The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-19
TWO POINTS OF VIEW,


trouble would be had in getting recruits
for the provisional army.
Comment is made in Washington on the
fact that although three transport steam
efs have recently arriver at Snn Fran
cisco from Manila. they brought no mail
matter. Persons who lack confidence in
the administration ana who arc disposed TO
criticise Major General Otis are asking
If the general commanding In the Philip
pines has extended the censorship 10 the
postal service.
1t has been we'll known for weeks past
that General Otis would not permit news
paper correspondents TO communicate with
their home offices freely by cable ana 1t is
suspected that the correspondents. as well
as the soldiers, in the Philippines have
been forbidden TO use the mails.
1t is Ielt here that this latest phase of
the war situation in the Philippines Will
have the tendency OF increasing hostile
criticism of the conduct of the war being
waged against the Fllipinos. particularly
so as the complaint oil the American
newspaper men only confirms the reports
that have from time to time reached this
country through private sources in Ma
Mia. The iact too. that the war depart
ment has recently frightened the lines
against the giving out of any military in
formation here strengthens the belief that
there is something in the Philippine sit
udtlOu WNlCD Is SO Unsatisfactory tDHt IL
Is deemed essential by the war department
to withhold the real state of affairs from
the American people. The friends of the
administration lind some difficulty in meet
lag the censure which is being directed
against the president in certain quarters
and of entirely clearing him OF the charge
that he is party to the attempt to hood
wink the American people, These critics
hold that, while the true condition In The
!. I.at EpF, ~ he Mo
Mia dispatches to the papers by Otis, that
does not prove that the executive here
has been kept In like ignorance. If Otis.
they say, msreprosented the true situa-
ton in his official dispatches. which is
regarded as improbable, why is he siill
entrusted with the chief command? and
II he has reported the facts accurately TO
his superiors why was the call for re-
Inducements so long delayed? The dis
closures made in this latest news from
Manila Will it is felt here. have any
thing but a favorable effect upon the en-
listment of soldiers for the provisional
army.
The progress in filling the new regi
ments has not been satisfactory. II was
the plan of the administration to have
the new regiments on the ground not later
than September | In order to accustom
the men TO their new climatic surroundings
before the beginning OF active operations.
This would require them to be In readi- |
ness to leave by August /, programme
that has already been abandoned as I'M
practicable The distorted reports and I
concealed information reported by the
newspaper correspondents will not prove
an incentive to volunteers to enlist. while |
the increasing anxiety OF the relatives
and friends OF the men in the service Will ,
serve to augment the indignation now felt
about the Philippine campaign. 1t Is a |
singular yet none the less actual fact that /
no information can be obtained from the
war department about the location and
condition of the various regiments under
General Otis To the many Inquiries re-
ceived daily at the department tor GER
tain regiments, the officials make the one
stereotyped answer;
I'VE do not know where the regiments
are. The last report we had was made
last March, and as there Is no law re-
be unable to furnish any Information In
the future"