The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-03
WORRY AT WASHINGTON.
Philippine Problem is Causing Much
Anxiety.

New York, Aug. 3.-A special to the
Tribune from Washington says:
The administration is more sanguine
than ever that the peace negotiations
will not be so protracted and tedious as
was feared a. week ago. In regard to
the presidents demand from Spain i'm
mediate evacuation of Cuba and Porto
Rico, this feeling among cabinet officers
amounts to a conviction. With regard
to the Philippines, however, grave ap-
prehension is manifested that Spain
may stubbornly resist the. suggestion
of a commission, taking advantage of
the exceedingly embarrassing situation
which confronts General Merritt
through the oficiousness of the insur-
gent Chief AguinaIdo.
The conditions which confront the
comparatively small forces under Gen.
Merritt's command between Cavite and
Manila are shown by official reports
to be even more dangerous than inti-
mated in press dispatches.
This contingency was thoroughly con-
sidered by the military and naval au-
thOrities as early as the middle Of May
when Gen. Merritt was selected to take
an army corps across the Pacific.
About that time the military authOri-
ties in conference at Washington, both
Gen. Miles and Gen Merritt being pres
ent carefully studied all conceivable
phases of the establishment of an
American prOtectOrate over the Philip
pine group and agreed that the min
imum strength of the United States
land forces that would be essential
was as follows: For garrison of Philip
pines, $50, 900: for garrison of LuZOn is
land alone, $4,000 men; for garrison of
Manila alone, $4,000 men.
AS a consequence of these delibera-
tiOns and conclusions regarding the
Of
the authorities has been concentrated
upon the probability of the retention
of the island of LuZOn alone and after
debating the matter and digesttng
vast amount of information about that
island the officers and officials were
unanimously of the opinion that it
would be indiscreet in the extreme to
attempt to control the three million in
habitants of LuzOn with less than $4,000
men,
Further study of the condition at Ma
nila having due regard to the cOntin-
uance there of Admiral Dewey's squad
ron, resulted in the authorities discover
ing nothing to warrant any mOdifica-
ton of the strength of the proposed gar
rison of that city, which was considered
a most conservative estimate, and the
fact that Gen. Merritt'S command was
fixed at 25. 900 men is taken to indicate
that this government a month ago did
not seriously contemplate the Occupa-
ton of more territory by the army than
that included in the city of Manila,
while the navy, with its ships and
marines, maintained possession of Ca
vite and Manila Bay. Even then the
proposition is subjected to modifica-
ton by the audacity Of Aguinaldo, and
little short of his death or capture is
apt to clear up the complications
1t is feared the crisis at Manila IS
already at hand and that Gen. Augusti
may at any moment be compelled 70
surrender the city to Gen. Merritt,
whether the latter is ready to receive
it or not Under such circumstances 1t
is certain that Gen. Merritt would be
promptly compelled to accept the ser
ions responsibility of protecting prop
erty in the city against the insurgents
at whatever hazard and the incongru-
Gus spectacle may yet be presented OF
American and Spanish troops there CO.
oDeratinar against a common enemy
Supported by the combined forces from
the foreign fleets which have gathered
in the harbOr.