the towns of the adjoining provinces. Tagalo dramas of a highly seditious nature were produced at first in Manila, subsequently in the provinces, under the auspices of said party. Partially veiled meanings of the dialogue were supplemented by the stage setting, and double entendres were freely resorted to. The ladrone bands of Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan were approached, and many were duly installed as members of the party. The labor union, with the same president, Dr. Dominador Gomez, was also organized and practically united with the National party. The ladrone bands communicated with Manila through the local presidents of this National party. A vigorous effort was made, but with only partial success, to have the Independent Filipino Church (Aglipay movement) consolidated with these two organizations just mentioned. Many members of the two organizations are also included in the following of "Bishop" Aglipay, but the latter recognized the futility of seeking American sympathy for any church movement openly allied with political parties. Some of the old Katipuneros advocated the triple coalition, claiming that sentimental consideration for the triangular arrangement would appeal to the secret brotherhood that they hoped to resuscitate. During this period of political activity Luciano San Miguel, one of Aguinaldo's generals, who had been deposed by him and had been living in hiding in his native province of Cavite without taking the oath of allegiance, crossed over to Rizal with a following of about 50 men, three-fourths of whom were probably armed. An effort was being made to revive the old Katipunan, but there were discordant elementsthe Andres Bonifacio wing and the Aguinaldo wing-that could not prior to this arrival be reconciled to each other. A new Katipunan was formed, with San Miguel at the head, about the time Dominador Gomez was made president of the Union Obrera September 14, 1902, in succession to Isabelo de los Reyes. Gomez was also made president of the National party in succession to Pascual H. Poblete (one time president of Katipuneros) September 25, 1902, and San Miguel was proclaimed general in chief of operations October 1, 1902, as shown by the following translation of a document captured at Coral-na-Bato at the time San Miguel was killed. ACT NO. 26. (In triplicate.) At headquarters in Bulacan, on the 1st of October, 1902, a meeting was held, presided over by me, with the assistance of Señor Julian Santos y Flores, the general of brigade, the chief, and other officers of the column. "Are you all agreed that we proclaim Gen. Señor Luciano San Miguel as captain-general, political military superior, and general in chief of operations of these islands, by reason of his seniority in field service?" They all agreed at once, and answered and affirmed that they were satisfied that Señor Luciano San Miguel should be captain-general, political military superior, and general in chief of operations of these islands, as we are guided by military laws and regulations, and because all Filipinos wish the liberty of their mother country. The meeting immediately adjourned, and triplicate copies of the act were made. One of these remained in my hands, one went to Gen. Julian Santos, and the present one was given into the superior hands of the honorable captain-general. JULIAN SANTOS, General of Brigade. BENITO SANTA ANA, Presiding General. A. Samson, Francisco Rivera, Miguel Capistrano, Laureano Abelino, Carlos With the exception of a few of these signers all are in the clutches of the law. "General" Santos has been given the death penalty for two distinct assassinations, and, if it be necessary, ample proof can be furnished to convict him of the same crime in six more separate cases. "General" Benito Santa Ana is awaiting trial. In connection with the suppression of this movement I desire to invite the attention of higher authorities to the specially valuable aid rendered this bureau at all times by the governors of the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Pampanga, to wit: Pablo Tecson, Arturo Dancel, Juan Cailles, and Seferino Joven. It is my candid opinion that at the present time every provincial governor of the Archipelago is earnestly and sincerely working in behalf of the duly constituted government of these islands. Surigao and Misamis.-With the exception of the two provinces of north Mindanao-Surigao and Misamis order has been maintained in the entire Archipelago by the constabulary and scouts. The disturbance in these provinces had its origin in the surprise of the constabulary garrison at the town of Surigao, when Captain Clark, Philippines Constabulary, was killed, and a relatively large number of guns and revolvers were secured by a band of outlaws led by long-term escaped convicts. (See account of provincial supervisor attached to report of Colonel Taylor.) The outlaws of Misamis hoped to make a coalition with the Surigao band. Both provinces were undoubtedly agitated by exaggerated reports from the Tagalog provinces. The killing of Captain Overton, U. S. Cavalry, in the mountains back of Cagayan, Misamis, occurred about this time, and the fanatical mountaineers there and other ignorant classes elsewhere had been made to believe that American troops could not or would not be employed against them. To disillusion the people in this respect and for other reasons it was decided to turn over these provinces to the commanding general Department of the Visayas-at first General Lee, afterwards General Wint. The constabulary forces of the two provinces and detachments sent from other provinces there were duly ordered to report to the commanding general for duty, but continued to be subsisted and maintained through constabulary channels. The speedy and effective action taken prevented the Surigao bands from reaching Misamis. The latter province was quickly brought to terms, but Colonel Myer, of the Eleventh Infantry, in charge of operations in Surigao had no easy task in recapturing the outlaws and guns in the very difficult interior, in spite of a liberal quota of forcesAmerican, scouts, and constabulary. Success was attained, however, the American troops withdrawn entirely, and the provinces returned to their normal status. Other than in General Bell's brigade during the Malvar campaign, and then in only a very limited degree, this was the first realization of a combined operation of the three military elements in the Philippines. The following is a report by Captain Haskell, Philippines Constabulary, acting senior inspector of Surigao, of the arms lost in the raid on the constabulary headquarters at Surigao, March 23, 1903, and the number recovered to June 30, 1903: The Springfield carbine and Colt double-action revolver that were lost in action at Magtayaco have not been recovered. The constabulary safe that was stolen during the raid March 23 contained $5,532.79, of which $2,409.57 was recovered, with the safe, and $1,221 from prisoners, leaving a total of $1,902.22 still missing. The records in this office, which are complete, show that there were in all 237 persons connected, directly or indirectly, with the outlaws who raided the constabulary quarters at Surigao on the date above mentioned. The following list shows the present status of those persons: Of the 62 sentenced 6 have appealed. The entire number sentenced were sent to Bilibid. Some of the arms that are missing are known to be worthless. Some of the remainder are supposed to be buried, and if such is the case they are also worthless. Albay. At the present time the two provinces demanding the greatest field activity are Albay and Cavite. There are now four companies of scouts and three more companies are under orders for the same province, and a constabulary force of 330 men in this (Bicol) province under the immediate command of Colonel Bandholtz, and I reckon upon a complete clearing up of the situation there by the end of the month of September. There are probably 150 to 200 guns of all classes and an indefinite number of bolos in the hands of partisans of confirmed ladrone leaders, most of whom are Tagalogs. Cavite. From the time of the earliest Spanish records Cavite has been the home of ladrone bands, to which it offers, by reason of the ignorance and temperament of its people, and of its peculiar terrain, a favorable field for their operations. Three companies of scouts and a force of 300 constabulary, with a liberal supply of secret agents from the division of information, are now operating there under Colonel Scott. Capt. David Shanks, U. S. Army, has but recently been named governor of the province. It is believed that by a vigorous policy specially directed against the aiders and abettors of lawlessness living in the towns by all the government machinery tremendous strides can be made toward educating Cavite, and that within a reasonable time. Ladronism in Cavite is chronic, the exploits of her brigands are deeply graven in tradition, and nothing short of destruction or incarceration for long periods of many people of more or less prominence will be effective. The moral sense is so perverted that harboring of ladrone bands or giving them contributions to secure immunity for property is not a crime, and in many barrios agents of the law are regarded as a common enemy. RESULTS OF THE YEAR'S WORK AND OTHER STATISTICS. In more than half the provinces there was not a single desertion. Constabulary casualties: 12 14 Sorsogon. 3 Surigao. 3 Tayabas 2 Total Pangasinan Officers killed in action Officers drowned. Officers died of disease. Enlisted men killed .... Officers wounded....... Enlisted men wounded 51312718 84 53 5 25 The following list shows the number of deaths and causes of same among constabulary officers during the year just ended: The loss of the constabulary in killed and wounded during the year and the number of men sick in hospital due to diseases resulting from strenuous field service suggest that the armed force of this bureau is entitled to some consideration in medical treatment, pensions, etc., from the insular government. The following table gives the total number of firearms in the hands of the constabulary and municipal police in the Archipelago: From March 25, 1903, to June 30 there were issued under act No. 610 by constabulary officers 493 permits to carry firearms, and by provincial governors 209 permits. This does not represent all the arms in the hands of private individuals in the islands. The full effect of the registration law has not yet been reached. Attention is invited to the report of Colonel Baker, chief supply officer of the constabulary, which follows below: HEADQUARTERS PHILIPPINES CONSTABULARY, OFFICE OF CHIEF SUPPLY OFFICER, SIR: Data as to the past year's work of the supply divisions is not available in the form necessary to a comprehensive and accurate report. Like other parts of the constabulary these divisions were not created full-fledged, but have been evolved as necessity required in the rough, details being filled in as part of their daily work. By last February their work had so grown that the functions of the chief supply officer, only those of a purchasing agent for the different divisions, were enlarged. His former duties were delegated to an assistant, and he was charged with coordinating and supervising the work of all the divisions engaged in obtaining and distributing funds and stores. These divisions are the paymaster's, quartermaster's, commissary's, ordinance, telegraph, and medical. The assistant chief then detailed as chief supply officer has been absent about twothirds of the time conducting operations against ladrones in Mindoro and Albay. He can not, therefore, speak with the assurance that can come only from thorough acquaintance and grasp of all details pertaining to his task. As far as he has been able to judge the system is workable and economical. If correct in this, perfecting of organization and administrative detail during this fiscal year should make the proof easy. Aside from such measures as he can, with your approval, initiate the most urgent necessity is a building suitable for and sufficiently large to house all the matériel and personnel of these divisions. A third floor would suffice for all other Manila offices of the constabulary. Such a building, erected within easy access to the Pasig, would so cut transportation and other expenses as to pay for itself in a few years. It would also give the warehouse room necessary to buy stores in such quantities and at such times as economy and preparedness for emergencies dictate. In this connection attention is invited to the fact that a thorough audit of the commissary division to April 1 showed a profit of over 100,000 pesos. An increase of $50,000 gold in its capital would make it entirely self-supporting. Respectfully, The CHIEF OF CONSTABULARY, Manila, P. I. D. J. BAKER, Jr., Chief Supply Officer. |