieutenant-co
r Onel Hirst. The last-named. howeve
II was unable to be present. Those WI
Le sat at the dinner table last night, an
S who thoroughly enjoyed the evenin
N OF "reminiscences were General ar
le Mrs Pershing, Lieutenant-colonel ar
at Mrs MenoheT, MajOr and Mrs. Hard
mann, Major and Mrs. Smith, Maj
"a and Mrs. Preston and Major Penn.
=, Classmates Entertain
70 General Pershing called on Genera
ID Funston and Macomb this mornin
10 ar:l renewed acquaintance amor
- many old friends here, there being
large delegation of Schofield and She
r. .ssg