Exhibit 1290.
[Original in Spanish. D.S. P.I.R., 1042.6.]
GUERRILLA WARFARE.
JUNE 1, 1900.
DEFINITION.
Guerrilla warfare is that which is made in infinitesimal fractions, for the purpose of not presenting a body to the enemy, causing him losses by ambuscades; such a tactical unit has its organization which is susceptible at any moment of concentration or disintegration at a designated point.
ORGANIZATION.
A guerrilla fraction, is composed of seven guerrilla riflemen and two bolomen, under the command of a sergeant.
The guerrilla (band) is composed of two or three fractions, under the command of a guerrilla officer. It is recommended that they be composed of three fractions: 21 rifles and 6 bolomen.
Group of guerrillas.-Is composed of two or three guerrillas under the command of a guerrilla chief. It is recommended that it be composed of three guerrilla bands: 61 rifles and 16 bolomen.
Guerrilla chief.-He shall manage his two or three guerrilla bands in such manner that it shall be possible at any moment to concentrate or disintegrate them, so that when it becomes necessary to attack the enemy or his convoy, one may protect the other, forming a triangle as a general rule.
An example: Let the enemy's column set out from a town; near the latter the first guerrilla band shall be posted at a convenient point, right or left flank; this guerrilla band shall remain in ambush; when the enemy column passes it will attack it jn the rear firing two or three volleys and then withdraw. The second guerrilla band which has been posted a little further in advance nearer the next town on the other side of the road, right or left flank, one kilometer and a half from the first guerrilla, shall fire two or three volleys upon the enemy when opposite; and shall withdraw. The third guerrilla band which has been posted further in advance at the same distance as the second from the first, completing the triangle, right or left flank, shall open an oblique fire, almost in the face of the enemy; then the first and the second will endeavor to approach and attack the enemy heavily from the rear.
A column thus attacked becomes demoralized completely and is often forced to retreat.
It is recommended that few volleys be fired; that retreats be made without losing sight of the enemy, in order to take advantage of the breaks in the ground should it become necessary to fire again after withdrawing, either to inflict more losses or to second the fire of the other guerrilla bands which had already entered in action.
In this system of warfare the astuteness and skill of the chiefs is relied upon to deceive the enemy at every step, leading him to believe that there are forces of more or less size in other places (by means of groups of bolomen) and attack him when he least expects it.
A guerrilla chief shall always have one or two officers as aids, who shall serve to carry verbal messages or discharge delicate missions.
Every guerrilla officer shall have one sergeant under him to take his place during his absence, or one officer as aid, when the service demands it.
Every commander of a fraction, who shall be a sergeant, shall always have a corporal under him who shall act in his stead in necessary cases or to assist him in the management of the fractions.
It is necessary that every guerrilla chief have six or eight scouts on foot and three or four on horseback.
The services of the latter are very import.ant. The unmounted scouts, who are a kind of spies, go ahead, disguised as merchants, carriers, Chinamen or priests, and penetrate the lines of the enemy in order to get information; and they shall advise the mounted scouts of anything new. and the latter shall in their turn advise the guerrilla chiefs, in order thus to avoid any disagreeable surprises.
The Scouting corps shall be well remunerated, and shall be severely punished for any dereliction in duty.
DECEMBER 23, 1900.
NOTE.-Whenever a guerrilla chief camps anywhere with his forces he shall inform the chiefs of bands and of fractions secretly of the place where they are to assemble in the event of being surprised by the enemy. In this manner confusion and the consequent demoralization of the troops will be avoided. A true copy.
ADDENDA.
After the troops have been divided into guerrilla bands in accordance with the organization prepared by the headquarters of the General Staff, dated December 23, last, the guerrilla chief, Mr. Quintin Salas, has deemed proper to amplify them with the following evolutions:
If a column on the march should discover the enemy while out of range, the commander or chief of the same shall order the commanders of the fractions to prepare arms and send the first and second fractions to the right and left respectively, the third remaining in the center as support. When the fractions have been properly stationed in elevated positions, the first fraction on the right flank will fire two or three volleys on the enemy, and the second, on the left flank, will open an oblique fire almost in the rear of the enemy, in order to second the action of the other two fractions, as set forth in the following figure.
If the topography should not permit of the chief ordering the preceding evolutions, he shall order a deployment by fractions while advancing until a better position is reached, for which purpose the first fraction will distract the enemy with two or three shots, while the second and third fractions respectively advance, as set forth in the following figure:
If during this tactical movement the chief of the column should note that he is at a disadvantage in the action not being able to resist the fire of the enemy, he shall order that the second and third fractions deployed in guerrilla formation on the flanks, be paralleled to the first, for the purpose of advancing or retiring according to the attitude of the enemy; and if the latter should be undecided, the chief shall order that the line deployed in guerrilla formation, advance at double quick until the enemy is demoralized.
If a column on the march while reconnoitering the ground should discover the enemy at a certain distance, the chief shall order the deployment by fractions, taking the second as a basis; and the first and third by the left and right flanks respectively with the positions of the first and second figures; and if the enemy should take up position for battle, the chief of the column shall order the deployment by half fractions.
If a reconnoitering column should be at such a distance that it has been discovered by the enemy, the chief shall endeavor to conceal it by all the means possible at strategic points, and shall divide it for the purpose in the following manner; when the third and first fractions take the right and left flanks respectively, the second which was formerly the base, shall divide into halves for the purpose of joining the flanks, as appears from the following Figure:
REMARKS OF THE CORPS OF THE GENERAL STAFF, ON THE TACTICAL EVOLUTIONS SHOWN BY MEANS OF THE PRECEDING FIGURES.
1. When the fractions place themselves at the flanks in strategic points, the officer in command of the guerrilla shall observe the movement of the enemy who usually marches in three columns; one in the center (in the road) and the other on the sides: so that when the enemy is in this formation, the commanders of the fractions shall go higher up, in order not to be surprised from the rear.
2. Fire during the first moments should be slow and governed by the position of the enemy; and after the latter is demoralized the attack shall continue with heavy fire.
3. The fraction which remains in the center as a support, shall advance gradually, taking advantage of the moment when the enemy is sustaining a fire against the fractions on the flanks. They shall do so also with regard to the other.
The positions mentioned above may be varied according to the undulations and character of the ground.
The chief is obliged to decide the positions on the first sight of the enemy.
He shall take care to be on the alert during the firing so that the fraction situated near the road shall not be surprised by a reenforcement. In order to prevent this, he shall endeavor to intercept telegraphic communication, if there be any, or any other message.
JUNE 1, 1900.
(Signed) FRANCISCO JALANDONI,
Acting Chief of the General Staff.
Stamp: Military Operations of Panay-General Staff.
