The record-union., 1898-12-18

NEW YORK, Dec. 17-Major General
wesley Merritt, the late commander Of
the United States military forces In the
Philippine Islands, from which post he
was called to Paris, reached this city
to-day on board the steamer Lucania,
from Queenstown. With General Mer-
rift were his bride and her mother, Mrs.
Norman Williams, and Norman Will
Jams Jr., of Chicago, and Captain l.. II.
Strother, aide de camp of the staff of
General Merritt The General will as
sumo the command of the military de-
partment of the East, which position
he held when he was ordered to the
Far East
The General received a hearty greet
ing from those assembled at the Cunard
line pier as the Lucania was made fast
there. From the steamship pier the
Merritt party went in carriages to the
Waldorf
'It is some time since I left the Phil
ippine Islands," said General Merritt,
"and all that can say about the situa-
ton when 1 left is contained in off,
cial reports which I made to the Gov
ernment and the Peace Commission. All
of these reports which 1 made to the
Peace Commission on the political situ-
alton in the Philippines have been pub
lished in the newspapers, and there is
no use of my going over those subjects
again.
Il can say, however, that there is
no foundation for the report that Ad-
miral Dewey's health has broken down
as a result of his wonderful work in
Manila harbor on May 1st last. He was
in fine physical condition when I left
him, and he was then over the strain of
the naval battle.
There is another thing that I would
like the people to know. 1t is that the
climate of the Philippines is not by
any means as bad as it is said to be-.
I met a number Of Europeans there
who had been in the country for seven
teen years or more, and they seemed
to thrive, and had no serious complaints
about the climate to make. The NOR
tality among our troops sent to the
islands was not as great as some would
have the people believe.
THE Germans acted a little queer
when 1 got there first. They were kind
of meddlesome in matters which L
think they should have let alone. The
German officers there made me no Off
cial calls until Manila had fallen, and
then their visit was not what might
be termed friendly. There was no seri-.
Gus clash, and I am glad of it. The
volunteers behaved nobly during the
fight we had They are good soldiers.
LAS to General Miles bill to increase
the army to one hundred thousand men.
n hn
measure, as I have not yet seen copy
of it. I think it will take about thirty
thousand soldiers to hold the islands in
case the country desires to keep them,
and I see no reason why it should not.
II have no comment to make on the
so-called expansion which is being dis
cussed pro and con these days. There
are many Spaniards in the Islands that
want to remain there. With fifteen
thousand United States soldiers and the
remaining 1900 evenly divided be-
tween the Filipinos and Spanish, 1 feel
sure the islands could be governed prop
erly and with credit to this country.
II did not meet Aguinaldo, but I am
satisfied he is a very shrewd man.
did not recognize the insurgents, fear
ing complications. Admiral Dewey,
after my arrival, pursued the same
course What was said or done before
my arrival 1 cannot state. did not
recognize Aguinaldo nor his troops, nor
use them in any way. l had been there
ten DAYS before Agunaldo asked to see
me, and then 1 was too busy.
Talking with leading F'ilpinos, told
them that I had no promises to make,
but they might be assured that the Gov
ernment and the people Of this country
would treat them fairly.
"Purposely we did not give the insur-
gents notice of our attack on Manila,
because we did not need their co-opera"
ton, and did not propose to nave IT..
We were moved by the fear that they
might loot and plunder and possibly
murder Conversing with American Of
ficers, Agunaldo's subordinate leaders
frequently said they intended to cut the
throats of all Spaniards in Manila.
"Aguinaldo wrote complaining let
ter. saying that the insurgents had been
denied their share of the booty what
ever he may have meant. took no no.
tice of this letter nor did / think that
the complaints of the Filipinos were a
matter for discussion between Aguln-
aldo and representatives of the Ameri-
can Government.
THE Peace Commissioners had
hard task to make the Spanish under
stand that the colonies were lost for
ever to Spain. They accomplished the
task well. and signed a treaty which
is q credit to them.
General Merritt, when asked when he
wouId report his return to the Secre-
tary of War. said: Il will wait until
President Mckinley returns TO Wash