The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-06

the limits of Manila as laid down In the
protocol, 1t will amour, to q resump-
tlon OF the war with Spain, at least
technically.
officials noted one little flaw in Dew
eev's dispatch, In that he spoke OF the
American army and navy as generally
successful" conveying Just the least In
tmation that at some points the re-
suits we're not us satisfactory as at 9TH
ers. 1t Is inferred here that this might
mean the development OF weakness ct
some of the more exposed points on the
American lines which might be easily
explained BY the fact that the attack
was made at night, perhaps In places
where the insurgents could creep close
up In the shelter OF the tropical jungle
that grows nearly into the town OF Ma
Mia. Every confidence. however. Is felt
that General Otis Is master OF the s!tu-
alton. This confidence is based not only
on this mornings clblegIam, but from
repeated assurances 10 that effect con-
reYed by General Otis to Washington
from time to time during the past few
months. The forces under his cons
mand as shown BY the records of the
adjutant generals office December 10.
the date of the last report, were 2l,Gi9
troops and OF these there were present
for duty 1876 men. This command Is
composed OF the following organiza-
tlons:
Company A. United States Engineer
Battalion: Companies C, L. G. !. X. and
L. Fourth United States Cavalry; troop
OF Nevada Cavalry: Companies G. II. X.
and L, of the Third, and D and G. Of
the Sixth United States Artillery; Com
Nm nj A nd n nr t, fNaIlfnr,,Io 4
A and b. of the Utah Artillery. and the
Fourth United States Infantry; the
Fourteenth and Headquarters and
Companies B, d, +, II, /. X, l., and NJ,
OF the Seventeenth United States In
fantry; the Eighteenth. Twentieth and
Twenty-third United States Infantry:
the First California, the First Colorado,
the First Idaho. the Fifty-iirs, Iowa.
the Twentieth Kansas. the Thirteenth
Minnesota. the First Montana. the
First Nebraska. the First North DaIio-
ia, the Second Oregon. the Tenth
Pennsylvania, the First South Dakota.
the First Tennessee. the First Wash
ington and the First Wyoming regl-
ments of volunteer infantry.
A portion of this force, the Eighteenth
infantry and Il battery OF artillery are
at Iloilo. where General Miller was
sent Z month or more ago. Approyi-
mately 5000 men are $n their way to
join General Otis In four separate expe-
dtions, though none are expected to
reach Manila for three weeks or
month. They are as follows:
TIL Fourth and four companies OF the
Seventeenth infantry. 1,72S men, under
General Lawton, which sailed from
Gibraltar last Friday; the Twentieth
infantry. comprising thirty-seven OFF,
GERS and l,26S men. under General
Wheaton. which left San Francisco jan
uary 81, the END infantry in command
of Colonel Eghert. which left San Fran
cisco early in the present month and
1000 men and officers OF Third and
Seventeenth United States regiments Of
infantry. which left New York Friday
on the Sherman.
There Is Il big transport. the Sheri-
dan, now making ready In New York to
carry the Twelfth infantry and bat
talon OF the Seventeenth infantry, 1.S20
men In all, and she will start not later
thnnnthe l4th instant. That Is all that
can be supplied 10 General Otis in tn.
way OF rcinforcements, according to
General Corbi7..- If the soi6tcrs Eye- -fysSz
OF service In :hls campaign. More. OF
course. will follow us rapidly as they
can be gotten ready X General OTIS
needs them In any future operations he
may plan but. as already stated. Il is
believed this particular crisis will have
-7sssd before they can he transported
the great distance from the United
States 20 Manila.
Cream of the Army.
These troops, with those now In Gu
ba, represent the cream OK the American
army, according 10 General Corbin. It
is true, that only about 5000 Of General
Otis soldiers are regulars, hut his vol
un;scr soldiers have been under
thorough discipline ard training for
months. s0Ec as much as eiGli: months.
ard many participated in the engage
meIts attending the capture Of Manil;
and are practically as good as the regu-
lars.
No one here knows the real strength
OF the insurgents opposed to General
OTIS. Tie accounts Q: iheIr numbers
are conflicting and none OF them comes
from reliable sources. Sill the best be-
l!et OF the authorities at til. war de-
partmcnt is that they number about
10000 men, but they are not comparable
to the American forces In personnel,
discipline, or quality OF arms. It Is
known that they have some Mausers,
some Rcm!nStors and a variety OF
other firearms, and K is suspected they
have been quite pleatifully supplied
with ammunition from outside sources
Taken as u whole. this armament Is
decidedly Inferior 10 that o, the
American troops. Then. with ineXpcr-
fenced officers In many eases even the
colonels OF regiments being not more
than twentyone years OF age and their
lack of knowledge o. tactics they are at
a great disadvantages. Their strong
point Is their knowledge OF the country
and certain fanatical bravery In on
slaught that would be formidable TO Il
volunteer force not well trained to
stand fire. Like the Cubuns they rely
too much on n sword-likc weapon cor
responding TO the Inachete. Il weapon OF
little value against long range rifles. Al
together. the war department officials
have not the slightest doubt of General
Otis ability to hold his position inden-
nltely and the only cause for apprehen-
sion Is the fear that by taking 10 the In
terror o: the country, practically impls-
sable for American troops In the ap-
preaching rainy season. Il prolonged In
dian lighting style of campaign may
follow
Besides his soldiers General Otis has
at his back in Manila Bay commanding
the city vcrltablc rock of Gibraltar In
Dewey's fleet With the vessels he now
has and those about 10 join him. Dewey
will have twcnty-one ships OF various
types, OF full ilrdged Warships he now
has nine MS follows: The iagship O!ym-
pla, the Boston. Baltimore, Charleston,
Concord. Monadnock, Monterey, Petrol
and the Buffalo. He also has three arm
ed supply ships which are Just az cr-
fcctIve as warshiD IN attacking
troops outside of fortiications and In