The Department of Luzon, headquarters at Manila, includes the following principal islands, viz. Luzon, Catanduanes, Romblon, Masbate, Marinduque, Mindoro, Sibuyán, Polillo, Ticao, Tablas, Lúcbang, and Búrias.

The Department of Visayas, headquarters at Yloilo, embraces the islands of Cebú, Negros, Panay, Leyte, Sámar, and Bojol.

The Department of Mindanao, headquarters at Zamboanga, includes all the remaining islands of the Philippine Archipelago.

Statement of Army Strength in the Philippines on June 30, 1904[13]

Present Absent Present and Absent
Officers. Troops. Officers. Troops. Officers. Troops.
General Officers 5 0 0 0 5 0
Gen. Staff Officers 45 0 4 0 49 0
Non-Com Officers at posts 0 109 0 0 0 109
Medical Department 93 919 10 0 103 919
[14]Contract Surgeons63 0 22 0 85 0
[14]Contract Dental Surgeons17 0 0 0 17 0
Engineers 25 395 1 7 26 402
Signal Corps 7 353 2 1 9 354
Ordnance Corps 2 49 0 2 2 51
Officers temporarily in the Division 33 0 0 0 33 0
Total Cavalry 172 2,903 27 32 199 2,935
Total Artillery 9 293 3 0 12 293
Total Infantry 356 7,020 78 70 434 7,090
Total American Forces 827 12,041 147 112 974 12,153
Philippine Scouts 77 4,565 23 413 100 4,978
Total Strength 904 16,606 170 525 1,074 17,131

Besides the American troops, there is a voluntary enlistment of Filipinos, forming the Philippine Scout Corps, a body of rural police supplementary to the constabulary, commanded by a major and 100 American first and second lieutenants. Until recently the troops were stationed over the Islands in 98 camps and garrison towns, as follows, viz.:—In the Department of Luzon 76, Visayas 8, and Mindanao 14; but this number is now considered unnecessarily large and is being reduced to effect economy.

The Army, Navy, and Philippine Scouts expenses are entirely defrayed by the United States Treasury. A military prison is established in the little Island of Malahi, in the Laguna de Bay, whence the escape of a prisoner is signalled by three shots from a cannon, and whoever captures him receives a $30-reward. As the original notice to this effect required the recovery of the prisoner “alive or dead,” two armed natives went in pursuit of an American soldier. To be quite sure of their prey they adopted the safe course of killing him first. Such an unexpected interpretation of the notice as the grim spectacle of an Americanʼs head was naturally repugnant to the authorities, and the “alive or dead” condition was thenceforth expunged.

[1] This establishment was put up for sale by tender in 1904. The prospectus stated as follows:—