Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-05-18
lSHIPS START HOME.
TRANSPORTS LEAVE MANILA
WITH SICK AND WOUNDED.
General Otis Reports Ves4els that
Have Started from Manila for San
Francisco-Vo1untee Are to Come
When More Regulars Arrive.

Gen. Otis has informed the War De-
partment of the sailing Of six chartered
transports from Manila for San Fran
CISCO They are the City of Pueblo, the
Zealandie, the Pennsylvania, the Nelson,
the Cleveland and the st. Paul. Sick and
wounded men are being brought home on
these vessels.
The Cleveland and the Nelson are
freight boats, but the others could have
brought volunteers if it had been consid-
cred advisable to reduce the effective
forces during the negotiations now being
conducted with a view of ending further
Filipino resistance to the American Gov
eminent. The Pennsylvania has been sta
toned several months at Cebu, and the
st. Paul has been at Iloilo since fall.
These vessels will be returned to their
owners when they reach San Francisco,
and as rapidly as possible all the remain
ing chartered vessels will be released.
Gen. Otis cables: volunteers under
stand they will begin to leave for the
United States the latter part Of the month;
know Importance Of their presence here
at this time and accept sacrifice which
United States interests make Imperative"
War Department officials say that the
cable regarding the return of the volun-
teers indicates that the troops are making
no clamor to be sent home, but see the
necessity of remaining until they can be
relieved by the regulars now on their way
and to be sent to Manila as soon as they
can be shipped.
There have been many applications from
the West to have the volunteers brought
home by the Suez canal route. A Wash
ington dispatch says investigation shows
that it is impracticable. The Suez canal
route is much longer route than that
across the Pacific and the men would be
kept on the transports from ten to fifteen
or twenty days longer than if they came
across the Pacific. The distance Is esti-
! mated to be about 5000 miles longer by
| the Suez canal route than across the Pa
cific, and at this season of the year it is
considered more unsafe, owing to climatic
conditions, especially for the troops who
have been in the tropical climate of the
Philippines. The greater part Of the voy
age would have to be made through the
tropical climate even farther south than
Manila as they would have to skirt the
southern coast of Asia, where plague spots
exist at all times and especially in the
summer season. By the other route, the
transports can sail north to Japan, and
then across the Pacific, in more salubri-
Gus climate, which will make the voyage
beneficial to the men. The expensive tolls
at the SueZ canal make the Pacific route
the more economical.
The War Department has, therefore,
| been constrained to deny these requests,
| and to bring the volunteers home by the
Pacific route. AS a majority of the vol
| unteers are from the West, they will also
| have a shorter railroad journey before
| them when they land in San Francisco.
Gen. Lawton has established a Filipino
| government at Balinay, a council compos-
ed of Filipinos, and mayor being elected.
Americans are not to be held responsible
for remuneration to the officials. To such
an extent as the natives conduct their
affairs in manner the Americans consid-
er proper, they will not be interfered with.
This has been promised them. A portion
| VT the Filipinos are satisfied with this,
and have commenced to cultivate their
fields. Those in that city who were I'M
willing to submit to foreign rule have
largely become weary of the war and sick
of slaughter and have laid down their
arms.
Gen. Lawton is giving a cordial well
come to the Filpinos returning from the
north and coming into the protection Of
the Americans. Many natives are getting
food supplies from the rebel stores taken
at Balinag by Gen. Lawton. Aguinaldo's
power is reported to be weakening con-
tinually. The returning insurgents are
made to understand that they will be ac-
corded kind and just treatment.