Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-08-18
THE Philippine PROBLEM.
Views OfDewoy and MerrltttO Have
Much Weight With Uncle Sam,
HOW MUCH SHALL WE KEEP


WASHINGTON, Aug, l5.-The Presi-
dent believes that the most serious
problem which the peace commission
will DO called upon TO deal with is the
Philippines, Before the commission
assemblies II is hoped tho affairs Of
Cuba and Porto Rico will be !ound in
such process of adjustment 10 to leave
little for the commission TO consider
under that head. Tho absolute
REIMBURSEMENT by Spain OF all
sovereignty over the islands in the
West Indies will allow only the
property questions TO be settled be-
tween tho governments; that Is, what
Spain shall take away and what shall
remain as captures Of war, and the
protection Of Spanish subjects and
their property In the islands. The
greater questions growing out Of the
war, as relating to Cuba and Porto
Rico, will have to be dealt with by the
United States alone.
The fact that the Philippines will
present the difficult problem in the
peace negotiations has caused the adj
ministratlon to give II great deal Of
careful attention, Several suggestions
have been made ms to what shall be
done, one being the retention Of the
bay, city and harbor Of Manila, just
what the protocol gives temporarily.
Another Is that Subig bay and sufficient
amount OF territory for naval and
coaling station be secured, and the
building up OF an American city at
that place begun. Still another idea
which Is being considered Is the reten-
ton OF the island OF Luzon, the advo-
Gates Of that plan believing that there
would be trouble between the govern
ments which occupied portion Of the
island with limo of demarcation, such
as would exist in case Manila and the
bay only were retained. The island Of
Luzon Is the largest of the group,
and contains about 100000 people,
which are said to be the better class
in the Philippines. 1t is believed,
however, that the administration and
the commission will be greatly inAu-
enced by the reports which Admiral
Dewey and General Merritt will make
on the subject. Their reports are OK
pected before the commission meets.
No more troops will be sent to Gen
eral Merritt unless he asks for them
1t is believed at the war department
that the TO- 900 men now there are suf-
hcient to garrison Manila and the
ground which the United States for
the present will occupy,
All Of the troops that were with
General Shafter in the Santiago cam
paign viii be out Of Cuba by Friday of
this week, General Shafter will ac-
company them to Montauk Point.
There will remain ut Santiago five
regiments OF immunes to do garrison
duty. 1t is yet possible that battery
will be sent to Santiago to take the
place of the batteries which are to be
removed.
General Miles has about $4,000 men
in Porto Rico. They win be sufficient
for the occupation of the island, and
perhaps more than are needed after
the Spanish evacuate.
The remainder Of the troops will re-
main in the various camps to which
they have been assigned for the pres
emit, though something may be done
looking toward diminishing the num-
Der when it becomes apparent that
they are no longer needed.
All vessels from the navy that can
be spared from service in the West In
dies will be ordered to ports in the
states, where the men will be given
brief holidays. The big battleships Of
the feet will be put in dry dock as
soon as possible and undergo such re-
pairs Us may be necessary. There is
scarcely a vessel in the navy that does
not need docking.