The Philippine War
1899-1902
1899: Conventional Operations
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U.S. Commander:
Elwell S. Otis
8th Corps starts Luzon
campaign Feb. 4-5.
(suspends in May).
November, main
Filipino army routed,
Luzon and other main
islands occupied.
Army Civic Programs
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Sponsored programs that improved:
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Transportation
Communications
Education
Public Health
1900-1902:
Insurgency becomes a guerrilla war
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Filipino opposition:
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Becomes decentralized.
War devolves into numerous small conflicts
that encompass local factors.
Larger political goals of resistance:
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Possible Democratic victory in U.S. elections
of 1900.
Foreign intervention.
Guerrilla warfare
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Military tactics:
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Ambushes, hit-and-run operations.
Dispersal in face of superior force.
Sniping; sabotage; setting traps.
Political tactics:
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Terror
Shadow governments
U.S. manpower issues
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Volunteers in Philippines eligible for
discharge when Treaty of Paris ratified.
March 1899: Congressional act keeps
regular army at 65,000 men, allows
president to call up 35,000 more
volunteers.
Ongoing problems,
new commander
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Commander, May
1900 - July 1901:
Arthur MacArthur
Will take harsher
stance with guerrillas
while continuing civic
programs.
MacArthur’s policies
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Neutralization of
guerilla leaders.
Hunting down
insurgent bands.
Invoked General
Orders No. 100.
Supported Filipino
Federal party.
Rebel Setbacks
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November 1900:
McKinley wins reelection.
Fall 1900 – Spring
1901: MacArthur
implements tougher
policies.
March 1901:
Emilio Aguinaldo captured
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Arrested in surprise
raid by Filipino scouts.
More U.S. manpower issues
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More men needed to cope with
insurgency.
Competing need: Boxer Rebellion.
Volunteer enlistments to expire July 1901.
Solutions
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February 1901: Congress increases size of
Regular Army to 100,000.
Filipinos recruited to assist U.S. Army:
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Scouts: 5,400 by June 1901
police: 6,000 by June 1901
Philippine Constabulary (created by civil
government): 3,000 by January 1902.
The Last Pacification Campaigns:
July 1901 – spring 1902
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U.S. commander:
Adna R. Chaffee
Areas of continuing
resistance:
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Batangas province on
Luzon
Island of Samar
Balangiga Massacre
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Sept. 28, 1901: A U.S. infantry company in a
village on Samar surprised by armed men.
Of 78 soldiers, most killed or missing.
Sparks brutal response.
General Jacob H. Smith orders
retaliation, destruction on Samar
J. Franklin Bell pacifies Batangas
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Troops chase
insurgents.
Destroy crops,
livestock.
Move population into
camps.
Concerns about atrocities