The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-24
THE s1rrArIoN AT MANILA.


1t is impossible to get satisfactory
dispatches. The correspondents differ
widely in the opinions they express. while
he statements contained in the dispatches
sent 10 the war department by Gen. Otis
are of the most hopeful character-so hope
ful that the belief is abroad that a col
lapse of the insurrection may be expected
at any time. The fighting still goes on,
however. and. as far as can be judged from
this distance, the Filiplnos are just as de-
termlned to continue the war as they were
a week after they had begun it-that is,
the Filipino leaders. They are reasons
for thinking that the Filipinos who are
lighting in the ranks would be glad If
he war were to come to an end at once
They do not see much in il for themselves.
ana il is not probable that they have mueh
patriotism Aguinaldo and the men who
are acting with him appear to have the
men who are doing the fighting under
pretty thorough control
1t is now said that Gen. Otis expects TO
have peace practically restored by the mid
Ole Of April, when the rainy season VIII
begin and our soldiers viii have to retire
TO barracks. More will have to be ac-
complished than there has yet been IL
the insurrection is brought to an end by
that time 1t is probable that Aguinaldo
understands as well as Gen. Otis that
the rainy season will operate greatly
against our troops, and he viii try TO hold
on beyond that time with the expectation
that he will gain great advantage during
that season.
The statement is being made in some
newspapers that a conflict between our
troops and those of Aguinaldo could have
easily been prevented. All that was nee
essary was the exercise of a little judge
ment and foresight. 1t is declared that if
a space had been kept free between our
troops and those of Aguinaldo-that is,
if the men of the two armies had not
been permitted to meet between the lines,
an agreement could have been reachd be-
tween our govrnment and Aguinaido ana
his advisers which would have been sat
isfactory to all parties.
Inns may DC true, put the pIODdDluly
is. that it isn't. The truth doubtless is
that Aguinaldo and the men who are act
ing with him had determined that they
would not submit to our authority They
had prepared for war, and they meant
to have it. II may be that they didn't ex-
pect that we would insist upon having
control of the islands. 1t is not improb-
able that they believed we would with
draw from them as soon as we found out
that the Filipinos were determined to have
their independence. If they had that inn
preston they are now certain they made
a mistake They know that we purpose
holding the islands, and the men who are
guiding the Instruction know what our
programme in respect to them is just as
well as we ourselves do. because they are
highly intelligent and are well informed
about public sentiment in this country.
The conclusion from all available
sources of information is that the Fill
pinos intend to continue the war until
their resources are exhausted. How long
il win be before that time arrives no one
can say with any degree of certainty. 1t
is probable that even Gen. Otis would be
| surprised if the war should come to an
end by the time the rainy season begins.