Manila, May 25.
The problem of the defence of the Philippines has aroused much speculation locally, especially since the arrival of the Wood-Forbes mission. The visit of General Wood to Fuga and the Bataan Islands, midway between Luzon and Formosa, is believed to have a bearing on the question, as the islands are thinly populated and of no economic or political im.
In military and naval circles if is believed that the Philippines are sufficiently provided with coast defences to repel an invasion, although it is felt that a stronger mobile field force would be desirable to prevent landings at exposed localities along the coast. The results of the recent naval mane@uvres in Manila Bay, which were subsequently published in a local paper in Manila, seemed to establish the supremacy of the Corregidor defences in case of a sudden attack by destroyers.
While the Wood mission has been silent as to the military and naval problem, it is believed that certain members will study the question in some detail. General Wood, on his northern trip, is accompanied by Commander Bryant, intelligence officer of the Asiatic Fleet, as well as by a number of army officers attached to the mission.
An Inrorman Pueniscrre, The Wood-Forbes mission is making special efforts to learn the views of the "average" Filipino on the independence question and the efficiency of the present government. Prearranged meetings, official speeches, and entertainments, have been dispensed with as far as possible, and the two principal members of the mission, as well as their subordinates, have adopted the plan of informal conference with private citizens in the small towns along their route.
One of the most promising signs of Filipino development, General Wood said, was the formation of women's clubs in the towns and villages. These institutions are devoted to child welfare, and, according to the General, are doing much work of real value.
General Wood, at some points along his route, took an informal vote of the inhabitants on the independence question. Most of them favoured a protectorate, although a few desired immediate and absolute separation from the United States.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.