Two Press Photos of Moro Constabulary Recruits.
Philippines: likely 1900s–1910s. Two photographs measuring 3 ¼ x 5 ¼ inches. Brown Brothers stamps with manuscript captions verso; one with typed caption affixed to bottom. Some marginal wear, excellent contrast; excellent. Item #List2984
Two photographs of Moro Constabulary recruits in the Philippines. One captioned verso “Moro Constabulary for a long ‘hike,’ they have discarded their uncomfortable shoes worn only at dress parade and when in quarters”; the other captioned recto “Same recruits, garrison uniform, four months later”. The Moro Constabulary was a division of the Philippine Constabulary created to help the US Army police the southern regions of the Philippines, then called the “Moro Province” by American authorities, which were home to the Muslim Moro people. The Moro did not consider themselves to have been part of the Spanish Philippines and therefore generally rejected US rule as well, as they did not consider Spain’s cession to the US relevant to them.[1] The US thus strategically recruited from within—though Americans always occupied the positions of most authority, they enlisted not just the constabulary but also local leadership from the Moro population to help the American occupation. The Moro Rebellion consisted of scattered fighting between 1901 and 1913, ending with the transition of the Moro Province from a military to a civil government and the establishment of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu. However, conflict between the Philippine government and various militant Moro groups persists to this day.
[1] Patricio N. Abinales, “The Good Imperialists? American Military Presence in the Southern Philippines in Historical Perspective,” Philippine Studies 52, no. 2 (2004): 179–207.
Price: $150.00
Status: On Hold