New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-18
GENERAL MERRITT RETURNS
Continued from hrst page.

tse Americans for having relieved them OF 'he
SPANISH yoke. In case. however OF misuruei'
standing or wanton hostility TO the America"
trooos, and consequent conhict oehe'e '"a'
15OOO such troops as we now have in that coun-
try could completely defeat the Insurgents
rhev are poorly armed They have been
brought IN on the style OF Spanish fighting. ana
most OF the troops Of the insurgents are either
Young boys or old men. I think their numbers
are estimated by the officers OF our arm! IN
Manila at about fourteen thousand They are
not armed. equipped. drilled or ofncereo we"
enough to cause us any great trouble al
though they were strong enough to keep the
Spanish in hot water all the time. The natives
are divided among themselves. and they nave ho
leader strong enough to cement all factions
among themselves. Aguinaldo is not soid'er'
and the absence of any strong leader l think
will he Of material aid to us in helping us 10 get
them 70 come over to Feeling. as oeheVe
they do that we are acting in their best inter-
ests am confident they will welcome us
ADVISES UNITED STATES CONTROL
ION the other hand. do not regard the FILL
ninos as capable of self-government-at leas''
NOT AT the present time. They have many IN
teIIirent men and women but just at present
education is not widely enough diffused among
them 10 make us believe they could conduct
their own government. 1t is likely that 1t would
not be long before they would be involved III
some European Asiatic complication win 'ne
result that they would go TO war with some
Power and get badly defeated. perhaps ai'ei
one or two generations tho Philippine natives,
together with those who go there in quest OF
business will be strong enough TO have gov
eminent Of their own. The natives are bright
and she children will undoubtedly. when once
afforded public school opportunity learn rap
tdlv In time. perhaps. the natives would nave
won their freedom from Spain. but IL "ouio
have taken a long time If the United states
should determine TO allow Spain to resume her
sovereignty over the islands I do not thinK
Spain could quen the insurgents and govern the
islands There are too many natives OF all rae
tions who would fight TO the bitter end rather
than give IN.
General Merritt was asked that inasmuch as
ne believed the natives were incapable OF SELF
government and that Spain could never peace
fully gain control OF the islands again or sub
due the natives II the United States was justi-
fed in assuming control of the islands. He re-
piled:
Yes. that is about the only course we can
honorably pursue There is a moral obligation
resting upon US 10 protect the Filipinos. Al'er
giving them freedom it would be unjust to turn
OF unscrupulous politicians" General Merritt
would not say that he so advised the Peace
Commission in Paris. but he said. significantly
that he had entertained the same opinion ever
since he LEFT the Philippine Islands.
General Merritt said that he believed many or
the Spanish inhabitants in the Philippines were
glad Of the change. Those with property believe
they will he better protected than under Spanish
rule and those without have, In many instances
manifested desire to go into the American
Army LAS for the monks" he said. Il do not
think they will occasion much trouble Their
methods are not the methods Of the Catholics or
Europe and America and l think that the
change will infuse new life into the Church
there"
VIEWS ON THE GERMANS ACTION.
General Merritt when asked about the report
of German Interference in the Philippines. said:
THAT question seems be badly muddled
When arrived at Cavite the impression seemed
to exist among the naval officers that the Ger
mans had been somev hat churlish In their atti-
tude toward the American naval commander.
AS soon as Manila surrendered to the American
forces and we raised the Stars and Stripes. the
English, French and Japanese officers who were
in the harbor saluted with their flags and i'm
Inediately called upon me. as the commanding
officer customary. Military etiquette
made such a formal call the proper thing Still.
there was no definite time requisite for such
call 10 be paid 1t ter days before the rep
resentatives Of the German forces called upon
me When they did call they were very affable.
and pleasant interview could not have
been desired Admiral Dewey remarked at the
time We raised ou- flag Manila that the
German ships In the haTbor were the only ones
which did not salute the American flag, but he
Io1,o tho. ha-
cause the German ships We're pretty far out
toward sea. and nigh. not have the flag go
up Had they been near the ships of the
other Powers would have had every
10 know that the Germans die not feel kindly
toward US, but they We're so far away that their
attitude in the matter could not be construed
into any overt dsrespect. AS ! said. when they
did CALL rather later than had hoped. they
very friendly"
DEATHS OF SOLDIERS AT MANILA