The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-07-03
|ostmaster General Smith, Inter.
viewed Regarding the Philip.
pine Situation,
oints Out Some Things Which
lie Says Are Not Gener.
ally Known.
organization Of the Army Car.
ried on With Expedition and
Judgment.

NEW York. July "a special to
|he World from Washington states
al in response to a request for an in.
(rview on the philippine situation.
ps,master General Charles Emory
NTH said:
The situation in the Philippines is
le most important and absorbing
hblic question just at present. am
ell aware that there Is some restless
Iss on the matter and in some quarters
little impa,ience. There is a notion
nj the administration should have
EN- more energetic and whe n the Fill.
hos prolonged their warfare should
We called for and sent forward more
bops. Blu, those who make this critic
n do not know that the adininistra-
bn has recruited nearly 1900 men q
eek right straight along since con.
tess adjourned on March lth. They
not know that with these recruits
bd with the re-enlistments. a force Of
barly 10000 men has been raised with.
that time.
They do not know that the army
III which passed on March practical.
compelled the reorganization Of a
fw army nearly a fonrth rs large as
Aa, which was raised for the
Yanish war. They do not know
ba, under the law authorizing the Gre
ion Of the army for the spanish war.
i the regulars above -. 900. as well as
Of the volunteers. had to be mus
red ont at the ratification Of the peace
Fea,y. and that while the new army
i'll provides for force Of 5000 men.
be whole number above $4,000 had to
raised afresh.
'on the ratification Of peace with
pam. the presidents problem was 10
tconstruct the army TO the maxi
bum number Of regulars permitted.
600 men. He began that work imme-
lately
About 10000 men have now been
ldei 10 the force. and Of the recruits
billy 20 per cent were in the service
urng the Spanish war. This fact sig.
'f.s two things:
'Fir>t-That those who served had
l'errors from what they had gone
)augh and We're ready to serve again.
'S.cond-That the force thus recruit
II VAS Injured TO the service and able tu
'and its hardships.
Besides. no married man is taken.
he highest physical standard is en-.
ureed No person applying with any
hysical defect or weakness is accepted.
p this way the largest efficiency is OBJ
ained. II might have been possible tc
aii Tor volunteers, To have a rush, &c
ave put them into camp. to have had
pe hurry and the possibilities Of mis-
he which came with the action at thu
ginning Of the Spanish war; hut ever
'his had been done. troops could mo-
we been actually sent to the Philip
fies faster than they have been. ant
pey would not have been anything lik'
! effective.
Within two weeks, 1000 additiona
aeh Will be in the Philippines or OF
ieir way. and by Aug. l. before tn
lose OF the rainy season, there will b
900 regulars or more at the d,sposa
Otis; and with this fov.e he will Ger
ainly be able to cope with the situa
Ion. II there should be need for NOR
September. they will be there.
General Otis has managed affairs l,
ne philippines with skill and iudp
aent. He has never indicated n belle
nat ne needed more than 30, 900 ei{ec,
ve troops.
There 10 no trouble In the Philir
ines outside the island Of Luson. Al
1essive fighting is now restricted "a
ooat three months, because OF th
amy season. but 40 soon q agRressiv
e,ations PEI can b resumed, abort wor
u, oe made Of the conflict.
without under-estimating the did
a..'es' it may be accepted that our 70,
.heht ~ will be equal to the demand
the situation"