New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-27
GENERAL MERRITT IN CHICAGO.
HE REITERATES HIS BELIEF IN THE hE'
TENTION OF THE PIIILIPPINES-TO
RESUME COMMAND OF THE DE-
PARTMENT OF THE EAST
WITH THE NEW YEAR.


RESUME COMMAND OF THE DE-
PARTMENT OF THE EAST
WITH THE NEW YEAR.
Chicago Dec 26-Major- General Wesley Mer-
ritt former military governor OF the Philippines
accompanied by his bride. formerly Miss Laura
Williams and his chief aid Major L. H. Stroth-
err have arrived in this city from New-forR'
General Merritt will remain at the home OF
Norman Williams. Mrs. Merritts father, untii
after the holidays. when they viii return 10
New-YOrk City. where the General VIII again
resume his position commander Of the De-
partnent OF the East. which he left to go 10
Manila.
MY official connection with the Philippines
has ended General Merritt said. and all direct
information have received from Manila since
leaving that city for Paris has been In the way
of personal correspondence. but General Otls IL
making a wise Governor. He is making no
promises to Aguinaldo. and neither did l. for
that reason the possibility of trouble with him
and his followers probably will solve Itself.
II firmly believe in the retention OF the
PHILIPPINES. We cannot do otherwise than keep
them If we dispose of them to any other nation
II will certainly prccipitate a war. and they are
not yet capable of governing themselves. untii
that time the best we can do is to give them
good military government, give them what
civilians are necessary to administer the civilian
functions Of government. and when they are
ready to form a government of their own give
them our blessing and let them do So
do I believe that the time will ever come?
certainly believe that in time they VIII be
CAPABLE Of administering their own government.
How soon Of course one can predict mat
must depend largely on circumstances and inc
sort Of government they have at the start. 90
not believe the people Of the Philippines expect
TO receive anything like Statehood They DO
look forward to a colonial government l beheVe.
what Is needed is simple military admins
tration which be easily furnished. Inc
residents of Manila and Of the other parts Oh
the archipelago who are informed are intensely
anxious that the United States shall retain con-
troll"
When asked what he thought OF the proposed
increase in the standing army to one hundred
thousand men. the General declared he had al
WAYS believed such an increase was necessary.
1--WE need standing army Of at least seventy
five thousand here in the United States ne
declared Now that we have acquired the new
territories we shall need few more But. III NY
belief twenty five thousand men are amply SUI
icient for all possible emergencies In Cupa'
Porto Rico and the Philippines together. Inc
rest are needed in the United States for garrison
duty.
"If = larger force is wanted in the Philippines
/; can easily be had from among the natl 'es
General Merritt continued. by offering the
native soldiers with American officers mos,
effective army for duty in the ISLANDS can ne
ouicklv formed. In time. perhaps. IT would
come TO resemble the British Army In lndla
where the greater part of the men are natives
The Filipnos are anxious to enlist IN such 50, 50,
vice and they could be made into effective SOL
diers." ,. 3,
General Merritt was careful not to vouchsale
any opinion to what Congress might 90, o.
in his short stay in Washington. lie declared
he would assume his former post as commander
of the Department of the East immediately AFTER
January