New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-18
GENERAL MERRITT RETURNS.
HIS VIEWS on THE OPERATIONS IN THE
PHILIPPINES.

HIS VIEWS ON THE OPERATIONS IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
ADVISES UNITED STATES CONTROL ~ THE
IsI.ANDs-PRAIsEs WORK OF THE PEACE conf
MIssIoN-ADMIRAL DEwEY's LABoRs.
Major General Wesley Merritt commander OF
the United States troops stationed in the Philip
pines was a passenger on the Cunard Line
steamship Lucania. which reached her pier early
Yesterday morning on the vessel with General
Merritt was his wife to whom he was recently
married I'm London The General was the pct
ure Of good health but Mrs. Merritt showed
traces Of recent illness. She is rapidly recover
ing however. As soon the vessel was maze
fast General Merritt came down the gangpiahk
and waited a few moments TO see his baggage
safely through the hands Of the Customs OH
GERS Then he entered carriage and drove "
the Waldorf-Astora Mrs. Merritts mother ana
Lieutenant Strother General rritt's ald'
were also in the party.
At the Waldorf-Astoria General Merritt
was assigned to suite the second hoor'
General Merritt comes to report to tne
President concerning his observations ana
investigation of conditions in the Philip
pines and his subsequent labors in connection
with the Peace Commission in Paris. While ne
talked freely yesterday. he was guarded IN
answering many direct questions, and excused
himself upon the plea that his mission was
diplomatic one and that many Of the su"Jec's
mentioned were hardly within his province u
discuss He said that he expected TO stay IN
this city for several days. probably until the
President returns from his Southern trip. Then
make his report. The fact that he Is going 10
report 10 the President direct. and not to the
Secretary Of War caused some comment. The
General in fact did not say that 10 vas going
to see the President first but ii was inferred
from his remarks that such would be his course
OF action.
PRAISES THE ARMY'S WORK.
General Merritt was In a genial mood as ne
talked yesterday. and prefaced his renarNs
with the statement that he was glad 10 get
home Referring to the situation In the fh'ip
pines. he said: II cannot speak IN too hish
terms ~ the ,ampaign In the Philippines The
work Of the volunteer troops was excellent. and
the Regulars maintained their weli-Kno"h
standard Prompt results were achieVed py
prompt action everywhere. and too much credi'
cannot be given the men Of our Army out on
that post"
When asked II he had heard OF the report
that Admiral Dewey was III and would return
home soon. and as TO the conditions OF the Al
mlrars health when he left him. the 1euera
said:
Il have heard that Admiral Dewey's health
vae moor. but I cannot speak with exactness
upon that subject. as left the Philippines on
August 80 and on that date the Admiral
10 iapf
authorities in Washington gained the impress
sion that he was in poor health and gave 10
him an opportunity TO come home and the iac'
that no did not avail himself OF the chance does
7 think tend to prove that he does not COW
eider himself as being in poor health, and tha'
he fools himself capable of withstanding the
climate admirably No one can overestimate
what Admiral Dewey has done in the PhlIlp-
mines and the craftsmanship he has displayed
has nIaced him in the front rank OF the worid
diplomats"
General Merritt gracefully evaded a question
as to what he thought Of the policy or eN-
mansion. He said tactfuy that he considered
th. United States Government quite capable OF
handling anything It undertakes Wnen ASK"
what force he considered would he adequate 70
keen peace and order in the Philippines ne
said:
THE FORCE NEEDED IN THE EAST.
.In NV opinion the Army In the philippines
shou,d consist Of 10000 or 3oON men, ol il'iS
number about half could be secured III '"e
PHILIPPINES. BY that mean tha' many
soldiers could be recruited from tne ""''N
,roons and hesides this there are many Span
Iards there who would gladly wear Inv u"'-
ea,n, - tho United states The heathfulness
order know English families that have lived
thore for twelve and fifteen years. and they
have no idea Of leaving there As for Asuina''o'
tho leader Of the Filipinos. I think he is an eX-
,t,o,auv shrewd man. I know this In fact'
oltbougb have never personally seen him his
,,ooass &c largely due 70 his advisers. 1hese
loan continually in the background, and AgW-
,olao reans all the glory | think, with proper
handling the insurgents can be easily ruled al
though they may give some slight trouple' ne
renort became current long after leit MAMMA
that Aguinado had demanded S2oooo'""o ran
con, from the Spanish Government for pr'so"'i''
so I know nothing about IT,
General Merritt was asked what ne 'nous ~
or the military bill now before Congress- "nc"
&c known as the Miles bill, providing f"r an III
creaee OF the Army. General Merritt sa'u '"a'
ba had not read the bill in full. and so cou'i
NOT discuss IT, Coming back to the afa'rs o'
the Philippines General Merritt said tha' ne
understood everything had been satisfactorily
adjusted by the Peace Commission AT ra'IS'
",rhe result Of the labors OF the Peace 'o.''-
mission speaks plainly have every respect io'
,bo members Of the Commission. They are "''
or the highest Intelligence An impression eA
,sted in some quarters abroad that Inc peop'e
~ this country did not place sufhcieh' ia"n III
their representatives. and that the 'oiHiH's'o"
/ ers failed 20 go about their Work III the ISL
way In fact they surprised people l"o'
untring In their labors from '"e '''"' -
raached Paris until the most minute deta" "a'
..,,, o,, evervthing was finally adjusted.
STRENGTH OF INSURGENTS.
,.. ,,trLs thor. Is an excellent