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Show : TAFTS REPLY TO MILES' REPORT ON PHILIPPINES WASHINGTON. June . The War department has made public a report received from Gov.-Gen. Taft. replying to statements made by Lieut-Gen. Miles after his visit to the islands last year. The report is dated at Behguet, April 18th, and says: I am In receipt, by reference . from the chief of the Bureau of Insular Affairs and the Adjutant-General of the army, of an excerpt from the report of the Lieutenant-General Lieutenant-General of the army relating to the condition con-dition of agriculture In the archipelago, and th means of avoiding a probable famine, and In accordance with the direction di-rection In the reference I have the honor to make the following comment: That there Is a shortage in the Islands of the usual supply is undoubtedly true, but I have been surprised to find thus far how little famine or hunger there Is. . I have not received a single call from a single Provincial Governor for rice for free distribution In the entire archipelago. In the- province of Batangas. Capt. Broughton, In managing the so-called war famine fund, the history of which has been already officially reported to you, has made a very small gratuitous distribution distri-bution of rice, not exceeding, I should think. In quantity more than two thousand thou-sand dollars' worth . The action of the commission In directing direct-ing a proclamtion by the Civil Governor calling upon the people everywhere to plant corn, camotes or sweet potatoes, rice and other quick-growing food products pro-ducts had a wide influence in stirring up the people to provide agalnat the coming Of famine. It is true that an unexampled drouth In the islands has prevented this planting from being as productive as otherwise would have been, and that the locusts, too, have been Interfering with some of the crops, but, on the whole. I have been greatly surprised to find the suffering so much lees than we expected It to be In May, June and July. We may have calls for aid. but we will be able to promptly respond to them, especially now that three million dollars have been appropriated appro-priated for them. The most serious feature of. the situation situa-tion Is the los of the cattle from rhinder-pest. rhinder-pest. - It Is not feasible to bring cattle into the Islands without making sure that they wiU not catch this disease .after coming here, and die from It. The fields of the Islands are affected with rhlnderpest so that cattle from other islands brought her are almost sure to have It. It Is necessary therefore. that all cattle brought here shall be Immunised, having a serum injected Into their veins which will render them Immune for three or four months, and at the same time by twin or Inoculated with the rhlnderpest virus, which renders them immune at least for five years and probably longer. We have made a contract for ten thousand thou-sand carabos In the Island after the permanent per-manent immunisation. Theae are to be brought from China. Our Insular purchasing pur-chasing agent, together with a cattle expert ex-pert of the Agricultural bureau. Is now visiting the various ports of the Orient with a view to making further contracts. |
