The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-05-06
INFANTRY READY FOR
THE PHILIPPINES

WAsHNGToN, May 5.-The Philip
pines are to be held, at least until the
wa ends. That resolve no longer re-
mains in the shadow of doubt. The
cabinet has considered this matter to
some purpose The government will
hold the Philippines pending final
settlement with Spain, when they will
be used as a collateral to secure the
payment to the United States Of war
indemnity.
High officials are of the opinion that
none of the powers will seriously dis
pute our right to make such final dis
position of the islands as suits our pur-
posein the enforcement OF war claims
against Spain, and in any even. this
government will be prepared to con-
test any point which may be raised on
this score.
To keep what the American feet is
supposed 10 have captured, it was rec
ognized by the cabinet, would take
soldiers, and as the United States Las
no troops nearer the Philippines than
San Francisco, the army OF occupa-
tion would naturally be forwarded
from there. The next point was what
troops TO send. The superiority Of
the regulars for such an expedition
was recognized at a glance, but the
wholesale withdrawal of troops from
all the Pacific coast stations for the
Cuban invasion, it was seen, made it
unlikely that sufficient number
could be gathered west OF the Rocky
mountains for the purpose. Adjutant
General Corbin was consulted and re-
ported that the only regulars avail
able on the Pacific slope were the
Fourteenth infantry, which is sta
toned at Vancouver, and the Third
artillery and Fourth cavalry, which
are scatteaed through California,
| Washington and other slope states,
but which could be quickly mobilized
at San Francisco. AS infantry was
what was wanted chiefly, however, IL
was seen that the regular army could
do little more than furnish nucleus
for the expedition and that the volun-
teers from the Pacific coast states
would have to be depended on TO sup
ply the bulk of the army of oecups-
tion.
While the matter has not gone far
enough for orders to be issued, IL was
the understanding about the war de-
partmeDt that il il should be found
necessary TO send an army to the
Philippines, the far west volunteers
probably would be used for that pur-
pose, reinforced by such regulars as
could be massed conveniently at San
| Francisco.
No matter what decision may be ar
rived at about sending troops, Com
modore Dewey will have TO look out
for himself for six weeks at least. II
probably would not be possible TO
mobilize and organize a sufficient force
of volunteers for the expedition in less
than two weeks, and IL is estimated
that the transport ships would re-
quire almost, IL not quite a month, for
the voyage from San Francisco to Ma
nila.
The government will take steps at
once to supply Commodore Dewey's
fleet with provisions ana and other
supplies, including ammunition and
coal, and to this end will dispatch at
the earliest possible moment sufficient
numbers of ships to supply amply all
possible needs Of the Asiatic squadron,
These supplies viii be forwarded at
once, without waiting for a decision
of the question as TO whether or not
troops shall be sent. One ship has
been secured already as a collier. IL
is said TO be a much fleeter vessel than
those usually so employed, but It will
take her about three weeks TO reach
Manila.
1t is believed by the president and
secretaries OF war and the navy that
military occupation of the Philippines
will be necessary pending the conclu-
sion of the war, and that a military
governor must be selected TO admins
ter affairs until such time as the final
fate of the islands is decided.