The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-08-03
OUR OFFICIALS ANXIOUS
Over the Attitude Of the Insurgents
,,=. in the Philippines. .-,.....
THEY MAY RESIST OUR TROOPS.
General Merritt Ordered to Protect
Non-COmbatants From the Wrath
Of AguinaIdo's Followers-Cheering
Reports From Porto Rico.

OGneTui "otTitt oFuefeu 70 IfOlecC
Non-Combatants From the Wrath
of Aguinaldo's FolIowers-Cheering
Reports From Porto Rico.
Washington, Aug 3.-Officials make
no concealment of their apprehension of
trouble to fellow the execution of our
program in regard to the Philippines.
The reports of the military and naval
commanders of late have. contained
warnings of expected conflicts with the
insurgents. and no surprise will be
felt at the receipt of news of an out
break at almost any moment. The
United States government feels that
1t has assumed moral obligation to-
wards not only the foreign residents at
Manila, but towards the unprotected
classes Of the Spanish community
women, children, nuns and priests.
Therefore when intimation came that
the insurgents were threatening the
lives of some helpless monks orders
were sent to the American military
commander to look into the matter and
to act In the interest of civilization and
humanity. AS. according to the report.
the insurgents have shown particular
hostility towards the monks, 1t is a
reasonable expectation that before long
a collision will have occurred between
themselves and the American troops If
the latter undertake to interfere in the
execution of the vengeance Of the in
surgents.
Some reports which have been re-
ceiyed from Porto Rico, but which for
polite reasons cannot be made public.
have given great satisfaction to the
officials Of the war department. since |
they go to show that the resistance
which can be made by the Spanish
troops will be very little, and it is even |
possible that General Miles will achieve
an almost bloodless victory. In fact
1t has been suggested with some plausi-
bility that the Madrid government
realizing the impendency of peace and
the lack of loyalty toward the mon
archy of the mass of Porto Rcans,
have allowed the Spanish garrison of
the island to understand that they are
not expected to sacrifice their lives |
in useless resistance to superior force,
so that all that Is to be expected is to
be rather formal opposition to the
progress of General Miles trumphal
march across the island.
General Skaters health reports state
that he Is now caring for over 1000
sick people, including Spanish soldiers,
many of whom were found to be very
III. The task is a formidable one, and
he attempt to care for all hands prob
ably explains in a measure the lack of
adequate prepars tion of the transports
Employed in br Wing home some Of the
wounded and sick. The conditions on
hese boats were found to be so shock
ng as to demand an immediate nves-
igation, and some court martials may !
'e looked for in high places unless it
an be shown clearly that the lack of
Preparations was unavoidable.
Major General Young called at the
var department yesterday fresh from
he front, where his health broke down
nder the severe exertions imposed by
he campaign. He spent some time
With Secretary Alger as did Major |
ieneral Wade, who has not been able
perfect the arrangements for his
X: fition to Porto Rico For the
thereof the war DEPART
tent Is making an effort to secure the
NO American liners Harvard and Yale,
lte the New York and Paris, now in
he charter of the navy department,
nd tits believed that the effort has been
lccessful. AS to the other liners, st.
au1 and st. Louis, the navy depart +
tent has not yet reached decision,
lough in view of the presidents desire t
} curtail war expenditures wherever 4
ossible 1t is expected that they, too,
i'll be surrendered by the navy de-
lrtment in the course of few days.
| this case four of the naval captains 4
ould be left without commands, name
, Sigsbee of the st. Paul, Wise of the
ale, Goodrich Of the St. Louis and I
'tton of the Harvard, for even If the a
ssels were used as army transports d
e law would not permit naval officers +
command them.