Evening star., 1898-12-17
Disposed to Give Gen. Merritt Trou-
BILE at Manila.
CHANGED TACTICS AFTER VICTORY
General Declares Admiral Oewey is
Enjoying Good Health.
FINE CLIMATE IN MANILA

NEW YORK, December 17-Maior Cen
eral Wesley Merritt, late commander of the
United States military forces in the Phil
ippine Islands, from which post he was
called to Paris to consult with the Ameri-
can peace commissioners, reached this city
today on board the steamer Lucania from
Queenstown. With General Merritt were
his bride, her mother, Mrs. Norman Will
liams, and Norman Williams, jr., of Chi
cago. and Captain l.. H. Strother, aid-de-
camp on the staff of General Merritt. The
general will resume command of the mill
tary Department of the East, which posi-
ton he held when he was ordered to the
far east. The general received a hearty
greeting from those assembled at the Gu
nard lines pier as the Lucania was made
fast there. From the steamship pier the
Merritt party went in carriages to the
WaidorfAstora.
1t is some time since ! left the Philip
pine Islands," said General Merritt and
all that | can say about the situation there
when l left is contained in official reports
which l made to the government and the
peace commission. All of these. excepting
one which l made to the Paris commission
on the political situation in the Philip
pines, have been published in the news
papers, and there is no use of my going
over those subjects again.
Dewey in Good Health.
Il can say, however, that there is no
foundation for the report that Admiral
Deweys health has been broken down as
result of his wonderful work in Manila har-
Dor on May l last. He was in fine physical
condition when left him, and he was then
over the strain of the naval fight.
There is another thing that L would like
the people to know. 1t is that the climate
of the Philippines is not by any means as
1t is said to be. l met a number of Euro
pears there who had been in the country
for fourteen years or more, and they
seemed to thrive, and had no serious COM
plants about the climate to make. The
mortality among our troops sent to pre-
serve order there would not be as great as
some would have the people believe.
The Germans acted rather queerly when
| got there first. They We're meddlesome in
matters which think they should have let
alone. The German officers there made me
no official calls until Manila had fallen. and
then their visit was not what might ne
termed friendly. There was no serious
clash. and l am glad of it. The volunteers
behaved nnbly during the fight We had.
They are good soldiers.
Cannot Discuss Army Bill.
las to Gen. Miles bill to increase the
United States army to 100000, at present /
cannot discuss the proposed measure, for
the reason that l have not yet seen a copy
diers to hold the islands in case this coun-
try desires to keep Them and l see no rea-
son why it should not.
Il have no comment to make on the So
called expansion, which is being discussed
pro and con these days. There are many
Spaniards on the islands that want to re-
main there. With 15,cO0 United States SOL
dlers and the remaining 15,o00 evenly d-
vided between the Fiipinos and Spanards
L feel sure the islands could be governed
properly and with credit to this country.
Did Not Meet AguinnIdO.
Il did not meet Aguinaldo but l am sat
isfied he is a very shrewd man. / did not
recognize the insurgents, fearing complica-
tiors. Admiral Dewey, after my arrival,
pursued the same course. What was said
or done before my arrival cannot state. l
did not recognize Aguinaldo, nor his troops,
nor use them in any way. | had been there
ten days before Aguinado asked to see
me. and then l was too busy
Talking with leading Filipinos 1 told
them the United States had no promises to
make, but they might be assured that the
government and the people of this country
would treat than fairIy''