The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-12-19
N Foundation for the Report
That Admiral Dewey Was
Breaking Down.
Climate of the Philippines Not
as Bad as Has Been Rep
resented.
70 comment to Make on Expan.
sion.-Will Report to
Mckinley.

NEW YORK. Dec. l9.-Major General
v.,)rv Merritt. late commander of the
rn;r. states military forces in the
tn,,lnpinr islands. from which post he
va, called to Paris TO consult with the
American peace commissioners. reached
,h, ,Iry on board the steamer Lucania
ira,u Duceusiown. With General Mer-
ri were his bride. her mother, Mrs.
Norman Williams. and Norman Will
lam, .Ir.. Of Chicago. and Captain l..
LII >irother. aide de camp on the staff
!, t,.ueral Merritt. The general will
r,umr command Of the military de-
qr,m,ut Of the East, which position he
| l,n when he was ordered TO Manila.
1T !, some time since left the Phil
/ mlae Islands," said General Merritt.
"anl all that can say about the situa-
,fu there when / left Is contained in
cti ial reports which made to the gov
eminent and the peace commission. All
:. these, excepting one which made to
'he Pari, commission on the political
situation in the Philippines. have been
published in the newspapers and there
i h. Use Of my going over these sub
.tt,> a-ain. can say, however. that
ih,r, j. no foundation for the report
'Aa' Admiral Dewey's health has
tf7h.n down as n result Of his wonder
ri work in Manila harhor, on May |,
AS He was in fine physical condition
rhen leit him. and he was then over
'ae strain Of the naval fight
The Climate Not 50 Bad.
There is another thing that | would
sse the people to know. 1t is that the
fina," Of the Philippines is not by any
reans as il is said TO be. met num-
ter oi Europeans there who had been in
she country for IA years or more and
hey seemed to thrive and had no seri.
eas complaints about the climate to
aase. The mortality among our troops
as great as some would have the peo-
te believe
Germans Acted Queer.
The Germans acted "A little queer
then got there first. They were kind
ameddlesome IN matters which think
ley should have left alone. The Ger
lan officers there made no official calls
mil Manila had fallen. and then their
nv was not what might he termed
F~hal". There was no serious clash
W. am glad of it. The volunteers be-
Wed nobly during the fight we had.
aey are good soldiers"
As 70 General Miles bill to increase
y .nited States army to 100000. at
N~nt cannot discuss the proposed
sasurc, for the reason that have not
seen a copy Of it. l think it will
Nc about 10000 soldiers to hold the
s'lds IN case this country desires to
sp them, and see no reason why It
ona not.
have no comment to make on the
vailed expansion which is being dis
sSed pro and con these days. There
many Spaniards on the islands that
M ono to remain there. With l5.UN
I'.ed States soldiers and the remain
\ 10000 evenly divided between the
l.plnos and Spaniards, feel sure tn.
.aas would be governed properly and
~, vi, credit to this country.
me American peace commissioners
hard task to make the Spaniard'
'"fstand that the colonies were lost
'.er % to Spain. They acccomplishe.
JON well and signed treaty which
credit to them"
n, .,',eral Merritt, when asked when N
"'' m report his return to the secretary
war said:
wilI wait until President Mckinle!
'~ns to Washington"