The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-20

very important document" The officials
at the State and War Departments well
coined the message While the officials did
not care to discuss the matter for publica-
ton, 1t was evident that the main source of
their satisfaction was the internal evidence
contained in the document that Aguinaldo
had profted by the warnings of the Amer
lean commanders and had gracefully re-
ceded from the arrogant attitude assumed
by him just before General Merritt left Ma
nils for Paris. While there is little in the
official records that tends to contradict
what the insurgent chief says. still it must
be recalled that both General Otis and Ad-
miral Dewey, in cable messages to Wash
ington. have pointed out threatening compli-
cations arising from the attitude of the in
surgents The last advices received at the
War Department from Manila came from
General Otis on Friday last and, while the
officer referred to the agitation exhibited
by the insurgents. he took care to state
that he had troops enough, in his opinion,
to meet any emergency. With this state
ment from the commanding general on the
scene Of activity fresh in mind, the War
Department explanation for the dispatch of
fresh reinforcements for Manila, namely,
that 1t is partly a movement originally
planned, appears to warrant further in
quiry.
The Navy Department is rushing prepara-
tions for the start of the big battle ships
Oregon and Iowa to Honolulu, and orders
have been sent to the New York navy yard
to have them start on their long voyage by
the end of the present month and, accord
ing to the department calculations, they
should arrive at their destination by the
end of January. There is little effort now
made to conceal the fact that the depart
ment will have the ships met at Honolulu
by dispatch boat with orders to turn
their prows westward to Manila. Battle
ships of this character are not needed to
keep the Filipino insurgents in order and
their assembling at Manila, in conjunction
with the dispatch of heavy reinforcements
of troops for the American land forces can
not but be regarded significant.
In well-informed circles here it is said the
real purpose of the President in making
these preparations is to insure the peace
commissioners against any interference in
their work of disposing of the future of the
Philippine islands, according to their best
judgment Not having disclosed his plans
respecting the islands outside of Luzon,
the seat of the capital of the group, the
President still reserves for the American
peace commissioners the right to dispose of
the remainder of the islands as they may
deem best.
A long line of curious incidents, to which
one of the great European powers has been
party, has, beyond question, done much
to cause feeling of uneasiness on the part
of the administration, tending to show
a purpose to interfere with our action in the
Philippines, and this has been only slightly
diminished by apparently frank dsclaim-
ers of an ulterior purpose, because the IN
cidents 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 only explanation of which, COM
ing from native sources, it is true, but still
bearing marks of genuineness, is a purpose
of acquiring either by seizure, or by some
secret pact with the Spanish government,
the important island of Palawan. This par
ticular island forms one side of the gate
way through which must pass all Of the ex-
tensive commerce that flows between Aus
tralia, Micronesia and southern China. The
passage is narrow, and if the islands of the
Philippine group are to be retained, outside
of Luzon, this island of Palawan must be
kept, as forming one side of the gateway.
1t is gathered that it is the purpose of the
ton by Spain of any of the Philippine
group and these preparations, naval as well
as military, are but steps towards the exc
cution of his purpose. With the addition 10
his fleet of the two battle ships Admiral
Dewey will have a force only second TO
that of Great Britain in Eastern waters,
while on shore General Otis will have a
more numerous army than any European
power, save Russia.
The advance guard of the naval expedi-
tion for Honolulu and eventually for Ma
Mia started yesterday when the Abarenda
sailed from Fortress Monroa via Brazil. The
Abaranda is collier, one of which are to
keep the big battle ships Oregon and Iowa
supplied with coal on their long voyage
around South America. The plan is to have
two of the Golfers precede the battle ships
and two to go along with them. In addition
to these escorting craft, acting Secretary
Allen to-day ordered that the Celtic and
the Iris be added to the expedition. The
Celtic is a refrigerator and supply ship and
the Iris is a distilling ship. Their capacity
is enormous, and Mr.. Allen said that no
such perfectly equipped naval expedition
reserve supply of coal, with an abundance
of refrigerated fresh meats and vegetables,
with appliances and plant for making re-
pairs to machinery, and, finally, with an
abundance of fresh water the squadron
will be able to keep the seas for an indefi-
nj ta of