The San Francisco call., 1898-12-18
REFUSED TO
 RECOGNIZE
 AGU|NALDO Philippine Affairs Dis- cussed by Merritt. WOULD HOLD THE ISLANDS THINKS 3o,ooo TROOPS, HALF AMERICANS, SUFFICIENT. Denies the Reports That Admiral Dewey Is Failing in Health.
 Comments on the Atti-
 tude of Germans.
THINKS 30, ,ooo TROOPS, HALF
 AMERICANS, SUFFICIENT.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK, Dec. 17.-Major General Wesley Merritt, former commander of the United States 1ilitary forces in the Philippine Islands, from which post he was sent to Paris to consult with the American Peace Commissioners. reached this city last night on board the steamer L cania from Queenstown. With General Merritt were his bride and her mother, Mrs. Norman Will liz Norman Williams Jr. of Chicago and Captain L. Fl. Strother, aid de camp on the staff of General Merritt The general will assume command of the Military Department of the East, which position he held when he was ordered to Manila.
 The General received hearty greet ing from those assembled at the Cunard line pier as the Lucania was made fast this morning. From the steamship pier the party went in carriages to the Waldorf
 It is some time since I left the Phil ippine Islands" said General Merritt, and all l can say abou. the situa- ation tn re when 1 departed is con- tained in official reports which l made to the Government and the Peace Con- mission. All of these reports have been
 
 is no use of my going over those sub jects again. l can say, however, that there is no foundation for the report that Admiral Dewey's health has broken down as result of his wonder full work 1. Manila harbor on May last He was in fine phys u condition when 1 left him, and he was then over the strain O. the naval fight.
 There is another thing I would like "a ha Oli mate of the Philippines is not by any means as bad as it is said to be. l met a number of Europeans there, who had been in the country for fourteen years or more, and they seemed to thrive and had no serious complaints about the climate to make. The mortality among our troops sent to the Philippines was not as great as some would have the people believe.
 'T.-e Germans acted a little queer when 1 got there first. They were rather meddlesome in matters which, I think, they should have let alone. The German officers there made me no off, cial calls until Manila had fallen. and then their visits were not what might be termed friendly There was no seri- ous clash, and 1 am glad of it. The volunteers behaved nObly during the fight we had. They are good soldiers
 AS to General Miles bill to increase the United States army to 100. 900. at present 1 cannot discuss the proposed measure, for the reason that I have not seen a copy of 1t. I think it will take about 30,000 soldiers to hold the islands in case the country desires to keep them, and I see no reason why it should not.
 T have no comment to make on the so-called expansion which is being dis cussed pro and con these days.
 There are many Spaniards in the islands who want to remain there. With 15,000 United States soldiers and the remaining 15,000 evenly divided be- tween the Filipinos and Spaniards the islands could be governed properly and with credit to this country.
 T did not meet Aguinaldo. but I am satisfied he is very shrewd man. I did not recognize the insurgents. fear ing complications. Admiral Dewey. af- ter my arrival, pursued the same course. What was said or done before my arrival I cannot state. I did not recognize Aguinaldo nor his troops. nor use them in any way. I had been there ten days before Aguinaldo asked to see me, and then I was too busy. Talk ing with leading Filipinos. I told them I had no promises to make. but they might be assured that the Government and the people of this country would treat them fairly.