New-York tribune., 1899-07-17
THE PHILIPPINE STTUATION.

SOME REFLECTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: General Otis seems strangely 10 underesti-
mate or m.srepresent the real situation IN me
Philippines and the Administration hardly seems
alive 70 the dangers there 70 our forces ana mere
10 itsef
In the beginning Aguinado feIl into the error Oh
believing himself strong enough 10 win by an open
trial ~ strength and 10 this end made his stub
born defence TO our victorious march 10 Malolos
The heavy loss OF this campaign and the disorgaa-
tied condition Of his forces at its end taught the
lesson that the open style cs fighting was not to
his advantage. and from that time he has practsef
1rlv the kind Of guerilla warfare 50 successfully
carried on hy the Cubaus against Spain, with tho
result that he has harassed and worn out our SOL
dlers and made our control IN the Philippines con-
s,st OF exactly much Of the country as We can
SIT on. The population OF the arcnipelaso l. esu-
mated by the various authorities as ranging be-
tueer seven million and fifteen million and "a no
narticu,ar military training Is necessary for TINS
sort Of warfare AguinadO may be- SAID 70 nave
lust so many troops under his command as he mas
svm3athizers among these people ana arms an"
ammunition 70 equip them. The net results OF the
campaign So far are that hold Cavite and Manila
and the few outlying towns are able 70 garri-
son and all the rest that we won is lost. and our
hold upon these outside towns not OF the strong
est And 20 10 this little has required some twenty
FIVE thousand 10 thirty thousand troops. ana YET
IL, AL and In epte OF his failure 90 keep his predc-
mons OF the past and end the insurrecuon. VITA
This cowparattvey small increase IN the huhuel
Of men al ms disposal ne again predicts speedy
ending OF the campaign. ON the oth'F manu-
number OF authorities who are cohNrISalt WIN
the sltuation and at whose head stands Genera.
IaUfon state that enc hundred thousand HrH !
I~na tn, small "A number tor the thorough sHoJ"'-
ION of fhe Islands Would II not be well (" ,SlFt
he'd to their COunses? II We neea 50 STe"t Il g"tS
Nf mon as General LnWtOn thinks there suoulI ~
no delav in their recruitment tor tnry mus
Thoroughly equipped. armed ana drilled 10 De
Snc-ive and The longer the delay IN thtr tn,iS.
rocnt he longer the time that must elaISe DVlolc
thev c5n become effective. Whatever may Alnt
tho original doubt 10 the wisdom 0l taA!Hs vi u'
Stands that question Is passed ne M. Na,'oI". r
honor and the National pride VIII nCl penn ~. ~
mining back IN the face Of the dinc ulles lnS. s
L.sst n We are pledged 20 give these l-ltiua ,c
f.n.at Of our control. and as preliminary 10 4"'-
H. General Otis showing the capacity Ior cUlns
Win fhe situation? The dlspat cnrs 90 no.
fbef D.. mas Yet been outside Mania or Or On On ~ ~
Tring lines While h. directs the caHp,Ils, ~ al
IL -, tb. repOrts Of others Tor ms M an
Ioos nor seek IL personally. he y known as, az" ~
b essentially a detail man, ana thls - 7u'e'' ''o'
"a. hest time for "a leader OF taat type ...L h,,
MA rc, The recent demonstration ctiIeu Iortu "a I2 uy
oIGoyernor Hoggs mention or bF{ah ,tt.iaJ tianJ
-, mai Rrvan has lost none OF ms poiHtGl.a
.-,b in The last three years. ana thaI Dy !lShils
Safear ~ our arms IN Manila the Adnhis aSo.
-. be runnirg a great risk of forging uhIlssl h
t.-1' Tor the campaign OF next year At Ho1Ie
.Tuly I'D. 1888.