The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1899-01-06
STILL DARK ON OLOILO.
No Definite Tidings From That
Storm Center.
Washington Full OF HOpe-Gen. Otis Ad-
vIsed of Early Departure From This
Country of More Regiments
for His Army.

of trouble with the insurgents, steps
were taken today by the war and ma W
| departments to reinforce the naval and
military forces of the United States in
the Philippines.
Evidently in response to a telegram
| for additional troops, Secretary Alger
| cabled to Gen. Otis that the Twentieth
Infantry would leave San Fran cisco on
Saturday next for Manila; that the
Fourth, Twelfth and Seventeenth regi-
ments would proceed from New York
via the Suez canal on January II, and
that the Third and Twenty-second reg
iments would leave San Francisco
promptly.
Should the conditions existing in the
Philippines continue to be as menacing
as they are today, there is no reason to
believe that the department will deter
mine to keep the volunteer troops at
Manila at their present stations, even
after the arrival of the regulars.
support for Dewey Also.
Rear Admiral Dewey Is also aware of
the seriousness of the situation, and he
has brought to the attention of Secre-
tary Long the necessity of providing
his squadron with additional light
draught gunbOats, as he cabled about a
month ago. In compliance with his
wishes, the department ordered today
the gunboat Helena, now at Naples, to
proceed direct to Manila. The original
sailing orders of the II elena contem
plated her dispatch to Clina, but the
situation in that country is now suffi-
ciently peaceful to warrant the action
Of the department in direc ing the gum
boat to join Rear Admiral Dewey's com
mand. The Bennington, which will
shortly be on her way to Guam, will be
= tached to the Asiatic station. and if
ne so desires, Rear admiral Dewey can
direct her to join him. The gunboat
Yorktown, fitting out at Mare Island,
will also probably be sent to the far
East, and the gunboat Wheeling may
also join the Asiatic squadron. Rear
Admiral Dewey wants light-draught
gunbOats, in order that they may pene-
trate the shallow bays and rivers of the
Philippines and assist the military in
preserving peace and order.
OfficiaI VS.. Press Reports.
Gen. Otis dispatches, in was su-
nOunced today, do not show the situa-
tion in the Philippines to be as serious
as do the newspaper reports, but it is
admitted that the conditian of affairs is
exceedingly grave. Gen. Otis has dis
patched representative to Iloilo to as
sure the insurgents there of friendly
purposes of this government and to dis
prove the reports which, it is believed,
were put in circulation by the Span
iards, that the United States proposes
to treat them brutally and deprive them
of any voice whatever in the affairs of
the island.
1t is the general feeling in admistra-
tiOn circles that before Gen. Rios sur
rendered IlOilO to the insurgents he
caused reports to be placed among the
latter that the Americans had no inten-
tiOn of keeping the promises which they
were making. 1t is due to this per-
fidous action, it is thought, that the
insurgents declined to surrender the
city to Gen. Miller when requested to
do so.
VIII Try Diplomacy a While.
The department thoroughly approves
Gen. Otis action in dispatching a repre-
sentative to Iloilo to confer with the
insurgents. There is no disposition to
Gen. Miller, for his action in
declining to await communication be-
tween the insurgents and Aquinaldo is
but it is thought advisable |
that force shall be AVOIDED as long as
possible. Diplomacy is being exercised |
by the administration, in the hope that |
the insurgents will come to an appre-
citation of the friendly purposes of this
government, and Gen. Otis, under the |
Instructions sent him yesterday, will |
employ every effort to bring Aguinaldo's |
followers to a realization of the earnest |
desire of this government to establish |
a benefcent government in the Philip |
pines. The administration does not |
preciated, however, that Aguinaldo is |
a sullen, stubborn leader, and it is not |
to give him too long a rope. |
To quote the words of cabinet officer |
with whom l talked, ''Gen. Otis is TO |
consult with the insurgents |
and impress upon them the friendliness
Of the American government and of its |
Intention to rule them wisely and hu-
but he must be firm in his deal
ngs with them. They will be allowed |
all reasonable concessions, but they
will not be given their independence, |
and they must recognize the sovereignty
Of the United States
That Battle Still Unfought.
LIMA, Peru, Jan. 2.-The latest ad-
7ices from La Paz, capital of Bolivia,
say that a combat is imminent between |