* * * * *

(Signed) “Mariano Trias.

“Lieutenant-General.

“To the Politico-Military Chief of Infanta.”—­P.I.R., 896-9.

[404] “There does not seem to have been the faintest conception that there was any reason for not using the white flag to deceive people who were foolish enough to believe that Aguinaldo was going to adhere to the rules prescribed for its use.  The writer in the early spring of 1899 once watched an insurgent party advance under a white flag upon an American line of trenches.  When an officer and a bugler went forward to receive them they threw down the flag and immediately opened fire with the rifles which they were then seen to be dragging behind them.”—­Taylor, 48 HS.

[405] “Such ammunition was not effective unless fired from very close quarters, but even its possession made the guerrillas stronger than the people of the country and undoubtedly had much to do with securing their cooeperation, not only as bolomen but also in the digging of the pits which were placed in the trails and also set about the towns.  These were required to be constructed by the local authorities.  In the bottom was set a sharp spike of bamboo, sometimes poisoned; and the pit was covered with leaves and soil upon a fragile framework; so that if a man stood upon it he would fall through upon the spike.  Bows were set in the jungle with a string set across the trail so that any one stumbling over it would discharge a sharp bamboo shaft with a poisoned head.  On September 18, 1900, Lukban congratulated the people of the town of Katubig upon the efficient use they had made of arrows with the heads dipped in ‘dita,’ a native poison. (P.I.R., 502. 8.)”

—­Taylor, 83 HS.

[406] See also the chapter entitled “Murder as a Governmental Institution.”

[407] See p. 313.

[408] The following newspaper supplement printed in Tagalog for the benefit of the common people, is typical of this class of literature, with which the country was kept flooded: 

(Circular printed in Tagalog.  P.I.R., 17-6.  Supplement to Heraldo Filipino.

“Friday, 24th February, 1899.

“Countrymen: 

“We must consider ourselves fortunate that the bad intentions of North America were found out early.  If we had not found them out by this time we should have been entrapped.  And we should thank God that they commenced the war.

“You ought to know by this time that these people can teach us nothing good.  What we can learn from them is all evil.  You must admit the truth of what they are reported to do to our brothers in Manila where they rob the houses when the dwellers in them are out or busy.  Their evil inclinations prevail over them to such an extent that the houses most worthy of consideration are not safe.  They are worse than the wild people who live in the woods, they have not the slightest idea of looking at things from the point of view of a man of honour nor have they the slightest respect for reason, for this does not control their actions in the least.  Without the slightest attention to civility they rush into houses and if they find the people eating, without saying a word, they take what they want from the table, put it into their mouths and go as they came.