The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-01
MORE SOLDIERS FOR THE PRILIP-
PINES

The report that the President is serious
ly considering the advisaoliity of calling
for 1900 volunteers is somewhat incon-
sistent with the announcement that Gen.
Otis has informed the war department
that II his force is kept up 70 $1,000 he
viii have all the troops he needs. With
the 1000 regulars on the way to Manila
he VIII have an army OF 5000 men, and
it would seem as If 5000 could be spared
from the troops at home posts and camps
and in Cuba and Porto Rico. There are
about 5000 in cuba and Porto Rico and
there are fully as many more at various
points in this country, If the army Is
recruited up to the limit of 5000 men.
sim, IL it is the opinion Of those who
are in a position 10 form the best judg-
ment OF the matter, that volunteers should
to be called for. there ought to be no hest
tation IN calling for them. We are In for
a war with the Fnipinos, and the very
general desire is that il shall be ended
quickly While we have always thought,
and still think, it was a mistake to de-
mand the Philippines from Spain. the
We cannot honorably withdraw from il.
and therefore there should be no lack OF
effort TO bring it TO an end quickly II
would be better to send 10000 men to the
Philippines, if 1t were certain they could
end the war in a month, than ii would be
to increase the force TO only 10000 with
the prospect that Il would take that num-
Der a year or more 70 bring about peace
The trouble Gen. Otis is having consists
in holding the territory he takes. If he
could use his whole force in fighting
he would not have need of any more men.
But he can use only a small portion of it,
BY far the greater part Of his army is
employed in holding conquered territory.
The country is so immense that if the
war continues very long fully 100000 men
may be needed before the instruction is
quelled.
Some of the war department officials
are in favor of enlsting friendly natives.
1t seems to US to do that would be a
great mistake. The arms they would re-
ceive might be turned against us. The
natives are very treacherous That has
been demonstrated on many occasions.
Only a few days ago several members
of the signal corps. who had put their
faith in a flag of truce, were shot to death.
our experience with native troops In Cuba
was far from gratifying. The time may
come when it win be safe to enlist ma
tives in the army for service in the Phil
ippines. but it will be after the F'ilipinos
have learned 10 have respect for. and to
depend upon, our government. At present
the enlistment of natives would, IN all
probability, amount to strengthening the
enemy:
Gen. Otis, il is announced, does not in
tend to withdraw his troops into quarters
during the eainy season. He will press
the fighting with the hope of impressing
the Filipinos with our ability to do what
we have undertaken to do without regard
to weather conditions. This policy will
result in filling the hospitals, but, in the
long run, 1t will cost fewer lives than to
suspend the campaign until the end of the
rainy season. If the Filiplnos see that
stacles they may accept Gen. OTIS terms.
namely, unconditional surrender They
have been holding out with the belief
that the rainy season would bring the
campaign to a close and give them a
chance to recuperate and fill up their
ranks.