New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-03
A BATTLE NOT EXPECTED.
PEACEFUL NEGOTIATIONS TO BE EX-
HAUSTED FIRST AT ILOIIO.


suuwAR DEPARTMENT. HOWEVER. rs HrRRyING
OF REGULARS To GENERAL OTIS.
lBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrRuvE.l
washington Jan. General Otis at Manila
uas informed by cable to-day OF the arrange
n,enfs that have been completed speedily to re-
,n,orce his command by the dispatch OF six
regiments of Regular infantry. The Both, now
st Fcrt Ieaverworth. Kanses, will sail from San
Francisco on the transport Scandia, Satur
day and is timed to reach Manila by the end
OF the month Major General Lawton has been
placed in immediate command OF the 4th Regt-
rnent now at For. Sheridan Illinois; the 18th
a, jefferson Barracks Missouri and the 1Ith
n, Columbus Barracks. Ohio. and Is directed to
sail with them on January II from New-Y
rs,v on the transports Mohawk and Massa-
chusetts proceeding by way OF the Suez Canal
This force under General L.wton is expected to
reach the Philippines the second week in Feb
r,arv. The other two regiments selected for
garrison duty IN the Phippines-the Sd In
fantry at Fort Smelling. Minnesota and the
2od a, Fort Crook Nsbraska-will depart from
San Francisco as soon transports are avail
able The Army steamer Senator which left
Manila on December - with the Astor Battery
Ave there early next week. and will be ready to
return with either the 90 or the "a regiment
five days later
while everything is being done by the War
Denartn1ent officials to expedite the departure
n, these troops in compliance with repeated in
+,rations from General Otis that he is anxious
70 exchange his volunteers for Regulars. 1t has
bsen found impossible to start them much
earlier than the middle of January. which was
tho time set when Il was first decided two weeks
ago 10 send a portion Of the needed force by
uav Of New-York on account OF the lack OF
Transport facilities In the Pacific.
Until these troops reach the Philippines IL Is
not believed by the authorities that General
Otis will undertake any aggressive opera
tjons for the extension OF American SOW
erelgrty over the provinces now held by
the insurgents although he has full dis
cretion in the matter. but 1t is thought that he
will reserve his forces for use in emergencies
should the insurgents grow unruy. particularly
IN the neighborhood Of Manila Confidence was
expressed at the War Department to-day that
there would be NJ battle at Iloilo until AFTER
every resource OF peaceful negotiations 10 induce
the rebels 10 evacuate the city had been ex-
hausted.
The officials in Washington know that Cen
eral Otis believes he can prevail or the FIJI
pnos to adopt the same attitude toward the
American force at Iloilo they have shown at
Manila and Cavite, and that they VIII oHer no
pbvsical resistance 10 General Miller's occupa-
lion of Iloilo after a little further persuasion.
particularly after General Otis has issued MS
proclamation on becoming Military Governor
This document is expected to have an effect as
salutary as that issued by General BROOKE
three days ago. which resulted in such re-
markabie change IN the temper OF CUBAN ieao-
ore around Havana The two proclamations are
AZ ,i,<e character. fnougn that OF 6eneraf CtiS
is more comprehensive and particularly catcu-
lated TO assure the inhabitants of the beneficent
rolicy OF the United states