The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-09-27
RElNFORCEMENTS
FOR PHILIPPINE LAND FORCES
SAIL FROM SAN FRANCISCO.
PREPARING TO RESIST GERMAN CLAIMS
We Shall Soon Have in The East Ashore and
Afloat Forces that can Bid Defiance 10
Any European Powers Have
Assembled there.

~arhlngton. Sept. 9.-Ihc officials nj
the State and War Departments wei
coined the notice sent To the American
the falsity Of tn" stories describing the
friction between the FilipinoS and the
American forces in Iuzon. While the
officials did not care To discuss the mat
ter for publication, it was evident that
the main SQUIRE Of their satisfaction
was the internal evidence contained in
the document that -Aguinaldo had profit
ed by the warnings Of the American
commanders. and had gracefully reccdcd
from the arrogant attitude assumed by
him Just before General Merritt left
Manila for Paris.
The Navy Department is rushing prep
arations for the start Of the big battle
ships 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 pur-
pose is to have them start on their long
voyage by the end Of the present month,
and according to the Department calcu-
lations they would arrive at their dcS-
t~ination by the end of January. There
is little effort now to conceal the fact.
that the Department will nave the ships
met at Honolulu by Il dispatch boat
with orders to turn their prows west
ward to Manila.
BattlcshipS Of this character are now
needed to keep the Filipino insurgents in
order, and their assembling at Manila
in conjunction with the dispatch Of
heavy reinforcemcntr Of troops for the
American land forces cannot but be re-
or r1pI nc nSiUnifcant N Wn1l inform,
ed circles here. it is said that the real
purpose of the President in making
these preparations is to insure the
peace commissioners against any inter
ference III their work Of disposing of the
future Of the Philippine Islands. accord
ing to their best judgment. Not having
disclosed his plans respecting the islands
outside of LuZOn. the seat of the capita
Of the group, the President still reserves
for the American peace commissioner
the right to dispose of the remainder of
the islands as they may deem best.
a long line of curious incidents. to
which one of the great European powers
has been a party. has beyond question
done much to cause q feeling of uneasi-
ness on the part of the Administration
as tending to show 4 purpose to inter
fere in our free action in the Philippines,
and this has been only slightly diminish
ed by apparently frank disclaimers of an
ultcriOr purpose. because the incidents
continue quietly and in Il manner cal
culatcd to avoid attracting attention
Such for instance is the gathering of
naval vessels to the south of the Philip
pine group. the only explanation Of
which, coming from native sources. 1t Is
true, but still bearing marks of genuine
ness. is Il purpose of acquiring either by
seizure or by some secret pact with the
Spanish Government the important is
land of Palawan. This particular island
forms one side Of the gateway through
which must pass all of the extensive
that flows between Australia
Micronesia and Southern China. The
passage is narrow. and if the islands Of
outside of LiIzOn. this island of PalaWam
must be kept. thus forming one side Of
the gateway. 1t IS gathered that it is
the purpose Of the President, therefore,,
to prevent the alienation by Spain of any
of the Philippine group. and that these
preparations, naval. as we'll as military,
are but steps toward the execution of
his purpose. With the addition to his
fleet Of the two battleShips. Admiral
Dewey will have Il force only second TO
that Of Great Britain in Eastern waters.
while on shore General Otis Will have
Il more numerous army. than any Eu-
ropean power save Russia.