Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-07-24
IT WAS DISQUIETING
Effect of HE Round RObia in
Off CidI CirCIeS.
The Faiif OF fhs Administration n
the Statements and Ability of
General Oils and HIS Manage
mtnf Was Not Shaken.

Washington. July 23.-WAne the
officials close to the president decline
to admit that they arr alarmed over
.rle ''ro1ad-robin~ of the newspaper
correspondents in the Philippines, TIE
publication of that communication has
caused considerable anxiety in gov
ernment circles. It did not create .
sensation. but thz authorities are pro
voked, to put it mildly. lflat srch al
legations should appear from men at
Maniia ut this time when lie anti
eXpansionis4s arc striving with might
ard mar 10 cause embarra Ssqnent to
the administration. The Associated
Press correspondent found that the
anxiety was not 50 much over any he.
lief that the newspaper men expressed
the situation correctly. but over tha
fear that it would strengthen the
hands Of c'he xpar.s:onists and
encourage the Ff,ipinOs in their re-
siztaEce to American authority.
The official view. as CLEANED from
talks with advisers of the president is
this: To accept the statements of the
newspaper men as 4 true epitome ofi
The situ<U6On, would be to renudiate
General OTIS and compel his recall. IT.
might even b ground for his trial ny
court martial on the ground OF fa-
competency and Misrepresentation. To
make an investigation of the alIega-
TONS would be also Il severe reflection
on General Otis II would BE- tanta
noun, to an admission that the GOV.
e1nment doubted his statements as Ia
she situation. The opinion of official
Washington. or at least t71at part of
it which is with the president in ali
things. IS therefore r.hat it would be
unwise to take any official notice Of
the round robin. I'VE must accept /
what Otis tells US" said one high
officer OF the administration. whose
views USUALLY coincide with these ofE
the president. "To do otherwise would |
be 10 accuse him of lying And why /
should he misrepresent ,4he situation:
II is TO his advantage to MAKE It more /
alarming, for then uhe CORY ne would /
attain from victory would lie greater
His dispatches telling Of conditions IL
Luzon are confidential. They were for
the information OF tie president and
The secretary Of wa14 He did rot
know whether they were to be given
o rAe press. as all Of them have been
Why should he say he needed only
5000 men, If that number We're too
mail to achieve success? He does not
want to be defeated De<eat would
nd his military career.
Il never heard OF a general mini
rizing the seriousness of the sftua-
ion. Every military commander
las tendency to eXaggerate condi-
ions when he believes that success Is.
lot certain. Otis Is; 10 fool He has
4 magnificent campaign
fe has been vic3oricus everywhera
Would he lie to US? What object
rould thera be in doing SO? There
light be some ground for suspicion
lat he had exaggerated if he had SAID
nat he needed 4 very large force and
nat the Filipin9s could rot be sub
ued without 1T. But he has said over
nd ovar again, that 10000 effective
ZEN would be enough. He has said ,
lat only 10 per cent Of his men were ;
ok in hospital. can't see how
leSe newspaper men could know more
bout tlle sitTation rhan Otis. and I d.
N equally in the dark to find Il reason
-hy he should give Il rose -colorcd =
lew to critical conditions
These are reasons advanced by
-omineEt mcmbers of the admins I,
alton against the truth of the aliaga-
1Hs Of the wspIrer correspondents. :.
is not easy TO ascertain whether ;,
ere is any great difference of opinion O
military circlfs and amceg otficiala f
other branches. The men who sup +
,rt The administration are willing to
press III il views Those who may
I'VE contrary opinions are naturally
'epin@ quiet.
= y !
II faith IN the statements contained y
the Tound-robin was n, army officer
10 said that The only thing TO do was
direct General Otis to > sure opin-
rs as TO the mil5e1ry situation from p
her general officers at the front
ljutant General Corbin resenbs this
sertion. It would, he said, indicate
at the government disrrustsd Gen r
IL Otis and would necessitate his re D,
Il or his resignation. even if he al
re entirely correct in all he had re- sa
rted. Some officers expressed the =.
lief that the roUnd-rehin contained es
e correct view OF conditions in Lu- Ia
4, ard said st,lat the statements of sc
D c0l-rcSD0- derTS had bep0 r0l.r0IlO-l III