The Red Cloud chief., 1898-12-23
lGGNED.

wesley MERRITT, the late commander
Of tho United States military forces In
the Philippine islands, who was called
To Paris 70 consult with the American
peace commissioners, reached here to-
day on the steamer Lucanla from
Queenstown. The general will resume
command Of tho military department
Of the East, the position he held when
hc was ordered to the Far East. From
the steamship pier the Merritt party
went Ia carriages TO the Waldorf.
Astoria.
ut Is some time since I left the
Philippine islands" said General Mer-
rift, land all that I can say about the
situation there when l left Is con-
tained In official reports which I made
20 the government and peace COM
mission. I can say, however, that
there " no foundation for the report
that Admiral Dowcy's health has
broken down as a result of his
wonderful work In Manila harbor
on Nay 1, last. lilo was in fine
physical condition whom I left him
and no was then over tho strain OF the
naval fight There Is another thing
that I would like the people TO know.
II is that tho climate OF the Philip
pines Is not by any means as II Is said
10 be. ] met a number OF Europeans
there who had been In tho country for
fourteen years or more md they
seemed to thrive and had no serious
complaints about tho climate. The
mortality among ON troops sent to
preserve order there Is not 30 great as
some would have tho people believe.
1.-THE Germans acted q little queer
when ! got there FIRST. They were kind
Of meddlesome In matters which l
think they should have let alone. Tho
German officers there made mo no Of
fetal calls until Manila had fallen,
and then their visit was not what
might DO termed friendly. There was
nc serious clash, and l am glad OF II.
The volunteers behaved nobly during
the fights we had. They arc good SOL
dierA
"As TO General Miles bill to increase
tho army TO 100, 900. at present l can
not discuss the proposed measure for
tho reason that I have not yet seen n
copy of II. I think II will take about
$4,000 soldiers to hold tho islands In
case this country desires to keep them,
aud l sec no reason why II should not.
II have no comment to mako on the
so-calied expansion which Is being dis.
cusscd pro and con these days There
arc many Spaniards upon tho islands
that want to remain there With 49,
900 United States soldiers aud the re-
naming $4,000 evenly divided between
the Filipinos and the Spanish, I feel
sure that the islands could be gov
crned properly and with credit to this
country.
~ did not meet ~Agulnaldo, but I am
satisfied he Is u very shrewd man. 1
did not recognize the insurgents, fear.
Ing complications. Admiral Dewey,
inter my arrival, pursued the same
course What was said or done be.
'osorc my arrival l cannot state. l did
OF OF recognize Aguinaldo, nor his
I groops, nor use them In any way. /
had been there ten days before Aguin-
. aldo asked to sec me, and then / was
too busy.
''Talking with leading Fi'ipinos, I
told them the United States had no
psomises to make, but they might DO
assured that tho government and the
people OF this country would treat
them fairly.
"Purposely, we Old not give the in
surgents notice OF our attack on
Manila because we did not need their
cooperation and did not propose to
have II. We were moved by fear
that they might loot and plum.
dor and possibly murder. Conversing
ysh American officers. Aguinaldo's
ni6 oberdinate leaders frequently said
rer. h,tAoy ipteaded to cut tho throats
the fowlssnot Gctn Manila.
4 and bury de-, himself wrote o com
Ohio F~armersying <hat the insur-
~ sd their share OF
A. o. u. W. Officers. no may have
tho regular meeting of'e OF thus letter
n az the 49, .sms~..t ter for discus.
.n .rsIor ths,aSying Aerican govern.
some Aha kaospleris
nutrit commissioned
-~-".L ~. .r,.g 20 the Spaniards
will be shown that aocomn,;.hoa
sps!sr from crop fse treaty which
! ines have Within
.arxluc.snhst isS f.
Ne esrlyss. fAroass n.-...
Ws-Isaac Nv. The One Hun
aiming PHI, hkn-L. Indiana battalion