Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-05-17
SHIPS START HOME.
TRANSPORTS LEAVE MANla i
WITH SICK AND WOUNDED.
General Otis Reports Vessels thas
Have Started from Manila for san
Francisco-- Volunteers 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
Ieaiandie, 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 beea consid
cred advisable to reduce the effectivs
forces during the negotiations now beins
conducted with view Of ending further
Filipino resistance to the American Coy.
ernment. The Pennsylvania has been sta
toned several months at Cebu, and she
81. Paul has been at Iioilo since fall
These vessels will be returned to ti.eil
owners when they reach San Fraacis %
and as rapidly as possible all the relcain
ing chartered vessels will be released
Ten. Otis cables: Volunteers undes
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 2
war Department officials say that the
cable regarding the return Of the volun.
teers indicates that the troops are making
no ciamor 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 application from
the West to have the volunteers u ought
home by the Suez canal route. A Wash.
lngton dispatch says investigation shows
fhat 1t Is impracricable. The Snez 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 IL they came
across the Pacific. The distance Is esti,
mated to De about 5000 miles longer by
the Suez canal route than across the Pa-
cifac, md at this season Of The year it Is
considered more unsafe, owinx to climatic
conditions, especially for thu. 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 evea farther south than
Manila, as they would have to skirt the
southern coast Of Asia, where plague spots
exist at all times ans especially In the
summer season. By the oh >r route, the
transports can sail north ,e .apan, and
then across the Pacific, in moe 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 reQues ts
and to bring the volunteers home by the
Pacific route, As majority of the vol
unteers are from the West, they viii aisr
have shorter railroad journey before
them when thsy land in Scn Francisco
Gen. Lawton has established Filipino
government al Balinay, a council compos.
ed Of Filipinoss and a 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 viii not be interfered with
This has been pronise,i them. A portion
of the Filipinos are Jatisied with this,
and have commenced to cultivate thei1
fields. Those in that city who were un-
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 cordial wei
come to the Filipinos 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 70 be weakening con-
tinually. The returning insurgents are
made to understand that they will be ac-
corded kind and just treatment