Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-09-21
News P1eases Officials.

News ICdSCS oIICt.ISs
Washington, d. c., Sept. 19.-The Off
Gals at the state and war departments
welcomed the notice sent to the Ameri-
car people through the Associated press
of the falsity of the stories describing the
friction between the FilipinOs and the
American forces in Luzon. While the of
hclals did not care TO discuss the matter
for publication, it was evident that the
main source Of their satisfaction was the
!nternal evidence contained III the dOcu-
ment that AguinaldO had protited by the
warnings of the American commanders
and had gracefully receded from the AFRO
CANT attitude assumed by him just before
Gen. Merritt left Manila for Paris.
While there is little in the official rec
Ords that tends to contradict what the in
sUrgent chief says, still it must be re-
called that both Gen. Otis and Admiral
Dewey, in able messages to Washington,
nave pointed out threatening complica-
tons arising from the attitude of The in
surgents- The last adYices received at
the war department from Manila came
from Gen. Otis Friday last. and while the
officer referred to the agitation exhibited
by the insurgents, he took care t. state
that he had troops enough III his opinion
to meet any emergency.
With this statement from the COM
maGding general on the scene Of activity
fresh in mind, the war department ex-
PLANTATION for the dispatch Of fresh rein
4O1 (t1IICIlS LII lIC LII Cuu ARMY Ill
Manila. namely, that it is but part Of a
movement originally planned, appears to
warrant a further inquiry.
The navy department is rushing prep
aratlOns for the start of the battlcships
Oregon and Iowa to Honolulu and or
ders have been sent to the New York
nayy-yard to have the mechanics work
overtime on these ships. The purpose is
70 lave thcm start on their long VOYAGE
by the end Of the present month. and ac-
cording to the department calculations
they should arrive at their destination by
til. end of January.
Has Deep Significance.
There is little effort now made to con-
ceal the fact that the department Will
have the ships met at Honolulu by a dis
patch boat with order to turn their
prOws westward to Manila. Battleships
of this character are not needed 10 keep
the Filipino insurgents in order. and their
assembling at Manila in conjunction with
the dispatch of heavy reinforcements of
troops for the American land forces can
not but be regarded as significant. In
well-infOrmed circles here it is said that
the real purpose of the President in max
ing these preparations is to insure the
peace commissioners against any inter
ference in 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 capital
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 pow
ers has been party, has beyond question
done much to cause a feeling of uneasi-
ness on the part of the administration,
as tending to show a purpose to interfere
in our free action in the Philippines, and
has been only slightly diminished by APP
p%arently frank disclaimers of an Interior
purpose, because the incidents continue
quietly and in a manner calculated to
avoid attracting attention.
Such for instance as the gathering of
naval vessels to the south of the Philip
pine group, the only explanation of which
looming from native sources, it is true,
but still bearing marks of genuineness)
is a purpose of acquiring either by seiz-
ure or by some secret pact with the Span
1Sh government the important island of
PalaWan.
This particular island forms one side of
the gateway through which must pass all
Of the extensive that flows be.
tween Australia, Micronesia and Southern
China. The passage is narrow and if
the islands of the Philippine group are
to be retained, outside of LuZon. this isl
and Of PalaWan must be kept. as form
ing one side of the gateway. 1t is gath
cred thatsit is the purpose of the Presi-
dent, 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 towards
the execution of his purpose. With the
addition to his feet of the two battleships
Admiral Dewey will have a force only
second to that of Great Britain in East
ern waters, while on shore Gen. Otis will
have a more numerous army than any
European power save Russia.