The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-06

battalion of the Seventeenth-1S2O men
in all-and she will start not later than
the 14th instant. That is all that can
be supplied to Gen. Otis in the way of
reinforcements, according TO Gen. Cor
bin, If the soldiers are to be of service
in this campaign.
More, of course, will follow as rapidly
as they can be gotten ready if Gen.
Otis needs them in any future opera
tons he may plan, but, as already
stated, it is believed this particular
crisis will have passed before they can
be transported the great distance from
the United States to Manila.
These troops, with those now in Gu
ba, represent the cream of the Ameri-
can army, according to Gen. Corbin
1t is true about 5000 of Gen. Otis SOL
diers are regulars, but his volunteer
soldiers have been under thorough dis
cipline and training for months. many
as much as eight months, and many
participated in engagements attending
the capture of Manila, and are prac-
tically as good as the regulars.
No one here knows the real strength
of the insurgents opposed to Gen. Otis.
The reports of their numbers are con-
fiicting, and none of them comes from
reliable sources. Still the best belief Of
the authorities at the war department
is that they number about 10000 men,
but they are not comparable to the
American forces in personnel disci-
pline or quality of arms.
1t is known that they have some
Mausers. some Remingtons and a var
iety of other firearms, and it is suspect
ed that they have been quite plentifully
supplied with ammunition from outside
sources. Taken as a whole, this arma-
ment is decidedly inferior to that of the
American troops. Then, with ineXperi-
cN>..ed officers in many cases even the
colonies of regiments being not more
than q years of age and their lack of
knowledge of tactics, they are at a
great disadvantage.
Their strong point is their knowledge
of the country and certain fanatical
bravery in onslaught that would be for
midable to volunteer force not we'll
trained to stand fire.
Like the Cubans, they rely too much
on sword-llke weapon corresponding
to the machete, weapon of little value
against long range rifles. Altogether,
the war department officials have not
the slightest doubt of Gen. Otis ability
to hold his position indefinitely and the
only cause for apprehension is the fear
that by taking to the interior of the
country practically impossible for
American troops in the approaching
rainy season, a prolonged Indian fight
ing style of campaign may follow.
Besides his soldiers, Gen. Otis has at
his back in Manila Bay commanding
the city, a veritable rock of Gibraltar
In Dewey's fleet. With the vessels he
now has and those about to join him,
Dewey will have q ships of various
types. OF full-fledged warships. he
now has nine ,as follows: The flagship
Olympia, the Boston, Baltimore.
Charleston. Concord, Monadnock, Mon
terey, Petrol and the Buffalo. He also
has three armed supply ships which
are Just as effective as warship al
most, in attacking troops outside Of
Notifications, and in maintaining the
blockade. They are the Culgoa, the
Nanshan and the Seafiro
The vessels on the way to Join Dewey
are the gunboat Helena, now at CO.
lombo, the Castine at Gibraltar. the
Princeton, due at Port Said Tuesday.
the Bennington, the Brutus and the
Yorktown, probably at Guam, on their
way to Manila, the battleship Oregon
and the water boat Iris at Honolulu
The Solace may start any moment from
Norfolk for Manila.
This leaves out Of account the army
transports under Gen. Otis command
which could be made of great service
The feet cannot operate against troons
in the interior, but undoubtedly Dewey
will Immediately draw a tight Gordon
of blockading vessels around the ISL
and of Luzon and make a special effort
absolutely to cut off the insurgents
| from the supply and ammunition which
they must have to carry on the war.