The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-17

MERRITT FEELS SIIGHTED.
He Has Refused 49, 60 to The PbiIi,-
pIasR.

/
] tSICClal Dispatch TO uc Post and New YORK.
( itgFald. Copyrighted 1888, by James Cor
don Benneu)
| New York May 1G.-ldaior General Wes-
! 10y Merritt. who has been selected by the
( government TO command the expedition
about to he sent to the Philippines for the
purpose Of completing the work begun h.
Dewey and to administer the affairs of the
islands as military governor, may not 20
al all.
AS the matter now stands the general
mas refused point blank to go with the
| uoops which have been selected for the
task of driving the Spaniards out of the
archipelago and VINO are expected 10 main :
! tain order afterwards
| II is, therefore, a question whether the
war department will alter its plans or not.
| should the present arrangement of sending
! lo'oUO men, only 1000 OF whom are To be
regulars, be adhered TO, ] am in position
10 state that General Merritt will not be
! thClr commander. He has given the matter
| serious study since the Official announce.
mont was made that he las been chosen for
/ duty in the Far East and what may lie
considered his ultimatum will be presented
! 10 Secretary AlSer tomorrow by Colonel
! Robert Z. Hughes, Inspector general on
/
on the midnight train for Washington last
night.
~ MS been an open secret on Governors
Island for days that General Merritt does
rot relish the job of taking the Philip
pIhes' he was supposed TO b. DESTROYS of
commanding the army of invagon of Cuha
or even the one that may be sent to Porto
RICO HIS rank, his experience and Lis
Knowledge of tactics were such that mil.
~, H..
that he would naturally receive the most
important command in the field.
Other considerations, however. have nre-
vented the naming OF General Merritt Tor
'he command Of TROOPS nHesod at Tampa or
about to be modified at Chickamauea
General Merritt remained in charge OF the
department Of the East while Generals
N4de Smarter and Brooke were sent tc the
trent and in the department Of the East
General Merritt is likely TO remain for
some time to come unless the policy that
has been pursued at Washington since the
opening of hostilites be changed.
New York, May 1.-THE Tribune this
morning says: Major General Wesley Mer-
rltt may not go to the Philippines in oom-
mand OF the troops to be sent to the aid of
ADMIRAL Dewey and 10 take charge of tho
territory when in American hands as mill
iary governor. Ever since his return from
Washington, whittier he was summoned
last week for conference, before the an.
houncement was made that he was 10
command the Manila expedition. General
Merritt has been busiiy arranging for his
departure. In an interview last night
General Merritt said:
may not go TO the Philippines at all
IL is proposed 10 give me $4,000 men only
INV oil them regulars and the rest yo.un:
.eers' and those from the Northwest who
nave mad little opportunity for training
ana discipline, l have asked the depar,-
iheht ior at least 1000 more regular traons
10, ! believe they will be required There
To-. 20 10 opportunity TO train the yolun-
- oe,ore 'hey start or after they get
t ~ -nahiia' want enough disciplined
enecuye as possible" -
Are you going TO Washington N co.
apout this matter?'
NO. but am sending an officer. Ibaa
conversation with DR.. Borns of Atlanta
mno IS familiar with the Philippines and
Ia on 10 see me, and he and Colonei
ashes VIII so to Washington Together
trae ony way could get more regular
Nops WOULD be to take them from The
army now in Florida for Cuban invas,on
nue , ieei that | do not want 10 go on this
eAptaition unless I have an entirety ada
qua,e iorce The department promises n
ssnu on more men, but history and exne-
49, $500 snow mat In such expeditions all |
aepends upon the first force semi.
no" can the Charleston start II there