The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-18
GEN. MERRITT RETURNS
To a Reporter He Talks Entertaininsly Of
the Philippine Situation.
THE CLIMATE NOT AS BAD AS REPORTED
German Officers Acted Boorishly All
1hrouIl,-Thc Americans Refused
To Recognize The Insurgents.

Now York, December t7.-Major General
| Wesley Merritt, late COMMANDER OF the
United States military forces in the Philip
| pine islands, from which post he was
called to Paris to consult with the Amer
lean peace commissioners, reached tbs city
| today on board the steamer Lucana from
Queenstown. With General Merritt were
his bride, her mother. Mrs. Norman Will
| Jams, and Norman Williams. Jr., of Chi
cago and Captain L. f. Strothsrs, aide ON
the staff OF General Merritt. The general
will resume command of the military de-
| partment of the East, which position he
hello when ordered to the Far East
1T is some time since left the Philip
pine islan1s," said General Merritt. "aud
what | cam say about the situation there
When l left is contained in the official r.
poris which | have made to the govern
ment ard the peace commission. These. ex-
ceptirg one which / made TO The Paris
peace commission on the political s tuation
IN the Philippires, have bsen ,slbl4shed
IN the newspapers and there is no use IN
my going over the subject again. | can
say, however, that there is no foundation
ior Inc report that Admiral Dewey's
neaith Is broken down as a result of his
wOnUerial work IL Manila barber on Nav
lt,5i. lie was in fine physical coadition
when / left him and he was then over the
sWaih OF the naval fight
There's another thing that / ,youta ,i,,o
the people TO know. 1t is that the climate
Of the Philippines is not by any mgars
as ~ is said 10 be. I met A number NJ
Europeans there who hays been in the
country tcurteer years or more and thew
seemed TO thrive and had no serious cam.
paints about the climate. The mortaJi,,,
aiiloIs our troops sent 10 preserve order
there would no be as great as soma wonIi
nave the people believe
The Germans acted a Little ouear u,bo,
got there AT first. They were kin1 oi
meaileseme in matters which think thev
should have left alone. Tie German offi,
eelS there made me no official calls untl
Mhiiln had fallen and then their Visit
wa, was not what might be termed friendly
iNane was no serious clash ana w.
glad of 1t. The volunteers behaved r,bIS
during the fight We had They are gand
soldiers. As TO General Niles hin N In
cIease the United States army TO 100 D1O
az p-esent can not discuss the proposeJ
measure" F'P''e"
General Merritt contlpa.d: ~ think II
i',,1 take about 10000 soldiers to hold the
Islands, in case this country dssires +,
keep them. ard see no reason whv n
should not. have no comment 10 make ON
me so-called expansion which is he mo-
discussed pro and con these days.
There are many Spaniardis on tno
i !. that want 10 remain there. With
ioV1V matted States soldiers AMI the re-
n,iaitgnS l5'oU0 evenly divided between the
fnliipinos and Spaniards, feel sure the
'sl1r''s could be govs-ned properly and
with eredit 10 this country
dl1 not meet Aguinalio, but am sat-
siled he IS very shrewd man. did no.
recognize the insurgents. fearing connl
cations. admiral Dewey SITTER my arryal
pursued me same course. What was said
u cone before my arrival can no state.
dld not recognize AguIraldo nor his
-wors. nor use them In any way. I Maj
been there ten days before Apulna'do
asked TO see me and then was 100 busy
l~lking with leading Fllpinos ! t5id
mem t.e United States had no promises 10
make, nut they might be assured the gov
fnment and people of this country ,voui5
rsat them fairly. Purposely we did mar {
ave me Insurgents notice of our attack ON
iartla because We did not need thei, CO.
pe4ation and did not propose 10 have II
We were moved by the fear that they might
cot eglt rlunder and possibly murler. Con
ersang With American officers. Aguinaldo's
wsoretnate leaders frequently said thev /
ltended TO cut the Threats ~ all Spaniards
. Marlla. Agu,naldo himself wrote a cn,n
Earring hatter, saving the Insurgents had
cen deneed their share OF the booty. What i
yer he may have meant by that. rook
Q notice Of this letter, nor did | think
be complaint ot the Fi,ip.nos was mat
N for dtacpsscn between Aguinaldo and
NY representative of the American GOV =
y
The American peace comm ssioners haa /.
har3 task to make the SDanArds under' y
and thai the eelonles We're lost forever 10 !.
pain; They accomplished the $50 weil and =
gned treaty which Is a creet 10 ths,n :, b
~'t " thtin.' L