The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-18
THE GERMANS QUEER WAYS.
MERRITT SAYS THEY MADE THEM
SELVES MEDDLESOME.


VIII Take 10000 Soldiers to Hold
the Philippines, and Gen. Merritt
Sees No Reason Why the United
States Should Not Keep Them.
Dewey's Health Is GoOd-Paid No
Attention to the Insurgents and
wholly Ignored AGuinaIdO's Let
ter.
New York, Dec. 17.-Maj. Gen. Wesley
Merritt, late commander of the United
states military forces in the Philippine
Islands, from which post he was called
to Paris to consult with the American
peace commissioners, reached this city to-
day on board the steamer Lucania from
Queenstown.
With Gen. Merritt were his bride, her
mother, Mrs. Norman Williams, Norman
Williams, Jr., of Chicago. and Capt. L.
H. strother, aide de camp on the staff
of Gen. Merritt. The general will resume
charge of the military department of the
East, which position he held when he was
ordered to the far East
Gen. Merritt received a hearty greeting
from those assembled at the Cunard Line
pier as the Lucanla was made fast there
From the steamship pier the Merritt par
ty went in carriages to the Waldorf-As-
toria.
1T is some time since left the Philip
pine Islands," said Gen. Merritt, "and all
that I can say about the situation there
when left is contained in official reports
which I made to the government and to
the peace commission. can say, however,
that there is no foundation for the report
that Admiral Deweys health has broken
down as a result of his wonderful work an
Manila harbor on May l. last. He was In
fine physical condition when 1 left him,
and he was then over the strain of the ma
val fight.
There is another thing that would like
the people to know. II is that the climate
Of the Philippines is not by any means as
it is said to be. met a number of Euro
peans there who had been in the country
for fourteen years or more, and they
seemed to thrive and had no complaints
about the climate to make. The mortality
among our troops sent to preserve order
there would not be as great as some would
have the people believe.
"The German acted in a sort of queer
way when 1 got there first. They were
kind of meddlesoTne in matters which I
think they should have let alone. The
German officers there made no official
calls until Manila had fallen, and then
their visit. was not what might be termed
friendly. There was no serious clash, ana
/ am glad of it. The volunteers behaved
nobly during the fight we had They are
good soldiers.
LAS to Gen. Miles bill to increase the
United States army 10 10000, at present
cannot discuss the proposed measure, for
the reason that 1 have not yet seen a
copy of it. I think it will take about 30 900
soldiers TO hold the islands in case this
country desires 10 keep them, and I sec
no reason why it should not
L nave no comment to make on the so
called expansion, which is being discussed
pro and con these days. There are many
spaniards on the island that want to re-
main there. With 1900 United States SOL
diers, and the remaining 5000 evenly di-
Fded between the FilipinOs and Spaniards
feel sure the island could be governed
properly and with credit TO this country.
l did not meet Aguinaldo, but am sat
isfed he is a very shrewd man. I did not
recognize the insurgents, fearing compii-
cation. Admiral Dewey, after my arrival,
pursued the same course. What was said
or done before my arrival, / cannot state.
dld not recognize AguinaldO nor his
troops. nor use them in any way I had
Oeen there ten days before Aguinaldo ask
cd to see me, and then I was too busy.
Talking with leading Fnipnos, I told
them the United States had nc promises
to make. but they might be assured that
the government and the people of this
country would treat them fairly
Purposely we did not give. the insur-
gents notice of our attacks on Manila be-
cause we did not need their cooperation
and did not propose to have H. We were
moved by fear that they might loot and
plunder, and, possibly, murder. Convers-
Ing with American officers, Aguiualdo's
subordinate leaders frequently said that
they intended to cut the throats of all the
SDaniards in Manila
"Aguinaldo himself wrote a complaining
letter. saying that the insurgents had been
denied their share of the booty what
ever he may have meant by that. took
no notice of this letter, nor do I think
mat the complaints of the Filipinos IS a
matter for discussion between Aguinaldo
and any representative of the American
government
The American peace commissioners
had a hard task to make the Spaniards
understand that the colonies were forever
lost to Spain. They accomplished the job
wen and signed a treaty which is a creed
TO them"
When. asked when he would report his
return to the Secretary Of War, Cen.
Merritt said: II will wait until President
mckinley returns to Washington"
WILL sTrR1TTp fTETTe TREATY