The San Francisco call., 1898-08-03

CHICAGO, Aug. "A special from
 Washington to the News says: The
 War and Navy Departments have re-
 ceived, through Cardinal Ranpollo,
 Papal Secretary of State, a cablegram
 from the Pope expressing the keenest
 anxiety for the safety of the Bishop
 and clergy at Cavite. Information re-
 ceived at the Vatican is to the effect
 that Aguinaldo and his forces have
 planned the massacre of the priests
 and nuns.
 Immediately upon the receipt of the
 information cablegrams were sent to
 General Merritt and Admiral Dewey
 directing that they take every means possible to prevent the insurgents from harming priests. The receipt of the news has caused much uneasiness here. If an attempt of this kind Is made by Aguinaldo it will surely lead to a con- fiict between the forces under him and those of the United States.
 WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.-Ofhcials here make no concealment of their ap prehension of serious trouble to follow the execution of our programme in re- gard to the Philippines. The reports of the military and naval commanders of late have contained warnings of ex- pected conflicts with the insurgents, and no surprise will be felt at the re- ceipt of news of an outbreak at almost any moment. The United States Gov ernment feels that 1t has assumed a moral obligation toward not only the foreign residents at Manila, but toward the unprotected classes of the Spanish community-women, children, nuns and priests.
 Therefore, when the 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 report, the insurgents have shown particular hos tility toward the monks, 1t is a reason able expectation that before long a col lision will have occurred between them selves and the American troops if the latter undertake to interfere in the exc cution of the vengeance of the insurg- ents.
 Although the War Department off, cials will not admit that they have any intention of reinforcing further General Merritt'e forces at Cavite. there is req son to believe that some of the troops in Eastern camps, wi4o desire to see active service, will soon find the op- portunity unless the Government shall change its present plans with respect to the Philippines
 It is believed to be necessary even if our claim is limited to the terms stated in the conditions submitted to Spain, to the military occupation and government of the territory on the shores of the bay of Manila, to give General Merritt a larger force than he has now at his command. It Is realized that 10000 soldiers scarcely can be ex- pected to maintain United States pos session and protect the inhabitants over a territory of this extent; for it must be remembered that the bay of Manila is twenty-five miles deep from the entrance at Corregidor Island to the city of Manila, at it's head. It will also be necessary to possess and pro- tect a zone extending some distance pack of the city in order to make suff1- ,ient preservation of the water works |
 Of course a considerably smaller force would be necessary, if the insurgents under Aguinaldo could be brought to | realize that their interests lie in per- undisputed possession of this territory by the United States. But 1t 1 would be expecting too much of the na- tive character to keep before the eyes ,f the insurgents the rich loot to be had |