Evening star., 1899-02-06
Discussion at the Embassies and
Legations.
STRENGTH OF OUR FORCES

gressors and had been repulsed. His dis
| patch follows:
! CAVITE, February 5.
To the Secretary of the Navy, Washington:
Insurgents here inaugurated general en-
gagement last night, which was continued
| today. The American army and navy is
generally successful. Insurgent have been
| driven back and our lines advanced. No
| casualties to navy. DEWEY.
| Later the following was received by Gen.
| A. w. GreeIy, chief signal officer. from Col.
| Thompson. chief signal officer on the staff
| of Gen. Otis:
! MANILA, February s.
| To Gen. Grealy, Chief Signal Officer:
Action continues since early morning.
Losses quite heavy. Everything favorable
| to our arms. THOMPSON.
! Gen. Otis sent the following report:
I MANILA, February ).
Adjutant General, Washington, d. c.:
Have established our permanent lines well
| out and have driven off the insurgents. The
| troops conducted themselves with great
| heroism. The country about Manila is
| peaceful and the city perfectly quiet. List
| of casualties tomorrow. OTIS.
| Gen. Otis later sent the following par
| ticulars:
MANILA, February 5.
To Adjutant General
| Insurgents in large force opened attack
| On our outer lines at S:45 last evening; re-
| newed attack several times during night:
| at O'Clock this morning entire line en-
gagged; all attacks repulsed; at daybreak
advanced against insurgents and have
| driven them beyond the lines they former
! ly occupied. capturing several villages and
| their defense works, insurgent loss in dead
ana wounded large; our own casualties
! thus far estimated at 115, very few fatal;
| troops enthusiastic and acting fsarlessly:
| navy did splendid execution on flank of
| enemy; city held in check and absolute
quiet prevails insurgents secured good
| many Mauser rifles, a few field pieces and
| qulck-hring guns, with ammunition, during
| last month. OTIS.
The following dispatch was received at
| lis this morning:
m MANILA, February 3.
| ITO Adjutant General:
| Situation mCst satisfactory: no appre-
! heEsion need be felt Perfect quiet prevails
| in city and vicinity. List of casualties
being prepared, and will be forwarded soon
| as possible. Troops in excellent health and
| spirits.
| tsigne) OTIS"
| Shock to the Administration.
| Ths news from Manila came as a shock
| to the officers of the administration. for
| they had chung steadily to hope that by
! tact and patience actual fighting might be
| avorted. Even those public men who felt
| that hostiities would follow should the
| treaty be ratified and the United States at
| tempt to occupy the islands believed that
| Aguinaldo would not force the lighting
| wren the treaty of peace was in its most
| critical stage
The administration has not felt serious
| appreh nsion of Gen. Otis ability at least
to hold his own. The American position
| might have been greatly strengthened it
| Is said, by a judicious extension of the lines
| in certain directions, and also by taking
summary measures to prevent the opera
! ucns of the insurgents in taking up posi-
| uGns and organizing forces. President Nc
| klnley took the view that perhaps under d
strict construction of the terms of the
protocol which still holds good in the alb
Ia nf ha rotf
lacked authority TO extend the field of oc-
| cupation of the Americans. The fact that
the insurgents themselves have been the
| nrsl TO break the truce probably releases
| the United States government from further
obligation in this respect so that Cen Otls
was unquestionably warranted, in the opin-
| ION of the administration officials in ex-
| tending his lines as Dewey ranorts ba bas
done
The situation is regarded here as rather
anomalous from a diplomatic standpoint
| Legally the Filipnos are still Spanish Sub
! jects. Therefore, If hostile operations con-
tlnue outside of the limits of Manila as
| laid down in the protocol, it will amount to
a resumption of the war with Spain at
/ least technically.
officials noted one little flaw in Dewev's
| dispatch, in that he spoke of the American
army and navy generally successful
conveying just the least intimation that at
sCme points the results were not as salts
factory as at others. Every confidence
however, is felt that Gen Otis is master of
| the situation
Waiting at the White House.
Official details of the situation at Manila
We're anxiously awaited at the White House
| throughout the day.
Secretary Alger was the first to call ar
irving at the White House at 1910. He re-
mained but a short time. however, and al
most simultaneously with his departure
Secretary Long arrived bearing Admiral
Deweys dispatch. Before Secretary Long
departed the Secretary of War returned to
the White House, and Adjutant General
Corbin and Attorney General Griggs also
arrived Before nightfall all of the cabinet
except Postmaster General Charles Emory
Smith, who Is confined at home with a
cold, and including Secretary Bliss. who
| came over from New York. had called sep
aratey, but no time was there a formal
gathering of the cabinet.
President and Mrs. Mckinley went for
short carriage drive few minutes after 3
cieck. Secretary of War Alger met him
as he entered his carriage. Secretary AIger
was Joined at the White House by Attorney
General Gr1ggs, who came to inquire about
the situation, and Secretary Alger stated
that the American troops on the scene We're
adequate to cope with the situation and
that there need be apprehension as TO
the ability OF our forces to take care of
themselves He said that while no dispatch
| had come to his department, undoubtedly
everything possible had been done to avoid
the hostilities, as the instructions to Gem
measure to avoid any conflict with the
Filipinos.
Several members of the cabinet and other
public men called at the Executive Man
sion last night. but the gathering was
largely of social character MANY Of them
being accompanied by the ladies of their
families. Among those present were Secre-
taries Hay, Alger. Bliss and Wilson Sena.
tor Hanna and Fairbanks and Assistant
Secretary Of War Meiklejohn.
At the Embassies and Legations.
At the various foreign embassies and
legations the news of an outbreak at
Manila aroused the keenest interest, and
| 1t was discussed In all its International
bearings. At the British, French and other
embassies most directly interested no OFF,
cial word had been received, and the press
adVlces We're being relied on for informa-
ton. These were sufficient to satisfy dip-
tomato officials that very grave situation
was presented. In the MAN, however. the
foreign opinion was optimistic as to the
ability of the United States to successfully
cope with this insurrection, although one
eminent diplomatic official regarded 1t as
foreshadowing series of colonial con-
ficfS