The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-07-08
ANSWERS CRITICS.

Postllastel General Emory smith
Dtscnsses Philippines Situation
New York, July GA special to the
World from Washington states that
in response to n request fer llSlnte
view on the Philippine situation Post
master General Charles Emory Smlths
said:
1.-THE situation in the Philippines44is
the most important and absorbing
public question just at present. Am
well aware that there is some resi-
l~essness on the matter and in some
quarters no little impatience. There
is a notion that the administration
should have been more energetic \
when the Filipinos prolonged their
warfare should have called for and
sent forward more troops. But those
who make this criticism do not know
that the administration has recruited
nearly 1000 men a week right straight
along since congress adjourned on
March 4. They do not know that with
these recruits and with the ~re-enlist-
mcnts a force of nearly 10000 men
has been raised within that time.
They do not know that the army
bill, which passed on March 2, prac-
tically compelled the reorganization
of a new army nearly a fourth rs
large as that which was raised for
the Spanish var They do not know
hat under the law authorizing the
creation of the army for the Spanish
war all of the regulars above $1,000
as well as all of the volunteers, had
to be mustered out at the ratification
of the peace treaty, and that while
the new army bill provides for a force
of $4,000 men, the whole number above
27,000 had to be raised Efresh.
"On the ratification of peace with
Spain the presidents plan was to
reconstruct the army up to the
maximum number of regulars permit
ted, viz: 65,0G0 men. He began that
work Immediately. About 10000 men
have been added to the force and
of the recruits fully 10 per cent. were
in the service during the Spanish war.
This fact signifies two things:
First, that those who served had no
terrors from what they had gone
through and were ready to serve
again. Second, that the force thus
recruited was Injured to the service
and able to stand its hardships.
Resides, no married man is taken.
The highest physical standard is en-
forced. No person applying with any
physical defect is accepted.
1T might have been possible to call
for volunteers, to have a rush. to have
had the hurry and the possibilities of
mistake which came with the sharp
action at the beginning of the Span
lSh war, but even if this had been done
troops could not actually have been
sent to the Philippines faster than
they have been and they would not
have been anything like as effective.
Within two weeks 5000 additional
men will be in the Philippines or on
their way, and by August 1. before
the close of the rainy season. there
Twill be $4,000 regulars or more at
the disposal of Otis, and with this
force he will certainly be able to cope
with the situation.
General Otis has managed affairs
in the Philippines with skill and judg-
lief that he needed moro than 100000
effective troops.
There is no trouble in the Philip
pines outside the island of Luzon. Ag-
gressive fighting is now restricted for
about three months because of the
rainy season, but as soon as agrees
sive operations can be resumed short
work will be made of the conflict.
Without understanding the diff
c%ulties, it may be accepted that our
government will be equal to the de,
mandS of the Situation."