The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-09-24
MEANING OF MANILA DISPATCH
Army OHicers Talk OF Agninaldo,a
Message and the Movements or

Army Omcers Talk Of Agninaldo'a
Message and the Movements or
the Various Departments.
Washington, Sept. 21.--Oficials ut.
the state and war departments well
come the notice sent the American
people through the Associated Press
of the falsity of the stories describing
friction between the Filipinos and the
American forces in Luzon. While the
officials do not care to discuss the mat
ter for publication, it was evident the
main source of their satisfaction was
the internal evidence in the document
that Aguinaldo had protitcd by the
warning of the American command
ers and had gracefully receded from
the arrogant attitude assumed by him
just before Merritt left Manila for
Paris,
While there is little in the official.
records that tends to contradict what
the insurgent chief says, still it must.
be recalled that both Dewey and Otis
in a cable message to Washington
pointed out the threatening complica-
tions arising from the attitude of the
insurgents. The last advices received
by the department from Manila came
from Otis Friday, and while Otis re-
TERED to Aguinaldo, he took
care to state that lie had troops
enough in his opinion to meet any
emergency. With this statement
from the commanding general on the
cen of activity fresh in mind, the
war department explanation for the
dispatch of fresh reinforcements for
the American army at Manila, namely
that it was but part of a movement
originally planned, appears to var
rant further inquiry. The navy de-
partment is rushing preparations for
starting the big battleships Oregon
and Iowa to Honolulu, and orders have
been sent to the New York navy yard
to have the mechanics work overtime
on these ships. The purpose is to have
them start on their long voyage by
the end of the present month, and ac-
cording to calculations they should ar
rive at their destination by the end of
January. There is little effort now
made to conceal the fact that the de-
partment will have the ships met at
Honolulu by a dispatch boat with or
ders to turn their prows westward to
Manila.
Battleships of this character are not
required to keep the Filipino insur-
gents in order, but their assembling ut
Manila in conjunction with the dis
patch of heavy reinforcemcnts of
troops for the American land forces
cannot but be regarded as significant.
In well informed circles here it is said
the real plJrpOva of tho rrau;1apt in
making these preparations is to in
sure the peace commissioners against
any interference in the work Of dis
posing of the future Of the Phil
ippines accordin to their juds-
ment. Not having disclosed his
plans respecting the islands outside
of Luzon, the seat of the capital of the
group. the president still reserves for
mainder of the islands as they may deem
best. With the addition to his fleet of two
vessels Dewey will have q force only sec
ond to Great Britain in eastern waters,
while on shore Otis will have u more nu-
merous amy than any European power
save Russia.
Creates Interest Mt Washington.
Washington, Sept. 21.-The Associ-
ated Press dispatch conveying Agui-
naldo's message to the American peo-
pie is regarded with much interest
at the white house. President McKin-
ley read the statement with evident
appreciation of its importance, but did
not volunteer any information as to
the attitude of this government. Of
iicials very near him spoke of the
message as a very important docu-
ment."