August 8.-Lieutenant Castillo, with detachment, had engagement with ladrones near Mauban, capturing 2 outlaws.

August 12.-Constabulary detachment encountered ladrones at barrio Colantes, killing 6 ladrones and capturing 2 rifles.

August 18.-Detachment of constabulary found and destroyed ladrone cuartel near Laguimanuc, finding a number of bolos, arrows, and lances.

September 2.-Ladrones entered town of Unison, capturing policemen and 5 shotguns. Municipal authorities roughly handled and municipal records burned. Detachment of constabulary were unable to overtake the outlaws. Guns all recaptured later.

September 3.-Ladrone bands of Rios and Veristigui, with 30 guns and 150 bolomen, attacked town of Laguimanuc, killing 2 women and 1 girl and wounding 2 men. Fortunately a detachment of constabulary, unexpectedly arriving, surprised and drove them out, killing several ladrones. Several prisoners were taken, and one of these, a uniformed officer, stated that Rios was a direct descendant of God and nothing earthly could harm him.

September 5.-Detachment of constabulary under command of Lieutenant Herrera encountered ladrones under Veristigui, near barrio of Malichboy, now Inison. Ladrones commanded excellent position on top of mountain, but were poorly armed. As constabulary commenced ascent an avalanche of rocks was let loose, immediately followed by firing. After a short engagement top of mountain was reached. Soon 10 or 12 ladrones were killed and the remainder escaped as best they could. Lieutenant Herrera and detachment deserve great credit for this success, they having followed this band without rest or sleep for two days previous to this encounter.

September 13.-Two ladrones, with 1 Remington rifle and 1 revolver, surrendered to constabulary garrison of Atimona.

September 14.-Detachment under Corporal Feres encountered ladrones in barrio Tobigun, killing 3 and wounding 4, and capturing 4 guns.

Lieutenant Herrera with detachment had engagement with ladrones in vicinity of Guinayagnan, killing 1 and capturing a number of bolos.

October 2.-Five uniformed ladrones surrendered to constabulary garrison at Unison with 1 rifle, 1 revolver, and several bolos.

October 4.-The ladrone leader Distajo surrendered to Lieutenant Castillo at Mauban with all his arms.

October 22.-Four ladrones surrendered to constabulary garrison at Laguimanuc with 2 Remington rifles and several bolos.

October 23.-Lieutenant Herrera, with detachment, encountered band of Veristigui just as the latter was trying to escape by parao to Marinduque. Several ladrones were killed, including their leader, Veristigui, and some arms and ammunition were captured.

October 29.-Sergeant Buates, with detachment, surprised and captured 4 ladrones armed with spears and bolos.

November 7.-Tabacalera company pack train was robbed of 500 pesos between Lucena and Pacbilao. Lieutenants Keagey and Castillo recovered the money and arrested the robbers same date.

December 15.-Captain Murphy relieved Capt. Ben L. Smith as senior inspector. January 6.-Lieutenant Herrera and detachment had slight engagement with ladrones near Unison, capturing 3 of them and a quantity of supplies, and burning a ladrone cuartel.

January 7.-Lieutenant Herrera and detachment captured a ladrone captain and 4 men, together with 1 serviceable revolver, 4 wooden guns, and several bolos and

spears.

January 11.-Captain Murphy, with detachment, captured near Unison a so-called lieutenant-colonel and 1 major, together with 12 men, several bolos and spears, and many valuable papers.

January 17.-Twenty-three ladrones surrendered to Captain Murphy at Unison. February 14.-Coast-guard vessel Scout was robbed of a sum of money by the engineer while the captain of the vessel was ashore at Lucena. Engineer later apprehended and money recovered by the constabulary.

March 8.-Captain Murphy and detachment had several slight though very successful engagements during the 6th and 7th of March with ladrones under Rios, near Infanta, resulting in the killing of 1, wounding of 3, and capture of 37 ladrones, secretary to Rios, 1 lieutenant-colonel, and 1 captain of his band, together with 8 serviceable rifles, with considerable amount of ammunition and much paraphernalia of fanaticism.

April 8.-A ladrone band entered the barrio of Magulang, stealing several horses and a quantity of money and clothing. Detachment of constabulary under Corporal Docena pursued and overtook this band, recaptured horses and other articles stolen.

April 11.—Ladrone band entered the town of Sampaloc but were driven out by police. Ladrones numbered about 20 but had only 2 guns. One ladrone was killed. May 7.-Capt. G. K. Armstrong relieved First Lieut. S. W. Tilden as supply officer. June 4.-Band of ladrones entered barrio of Tiason and attacked and completely surprised the constabulary detachment (under a corporal) and the municipal police. A Remington rifle and revolver were taken by the ladrones, who immediately fled before the constabulary had sufficiently recovered from their surprise to retaliate.

CONDITIONS JUNE 30, 1903.

With the possible exception of the province of Albay, conditions throughout the district are very satisfactory at the present date.

The active operations conducted in Tayabas by Capt. J. B. Murphy and in Mindanao by First Lieut. C. E. Manison have been conducive to splendid results, and both provinces have become fair examples of what energetic and intelligent cooperation of the provincial authorities can accomplish toward establishing and maintaining a satisfactory status of peace.

Conditions in the province of Ambos Camarines and Sorsogon have been particularly satisfactory, in that their close proximity to the troublesome province of Albay would appear to offer an excellent opportunity to infection from the exceedingly infectious disease of ladronism. However, active and constant patrols along the borders of both provinces and the lack of encouragement to the ladrones from the inhabitants themselves, which feeling has been well fostered and encouraged by the provincial authorities of both provinces, have been the factors which have proven so efficacious in keeping these provinces clear from ladrone infection.

In the island provinces of Masbate and Romblon the constabulary has performed the usual routine duties and no difficult or extraordinary problems have presented themselves. What few ladrones exist are more in the nature of fugitives from justice than active agents of discord.

In the province of Albay the cause of the present lawlessness and ladronism might be attributed to a variety of reasons, among these being the peculiar topographical formation of the province and its wealth, which, being for the most part in hemp plantations lying remote from population centers, is exposed and difficult of protection, and for this reason can be made the means of securing and to an extent forcing the support of some few of the wealthier inhabitants whose laborers may only work their plantation by favor and permission of the controlling outlaw. The great majority of the ladrone leaders now out in this province were formerly insurgent officers of more or less rank who have tasted the almost unlimited authority of an insurgent officer that raised them from the grade of the most ordinary citizen to that of temporary affluence and command, and are loath to return to the old life of poverty and labor. Vigorous operations are now being conducted by the constabulary and scouts acting in conjunction, and it is only a question of time before Albay Province will be cleaned of its present ladrone contingent.

MEDICAL DIVISION.

The report of Capt. Justus M. Wheate, surgeon, Philippine constabulary, chief medical officer of this district, here follows:

HEADQUARTERS SECOND DISTRICT, PHILIPPINES CONSTABULARY,

MEDICAL DIVISION, Lucena, Tayabas, July 3, 1903.

The ADJUTANT, SECOND DISTRICT, PHILIPPINES CONSTABULARY,

Lucena.

SIR: In compliance with the following letter of instructions from your office, I have the honor to submit my report of the work of the medical division in the second district covering the period from February 1 to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903.

"HEADQUARTERS, SECOND DISTRICT PHILIPPINES CONSTABULARY, Lucena, June 30, 1903.

"CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, SECOND CONSTABULARY DISTRICT,

Lucena.

"SIR: The district commander directs me to inform you that a report is desired from you covering the organization and administration of the medical division in this district from the date of its inception to June 30, 1903.

"This report should be rendered with the least practicable delay.

"Very respectfully,

"E. R. HIGGINS, Adjutant."

ORGANIZATION OF THE MEDICAL DIVISION.

On February 1, 1903, I reported for duty to the adjutant of the second district ursuant to paragraph 1, G. O., No. 9, headquarters Philippine constabulary, dated Manila, January 31, 1903.

Act No. 595 of the United States Philippine Commission provides for the appointment of three surgeons for the constabulary, but it does not create a medical division or embody any plan of organization or administration of a medical division.

At the time of reporting for duty there was practically no plan or specified line of duty authorized in which to engage, and the only instruction given us by the chief of constabulary was that the three surgeons confer together with a view to evolving a practical method of organizing a medical division with the limited resources at their command.

This meant vastly more than at first appeared, when, after taking into account the manifest impossibility of 3 surgeons attempting to render professional services to some 6,000 men disposed over 1,000 miles of territory, and, so far as known, not an enlisted man in the service who could be utilized as a hospital nurse or attendant upon the sick. There was found one junior officer who had a degree from a medical college and who was dividing his time between campaigning in the field and administering to the sick and injured, and one or two other officers who had previously served in the Hospital Corps, U. S. Army. These few assistants whose services were available, together with an ill-assorted and extremely limited amount of medicines and surgical supplies, constituted the available resources. A careful inventory was taken of all supplies for use in the proposed medical division and pro rata apportionment allotted to each district.

From the outset economy was the paramount issue; economy in appropriations, economy in the number of officers, and economy in the available enlisted detail asked for, and any policy presented for consideration was modified by this expedient. An adjustment of the various difficulties at length resulted in the acceptance of the plan which is at present in force with such modifications from time to time as experience warranted, and which provides for a chief medical officer for the first, second, and third districts, with the senior officers designated as superintendent, medical division, three medical inspectors, and such number of enlisted men to be detailed from the provincial commands as may be deemed necessary, and with the approval of the senior inspector. In addition to this force, authority has been granted by the chief of constabulary to enlist 10 native practicantes whose capabilities and fitness are to be predetermined, and who shall be given the rank, pay, and allowances of sergeants of the constabulary. The duties of these practicantes are in all essentials those of a hospital steward in the United States Army. The medical inspectors are officers of the constabulary chosen for detail in the medical division because of necessary qualifications to enable them to take command of a hospital, and to properly treat such minor injuries or illnesses as do not require the presence of the chief medical officer, and which make up the major portion of disabilities. At present there are but 2 medical inspectors on duty in this district, but they are both exhospital stewards of the United States Army, of experience, and capable of rendering the services required of them. There is but one practicante in the service in this district, who is on duty in the Albay provincial hospital.

In lieu of a hospital corps provided by legislation, enlisted men of the line are detailed for such duty temporarily, only such men as present evidence of intelligence and a knowledge of the Spanish language being selected.

ORGANIZATION OF THE MEDICAL DIVISION IN THE SECOND DISTRICT.

Upon assuming the duties of my office, I at once endeavored to ascertain what medicines and medical supplies were on hand in the various posts throughout the district, as well as what, in the opinion and experience of the officers in charge, were needed. In addition, I desired to know how the sick were being treated, and at what expense to the government, and with what success. Also what was the general state of health or disease of the garrison.

With these objects in view, I accordingly addressed to each senior inspector in my district, as well as junior officers commanding important stations, the following circular:

"HEADQUARTERS SECOND DISTRICT, PHILIPPINES CONSTABULARY,

"MEDICAL DIVISION, Manila, P. I., February 15, 1903.

"SIR: By direction of the district commander, I have the honor to address to you the following communication, in order to further the work of the medical division, and to request that you furnish a reply at your earliest convenience:

"1. What is the total number of enlisted men at your station-(a) able for duty, (b) unable for duty?

"2. What is the per cent of sickness or disability for the month of January? "3. Give a complete list of medicines, surgical supplies and dressings, and first-aid packets at your station.

"4. What medicines, if any, do you need?

"5. Have you any especial knowledge of medicines or training in the use or administration of drugs?

"6. What facilities have you at your station for treating sick or wounded—i. e., whether in quarters, special building, or civil hospital?

"7. Where is your nearest civil hospital?

"8. Have you ever served in the Hospital Corps, U. S. Army?

"9. Have you any enlisted men in your command who, by reason of superior intelligence and adaptability, would become efficient hospital-corps men?

"10. Do you know of any practicantes who have had hospital training that could be enlisted with the rank of sergeant in the hospital corps?

"Very respectfully,

The replies to this letter came in slowly, and in several instances none were received, but from those obtained it was shown that the percentage of disabilities varied from 2 to 35 per cent during the month of January, and that the usual method of treating the sick was to render such assistance as was available to the man in quarters. The replies showed but one officer who had previously been in the Hospital Corps, U. S. Army, or who had any knowledge of medicines or surgery, and yet the drugs distributed throughout the district included such medicines as cocaine, hydrochlorate, chrysarobinum, atropin sulphat, morphin sulphat, tr. digitalis, and a varied assortment of more or less highly potent drugs, the use of which would be dangerous except by those skilled in their administration, and it occasioned surprise that such remedies as these were being asked for as well.

It is superflous to add that men not scientifically trained in the use and knowledge of action of such virulent drugs should not be entrusted with their administration, to say nothing of the needless extravagance in their expenditure, for they are all of the very expensive calls of medicines. Furthermore, I found but a meager supply of simple, minor surgical dressings, as a rule, and but 18 first-aid packets in the entire district of approximately 2,000 men.

PROVINCE OF ALBAY.

During the month of February preparations were being made to conduct a vigorous campaign against the lawless element which had assumed rather unusual prominence in the province of Albay, and it became necessary to make equivalent preparations to care for a probable increase in the sick report.

I was therefore ordered by the district commander to provide such emergency supplies as would serve the purpose in hand, and to proceed to Albay, and there confer with the senior inspector of that province with a view to establishing a hospital at the most practicable point in the disaffected territory. I was instructed to carry with me only such supplies as were believed to be absolutely indispensable, since it was intended that this hospital would be but a temporary expedient.

I arrived at Albay on February 28, 1903, with the hospital equipment. On the following morning, March 1, a telegram was received by the senior inspector, informing him of the attack on the garrison at Oas, in the interior of the province, on the preceding night, and reporting a list of wounded, 4 of whom were believed to be fatally injured. I made hasty preparations to proceed to Oas with such necessary supplies as could be carried by myself and an orderly, but upon reaching Guinobatan I found that the 4 seriously injured men had been brought there, having arrived some half or three-quarters of an hour preceding me.

These men were wounded at or about 7.30 p. m. on the preceding night, and received no surgical aid whatever up to this time, save for well-meant endeavors of some comrade who thought to staunch the appalling flow of blood from one of the most serious wounds by filling it, and incidentally the pleural cavity of the victim with carabao dejecta. After lying unattended during the night and forenoon of the succeeding day, when in extremis from loss of blood and shock, they were placed in hammocks and carried through the midday sun over some 9 or 10 miles of dusty road to Guinobatan, where I found them on my arrival at half-past 3 in the afternoon, twenty hours after their injuries had been received, and almost moribund. I

need not describe in detail these cases, but after four hours of arduous labor I finished the work of cleaning them and dressing their various wounds. This in reality formed the nucleus for the contemplated hospital, and this town seemed to afford better facilities than any other interior town. I spent some days in the effort to secure a suitable house for a hospital before I succeeded. Finally a fairly satisfactory house was obtained and preparations at once begun to equip it. My supplies had already reached me from Albay, in response to a telegraphic request to the supply officer, and we soon had a fairly acceptable place in which to care for the wounded men from Oas, as well as some four or five others sent in from neighboring posts for treatment. It soon became apparent that, at the rate at which the hospital was filling, additional supplies would be required, and upon the arrival of Colonel Baker at Albay to take charge of operations in the province, I consulted him, with a view to securing the necessary additional equipment, and was ordered to Manila to procure such supplies as I thought necessary. Returning to Albay on March 22, I brought sufficient equipment in medicines and hospital supplies to establish a fairly good hospital, adequate for the accommodation of from 20 to 24 patients, in the event of emergency. I remained on duty at this hospital, and, in addition, attending to such of my district work as could be managed from that point, until April 22, during which time the admission to the hospital increased, by the arrival of both acute and chronic cases of disabilities from detachments in the surrounding country, until there were 18 inmates present.

During the month of March cholera made its appearance throughout the interior and western portion of the province, becoming alarming in some parts, particularly in Joveller, an isolated mountain pueblo, where a detachment of the constabulary was stationed, and of which four of the soldiers contracted the disease. I was directed by the district commander, Colonel Baker, on April 3, to proceed to Joveller to render such assistance as I might be able to furnish and to make an effort to rid the town of the disease.

I arrived there on the following day and found three soldiers sick with cholera, one beginning convalescence. They were isolated some 40 yards distant from the quarters, in a temporary shelter of nipa, and were being nursed by a soldier, under the direction of the commanding officer of the station.

The deaths recorded in the town for the preceding day were 45, with probably 100 more cases in various stages. I arranged for a conference with the town officials and the padre and the officer commanding the station, with the result that on the following morning (Sunday) we made a thorough inspection of the town and indicated what work should be done in the interest of sanitation, and a generous detail of laborers was at once set to work and a creditable cleaning was accomplished. During the three days I remained in town much was accomplished in the efforts to lessen the spread of the disease, and, in fact, from that time forward there was a gradual decline in the number of cases, until a sanitary inspector in the employ of the insular board of health arrived to take up the work.

There were no further cases among the constabulary, and by the 17th of the month cholera had disappeared from the town. A few cases appeared in Guinobatan as early as April 7 or 8, and on account of the concentration of the country people in the town a favorable field for the spread of the disease was present. It at no time became serious as an epidemic, but the disease continued present until some time in May.

During this period two soldiers had it, both recovering, and during March a soldier died of smallpox and one of beri beri, these being the only deaths occurring among the soldiers during my tour of duty in the province.

Owing to the increasing admissions to hospital of cases of chronic beri beri, and an occasional worn-out or otherwise useless soldier, I addressed the following communication to the district commander, recommending the discharge of seven men for reasons set forth in the communication:

"Col. D. J. BAKER,

"GUINOBATAN, ALBAY, April 20, 1903.

"Commanding Second District, Philippine Constabulary.

"SIR: I have the honor to invite your attention to the following cases of enlisted men of the Philippine constabulary now undergoing treatment at the constabulary hospital at Guinobatan, and to recommend that these men be discharged by reason of physical unfitness for the service. It is no doubt that a moral obligation, viewed from a humanitarian standpoint, or as compared to the custom of the United States Army, to keep all sick or disabled soldiers in the service for treatment unless they specially desire discharge; but, as I understand the law governing the constabulary service, such liberality is not compatible with the service required of the men by the government. We are wholly without facilities for properly caring for this class of patients,