The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-09-22
REASON FOR It
Dispatch of Additional Troops
and the Haste on the Big
Battleships
Not Regarded as Warranted by
Any Fear Of Trouble With Z
Insurgents.
Reason Rather Found in the At
titude of One Of the Euro
pean Powers.
Address From Aguinaldo to the
American People Consid-
cred Important.

at the state and war departments well
coined the news of the falsity Of the
stories describing the friction between
the Filipinos and the American forces
in Luzon. While the officials did not
care to discuss the matter for publica-
ton, it was evident that the main
ternal evidence contained in the docu-
ment that Aguinaldo had profited by
the warnings of the American COM
manders and had gracefully receded
from the arrogant attitude assumed by
him inst before General Merritt left
Manila for Paris. While there is little
in the official advices that tends to con-
tradict what the insurgent chief says,
still it must be recalled that both Gen.
eral Otis and Admiral Dewey in cable
messages to Washington have
Pointed Out Threatening Complications
arising from the attitude of the insur-
gents. The last advices received at the
war department. from Manila came
from General Otis Friday last, and
while the officer referred to the agita.
ton exhibited by the insurgents he
took care to state that he had troops
enough in his opinion to meet any
emergency. With this statement from
the commanding general on the scene
Of activity fresh in mind, the war de.
partmsnt explanation for thu dispatch
Of fresh reinforcements for the Ameri.
can army at Manila, namely, that it
is but part Of a movement orig.
inally planned, appears to war
rant a further inquiry. The navy
department. is rushing epafations for
the start of the big bat-leships Oregon
and Iowa to Honolulu, and orders have
been sent to the New York navy yard
to have the mechanics work overtime
on the big battleships. There is little
effort now made to conceal the fact
that the department. will have the ships
met at Honolulu by a dispatch boat
with orders to turn their prows west
ward to Manila.
Battleships of this character are not.
needed to keep the Filipino insurgents
in order, and their assem- bling at Ma
Mia in conjunction with the dispatch
of heavy reinforcement of troops for
the American land forces could not
but be regarded as significant.
One of the Powers Acts Strangely.
A long line of curious incidents to
which one of the great European pow.
ers has been party has beyond question
done much to cause a Aseling of un.
easiness on the part of the administra.
ton as tending to show purpose to
interfere in our free action in the Phil
ippines and has been only slightly
diminished by apparently frank dis
Chalmers of Interior purposes, because
the incidents continue quietly and in
manner calculated to avoid attracting
attention. Such, for instance, is the
gathering of naval vessels to the south
of the Philippine group, the explana-
ton of which, coming from native
sources, it is true, but still bearing
marks of commences, is purpose of
acquiring either by seizure or by some
secret pact with the Spanish govern
ment the important island Of Palawan.
Forms an Important Gateway.
This particular island forms one side
of the gateway through which must
flows between Australia, Micronesia
and Southern China. The passage is
narrow and if the islands of the Phil.
ippine group are to bs retained, outside
Of Luzon, this island of Palawan must
be kept as forming one side of the gate.
way. It is gathered that it is the pur.
pose Of the president, therefore, to pre-.
vent the alienation by Spain of any of
the Philippine group. and that these
preparations, naval as well as military,
are but steps towards the execution Of
this purpose. With the addition to his
feet of two batt1eships, Admiral Dewey
will have force only second to that
of Great Britain in Eastern waters,
while on shore General Otis will have
a more numerous force than any Euro
pean power, save Russia.