The Topeka state journal., 1898-08-02
OOJOOO HIGN'
General Merritt Makes an Ur-
gent Demand
For Larger Army in the Phil
ippines.
5000 NOW UNDER WAY
Who Have Sailed Since the
Governor General
Embarked at San Francisco
For the Islands.

San Francisco. Aug. 2.-In reply to a
dispatch received from General Merritt
now at Cavite. General Merriam today
cabled that since the departure of the
governor general for the Philippines
five transports with 4,897 men had
sailed from this port.
Scarcely had the message been sent
before General Merriam received word
from the war department that General
Merritt had asked to have his COM
mand increased from 10000 to $4,000
troops in order to be able to meet any
emergency which may arise on account
of the hostile attitude of Aguinaldo
and the insurgent forces.
MObilizing Forces.
San Francisco. Aug. 2.-The recruits
of the first Colorado, Second Oregon
and First Nebraska by order of Briga-
der General King have been added to
the command of Lieutenant Colone4
Barnett, making with the recruits of
the Tenth Pennsylvania a force of 1000
men
This action was taken in order to
mobilize the scattered Camp Merritt
forces.
Merritt and AguinaIdO Clash.
New York, Aug. "A cablegram to
the Journal from Cavite, July 80, via
Hong Kong, reports that the cores
pondent has spent two days in inter
viewing insurgent leaders. AS a result
the correspondent says he discovered
evidence of jealousy of the American
invasion, but no actual anti-American
feeling. The dispatch adds:
'AguinaldO is respectful toward Ad-
miral Dewey, General Merritt and Con-
sui Wildman and viii go any length to
retain Consul Wildman's good opinion,
but he holds back from giving ener-
getic help to the United States forces.
He will give only a negative sort of
assistance until he knows the exact
form which the American policy will
take. He is disturbed by telegraphic
reports that the United States will
abandon the islands to SPAIN
There are some indications of
clash between General Merritt and
Aguinaldo."
Our Mistake at Manila.
London, Aug. "A dispatch to the
It is becoming more apparent daily
that there are serious complications
ahead. The Americans never made a
greater mistake than in bringing Aguin-
aldo and the insurgent leaders here and
giving them arms and ammunition for
free use, from the Cavite arsenal.
Aguinaldo, fearing annexation by the
Americans, openly opposes them.
Either he has been corrupted by some
foreign power or he has a false notion
of the strength of the Philippine revo-
Iuttonaries, failing to recognize that
their recent successes are due to the
concentration of Spanish strength at
Manila, consequent upon the presence
OF the Americans. Although he admits
no foreign recognition. he talks of his
government and dictates to the Ameri-
can authorities in absurd and inflated
terms.
He has compelled the natives of the
southern approaches to Manila to reg
lster their bullOcks, ponies and convey
alces, ,lnstructing the owners not to sup
ply them to the Americans for trans
Poftatlon without his sanction Briga-
uler General Anderson promptly adopt
ed hrm measures warning AguinaldO
Ihat force would be used to impress the |
means OF transport, which were ulti-
mately forthcoming AguinaIdO's atti-
tude makes future operations against
Manila prOblematic
In my opinion, with the aid of the
meet the city might already have been
American Nothing but the cornDlica-
I1ons with the natives prevented an ad-
vance Now the violent rains have set
H. making camp and field operations
arduOus and threatening the health of
the men, which until now has been ex-
cellent.
Aguinaldo's forces encircIe the city,
making daily and nightly attacks. The
Spaniards still hold the whole of the
suburbs Occasional sOrties are made
IN which the loss of life is slight Two
nlIes behind AguinaldO's lines, south |
encamped
The remainder are at Cavite. Agrin
aIdo IS understood to have objected to |
the advance of the Americans to ground /
captured by the insurgents. forgetting
@ lLett ms landing was effected by the |
grace of the Americans
I am convinced that the E,i1ioDi1os
Will never capture Manila Tnafdad and
thaI, II the Americans withdraw the
rate OF the natives under Spanish rule
would be worse than before. There |
would be constant fighting and trade
extension would be impossible The
best solution of the political sifuation
would be that America should admins
Ter the Islands, dealing firmly and inst |
" with the natives and insisting on
their immediate disarmament.
r I've half-breeds, taken by AguinaldO /
with spanish passes rolled into cigar /
eI1Ss nave been condemned, to be shot
Inc United States gunboat McCuIloch
1IOW patrols between the neutral fleet /
ana Manila to prevent communication.
Light House Blown Up.
London, Aug. "A dispatch to the |
DalIy Telegraph from Manila vividlv /
plclures the despair of the Spaniards |
i sISie AZ the non-arrival of the expected |
@S5TisLance. 5StI The correspondent says:
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