MAXILOM DECREE, JANUARY 16, 1900

Exhibit 1405.

[Original in Spanish. Contemporary copy. P.I.R., 979.8]

JANUARY 16, 1900.

DECREE.

It not being possible to construct any position however fortified, that can resist the powerful arms in the possession of our enemies, and considering the very deficient warlike resource for defense possessed by us, it becomes necessary for us to adopt guerrilla tactics which is the system best suited to our conditions, uniting good sense and military judgment, and to carry this into effect, in agreement with the chief of the General Staff the following is published:

ART. 1. The force will be divided into a number of groups, each group to be of strength proportionate to the present importance of its objects.

ART. 2. The first group, for the present, will be composed of ten riflemen and ten bolomen, with two spies and two couriers, commanded by a field or line officer; its territory will extend from the extreme town of the north to the boundary between Cadmon and Carmen on the east coast and that of Tuburan and Asturias on the west coast.

The second group will be composed of twenty riflemen and twenty bolomen with four spies and two couriers, commanded by chiefs, one and two with such officers as is thought necessary; having for boundaries the boundary between Cadmon and Carmen, and that between Consolacion and Mandaue on east coast and the line that separates the towns of the west coast from those of the east.

The third group will consist of twenty riflemen and twenty bolomen, four spies and two couriers commanded by a first and second chief and the corresponding officers, having for boundaries the line separating Mandaue and Consolacion and that separating Pardo and Talisay and the line between towns of the east and west coasts.

The fourth group will be composed of ten riflemen and ten bolomen with same number of spies and couriers as 1st group. Having for boundaries the line separating Minglanilla and El Pardo and the road to Barili.

The fifth will be of the same strength as the preceding, being limited by aforesaid road and the extreme town in south on both coasts including all to the south of Harili and Sibonga.

The sixth fraction will be of the same strength as second and third with four spies and four guides, being limited by the boundary of Asturias and Tuburan on the North and Aloguinsan and Barili on the South to the center of the Island for lack of definiteness in the line separating the Western and Eastern towns, the directions of rivers and streams will be considered, i.e., whether their water flows to the eastern or western coast.

ART. 3. The groups will not have fixed positions within their boundaries, but the chiefs will keep themselves near the enemies' detachments with a view of attacking them continually and surprising scouts and convoys.

ART. 4. The Headquarters and General Staff will neither have fixed place, but will move in the province according to circumstances, communications which are to be directed by the chiefs of guerrillas will be sent by persons indicated privately by Superior Chiefs or by the General Staff.

ART. 5. The guerrilla chiefs will keep a daily register of its operations and will send a literal copy of this weekly to the Chief of Staff, giving in addition the condition of its arms and the ammunition on hand, which will be sent to these headquarters.

ART. 6. All orders and regulations from these headquarters will be promulgated through the general staff except in cases of the greatest urgency, furthermore in similar emergencies the general staff is authorized to give orders in my name and by my authority, notifying me later of the action taken.

ART. 7. Depots will be established in towns to be selected according to circumstances. From these Depots chiefs of groups will draw every fifteen days in advance according to strength of their forces, pay in coin or specie as is convenient.

These Depots will contain all that is necessary for the guerrillas, both rations and ammunition, which will be supplied on order through the general staff, having been notified what groups were to present themselves.

ART. 8. Guerrilla Chiefs will agree with adjacent chiefs on signals for recognition and to avoid surprise, they must likewise agree when it is advisable to unite their forces for some operation.

ART. 9. Said chiefs will avoid as far as possible, attacking the enemy in inhabited districts but will attack them on trails and roads in uninhabited places.

ART. 10. The first and second groups will form a command under a chief who will directly represent the general in chief, the third and fourth groups will form a similar command, these will be designated 1st and 2nd column respectively.

ADDITIONAL.

NEW ARTICLE. The following chiefs are announced:-

First and second chiefs, 1st group, Nemesio Maxilom and Ramon Allejo.

First and second chiefs, second group, Enrique Lorega and Leoncio Alfon.

First and second chiefs, third group, Lorenzo Eje and Mateo Luga.

First and second chiefs, fourth group, Potenciano Alino and Martin Cebuenos.

First and second chiefs, fifth group, Hilario Alino and Sulpicio Alino.

First chief of the sixth group, Emilio Verdeflor.

The first column (see article 10.) will be under the immediate command of the chief of staff, Special Commissioner, Pedro E. del Rosario and the second column under the command of Alejo Minosa.

This decree is in operation, and all doubts that may arise among chiefs of cohimns as well as groups will be referred, in writing or verbally, to the chief of staff, as will also requests for instructions.

Given at Headquarters January 16, 1900.

A. MAXILOM,
General in Chief.

(A seal.)