The record-union., 1899-05-31
MORE MEN FOR THE PHILIP
PINES.

1t is said that General Otis has ad-
vised the President that he needs more
men to carry on the war against the
Tagal insurgents in Luzon, and that
it is in contemplation to call for volun-
teers again for part of the provisional
army authorized by Congress. Unques-
tionably General Otis is right, If ne
has made such a request. He is on
the ground, and knows what his need
is He must have a sufficient body OF
troops to garrison towns taken, and TO
retain positions secured.
AS it is now we have not a large
army in the Philippines. On the con-
trary it is but a medium sized force,
whereas it should be sufficient to en-
able the war to be fought to speedy
finish. The insurgents are easily
enough driven, but if We have not men
enough to leave behind as the army
advances, in order to prevent retaking
of positions won while we make a still
further advance, we cannot occupy the
country as is essential in war. We
have held all along that not a sufficient
army has been dispatched to Manila.
The first sent out was composed mainly
Of volunteers chosen from the militia
commands. They have proved to be
good soldiers, but it took time for them
to get into the swing and habit of an
army and army life, and thus, after
the opening of the war on land, there
was time lost. When the men were
somewhat accustomed to their new
methods of living our army began to
operate with exceeding effectiveness,
and since then has won for itself lau-
rels that will never fade, and the praise
of the people Of the Republic for
bravery, persistence, submission and
daring.
These men are now being replaced
by regular troops, but very many of
these commands are peppered with
many raw recruits. Our standing army
was so small compared with the extent
OF our country and the duty to which
it has been called over such an ex-
panse Of territory, that if concentrated
to the last man in the Philippines,
leaving no troops at home, it would
not be reckoned a specially large body
of soldiery. The regular force in the
Philippines fnust therefore be aug
mented Whether we will have to do
this by dispatching all the regulars
for the archipelago, and leave home
garrisoning and Cuban duty to newly
enlisted volunteers to be called for, or
whether a new body Of volunteers shall
be called into service and dispatched
to Luzon, is the question in debate in
the Cabinet.
1t is very likely that new volun-
teer force will be raised, and we have
that faith in the patriotism of the
youth of the land that we are con-
vinced it will be speedily forthcoming
when called for. All the probabilities
are that the war in Luzon would have
been over by this time, or indeed long
ago, had it not been for the encourage
ment the insurgents received from our
copperheads at home for one thing,
and because of the interjection into
the situation of civilian Commissioners
to the Philippines, with power to offer
conciliatory terms to the rebels, and
given authority to exercise its wits in
inducing the Filipinos to surrender.
The effect has been to stiffen the in
surgents in their stubbornness. to de-
lay the campaign against them. and
cripple the efforts of the American mill
itary officers to suppress the insurrec-
ton. We have tried the sod" rem
edy now we must prove the virtue of
Stones"