The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-06
SAVANNAH GA. MONDAY. FEBRUARY 6 1899

subjects. Therefore, If hostile operations
continue outside of the limits of Manila,
as laid down in the protocol il viii amount
to a resumption of the war with Spain, al
least, technically.
Officials noted one little flaw in Dewey's
dispatch, in that he spoke of the Ameri-
can army and navy as generally success
iul," conveying just the least intimation
that at some points the results were not
as satisfactory as az others. 1t is in
ferred here that this might mean the de-
Velopment of weakness at some of the
more exposed points on the American
lines, which might be easily explained by
the fact that the attack was made at night
perhaps in places where the insurgents
could creep close up IN the shelter of the
tropical jungle that grows nearly into the
town of Manila
Every confidence, however, is felt that
Gen. Otis is master of the situation. This
confidence is based not only on this morn
ing eablegram, but from repeated assur-
ances to that effect conveyed by Gen.
Otis to Washington from time 20 time
during the past few months.
The Forces Under Otis.
The forces under his command as shown
by the records of the adjutant generals
office Dec. 10, the date of the last report.
were Z,649 troops and of these there were
present for duty 1856 men.
This command is composed of the fol-
lowing organizations: Company A, Unit
ed States Engineer Battalion; Troops C.
L, g, l, X and L. Fourth United States
Cavalry; troop of Nevada cavalry; Com
panes G, II, K, l. of the Third, and D
and of the Sixth United States Artil-
iery; Companies A and d of the California
ana and B of the Utah Artillery and
tne First Wyoming Battery; the Third and
hourth United States Infantry; the Four
leenth and headquarters of Companies B,
~ +, II, l, K, l. and NJ of the Seven
teenth United States Infantry; the Eight
eeHlH Twentieth and Twenty-thlrd United
ots%es Infantry; the First California the
flrst Colorado, the First Idaho, the Fifty
| hrst Iowa, the Twentieth Kansas. the
thirteenth Minnesota, the First Montana.
the First Nebraska, the First North Da-
Kota' the Second Oregon, the Tenth Penn
| sylVania, the First South Dakota the First
Tennessee, the First Washington and the
tlrst wyoming Regiments of volunteer in
| fantry..
A portion of this force, the Eighteenth
| infantry and a battery of artillery are
at IloLo, where Gen. Miller was sent a
month or more ago.
Troops Now on the Way.
Approximately 5000 men are on their wav
10 JON Gen. Otis in four separate expedi-
tons though none are expected to reach
mania for three weeks or month. They
| are as follows:
Inc Fourth and four companies Of the
seventeenth Infantry, LIPS men. under
zen LaWton, which sailed from Gibraltar
last Friday; the Twentieth Infantry corn
prising 81 officers and 1,26S men nndar
Gen. Wheaton, which left San Francisco
Jan. u; the Twenty Infantry in
command of Col. Egbert which left San
FRANCISCO early in the present month ana
ZOO0 men and officers Of the Third ana
seventeenth United States Regiments ~
infantry, which left New York FRIDAY Cn
the Sherman "a
More Soldiers to Follow.
Ihere is a big transport the Sheridan
now making ready in New Yorl, 10 ~ 49,,
the twelfth Infantry and a battalion of
the seventeenth Infantry $50 men IN ali
ana she viii start not later than Feb IA
dhat Is all that can be supplied to Gen.
| OTIS In the way Of reinforcements accord,
ing to Gen. Corbiu. If the soldiers are 70
De OF service in this campaign.
More troops, of course. VIII fo,lo,, -.
rapidly as they can be gotten ready If cen
| Otis needs them in any future onerations
ne may plan, blft as already stated ~ is
| believed this particular crisis will have
| passed before they can be TRANSPORTED the
| great distance from the United States n
Manila These troops. with those now in
Cuba, represent the cream of the American
army, according to Gen. Corbin.
It is true that only about 1900 Of Cen
Otis soldiers are regulars, but his volun-
teer soldiers have been under tboroneb d,s
cipline and training for months some a
| much as eight months, and many partioi
| pated in the engagements attending the
capture of Manila, and are practically as
| good as the regulars.
The Filipino Forces.
No one here knows the real strength of
the insurgents opposed to Gen. Otis. The
| accounts of their numbers are conflicting
and none of them comes from reliable
sources.
Still, the best belief Of the authorities nj
the war department is that they number
about 10000 men, but they are not connar-
able to the American forces in personnel
discipline, or quality of arms
1t is known that they have some Man
sers, some RemIngtons and variety of
other firearms, and ii is suspected that
they have been quite plentifully supnjie6
with ammunition from outside sources.
Taken as a whole. the armament is de-
cidedly inferior to that of the American
troops. Then, with inexperienced officers.
in many cases even The colonels Of regi-
ments being not more than q years OF age.
and their lack Of knowledge of tactics.
they are at great disadvantage.
Their Only Strong Point.
Their strong point is their knowledge Of
the country and a certain fanatical brav-
cry In onslaught that would be formidable
to a volunteer force not well trained to
stand fire. Like the Cubans, they rely too
much on a sword-llke weapon, correspond
ing to the machete, a weapon Of little
value against long range rifles
Altogether the war department officials
have not the slightest doubt of Gen. Otls'
ability to hold his position indefinitely, and
the only cause for apprehension is the fear
that by taking to the interior OF the coun-
try, practically impossible for American
troops in the approaching rainy season.
prolonged Indian fighting style OF cam
paign may follow
Dewey's Rock of Gibraltar.
Besides his soldiers, Gen. Otis has AZ
his back in Manila bay comm a ndiye, tba