The Inhabitants of the Philippines Part 66

October 28th. 17,000 sick and tired soldiers have been sent home and replaced by 27,000 fresh men. 34,000 are on the way or under orders. Total will be 65,000 men and forty s.h.i.+ps of war.

October 31st. General Otis reports to the War Department that the continuance of the rainy season still hara.s.ses the prosecution of the campaign.

Count Almenas, speaking in the Spanish Senate, said that through the ignorance of the Peace Commission the Batanes Islands, Cagayan Sulu, and Sibutu were not included in the scope of the treaty.

November 7th. General Wheaton, with an American force lands at San Fabian [Pangasinan] and marches towards Dagupan, driving the Filipinos before him.

November 13th. Tarlac captured by the Americans under Colonel Bell. Telegrams from Manila state, "A careful review of the situation made on the spot justifies the prediction that all organised hostile operations on a definite plan are at an end."

November 14th. The U.S. cruiser Charleston lost on the Guinapak rocks to the north of Luzon, and the crew land on Camiguin Island.

November 28th. The province of Zamboanga [Mindanao] said to have surrendered unconditionally to the commander of the gunboat Castine.

December 20th. General Lawton shot by the insurgents at San Mateo whilst personally directing the crossing of the river by two battalions of the 29th U.S. infantry.

1900. January 20th. The Filipinos capture a pack train of twenty ponies in the Laguna Province. American losses, two killed, five wounded, nine missing.

February 15th. American newspapers report many cases of insanity amongst the U.S. soldiers.

February 20th. General Otis signifies to the War Department his desire for leave of absence from Manila to recruit his health.

March 30th. The bubonic plague, extending in Luzon, and appears in other islands of the Archipelago. Cases suspected to be leprosy reported amongst the U.S. troops.

Independent reports represent the situation in the Philippines as most unsatisfactory. The islands are practically in a state of anarchy.

April 6th. The War Department issues an order recalling General Otis, because his work has been accomplished, and appoints General McArthur in his place.

May 1st. Judge Canty, of Minnesota, makes a report upon the condition of the Philippines.

He says: "All the native tribes, except a small band of Macabebes and the Sulu Mahometans, are against us, and hate the Americans worse than the Spaniards.... The American soldiers are undergoing terrible hards.h.i.+ps, and are a prey to deadly tropical diseases."

June 2nd. General McArthur asks for more troops, and at least three regiments are to be sent.

June 14th. Rear-Admiral Raney cables for another battalion of marines.

June 15th. Macaboulos, a Filipino chieftain, surrenders at Tarlac with 8 officers and 120 riflemen.

June 17th. A regiment of infantry and a battery of artillery embark at Manila for China.

June 19th. It is reported that, in all, 5000 men are to be sent from Manila to China.

June 20th. But to-day, the idea prevails in Was.h.i.+ngton that, under present conditions, every soldier in the Philippines is needed there.

July 27. Negotiations are being carried on between Spain and the United States for the cession by the former to the latter of the Sibutu and Cagayan Islands on payment of a sum of $100,000.

August 4th. The Filipinos kill or capture a lieutenant of Engineers and fifteen soldiers.

August 8th. Miss Margaret Astor Chanler, who was engaged in Red Cross work in Manila, declares that the hospitals are inadequate. This is confirmed by the Was.h.i.+ngton correspondent of the World. He says 3700 men are now in hospital, and large numbers are unable to find accommodation. Thousands who are down with fever and other diseases are without doctors or medical supplies. Eight per cent. of the entire force is incapacitated.

August 15th. The Filipinos reported to be gaining ground.

The cost of the war said to be nearly 40,000,000, 2394 deaths, 3073 wounded. There are said to be still 70,000 American troops in the Philippines. The "goodwill" of the war cost 4,000,000.

August 19th. Censored news despatches from Manila show that the Filipinos are increasing their activity, and scorn the offers of amnesty.

September 1st. The Civil Commission in the Philippines, presided over by Judge Taft, a.s.sumes the direction of the Government. Judge Taft reports that the insurrection is virtually ended, and that a modus vivendi is established with the ecclesiastical authorities!

September 3rd. General McArthur cables that an outbreak has occurred in Bohol, and that in an engagement near Carmen the Americans lost 1 killed and 6 wounded, and the Filipinos 120 killed.

September 6th. The estimated cost of the Philippines to America is estimated at three-quarters of a million dollars per day.

September 12th. The first public legislative session of the Civil Commission was held. Two million dollars (Mexican) were voted for the construction of roads and bridges, $5000 for the expenses of a preliminary survey of a railroad between Dagupan and Benguet, and $5400 towards the expenses of the educational system.

September 17th. General McArthur cables that Captain McQuiston, who had become temporarily insane, shot a number of men of his company. The others, in self-defence, shot and killed the captain.

September 20th. The Civil Commission reports that large numbers of the people in the Philippines are longing for peace, and are willing to accept the government of the United States.

General McArthur cables reports of fighting in the Ilocos Provinces, from whence General Young telegraphs for reinforcements, also in Bulacan, and in Tayabas.

A desperate engagement is fought in the Laguna Province, where the Americans made an attack upon the Filipino positions, and were repulsed with heavy loss, including Captain Mitch.e.l.l and Lieutenant Cooper.

The Filipinos are constantly hara.s.sing and attacking the American outposts and garrisons around Manila, and have caused fourteen casualties amongst the troops.

CUSTOMS DUES ON EXPORTS, 1896-97.

Articles. Tax per 100 kilos Gross Weight.

$ cts.

Hemp or cordage 0.75 Indigo 0.50 Tintarron liquid indigo 0.05 Rice 2.00 Sugar 0.10 Cocoa-nuts or copra 0.10 Tobacco in cigars or cigarettes 3.00 Tobacco in leaf from the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya in Luzon 3.00 Tobacco in leaf from Visayas and Mindanao 2.00 Tobacco in leaf from any other province 1.50

Estimated receipts from above tax in the financial year 1896-97 $1,292,550