The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-24
That He Will March Into Manila at the Head
of His Troops in Next Twenty Days. u
REINFORCEMENTS REACH OTIS
TroopsThe Soldiers Errenched and the
Situation Inchanged-The
at IIoilo.. avana.-General Wey-
ler's Organ Prosecuted. President Mckinley
Jekyl Island-SaIuted by Spanish Vessel
and the Flag

Manila. March 22-While apparently
inactive since Sunday, really the oppo-
site has been the case with the Amerl-
can forces. A reorganization, entsIing
many changes has been in progress
since the abandonment of the flying
column, General Wheaton's and Gen
eraI Halls brigades have not been as
signed, but the Oregon regiment, the
Minnesota regiment and the Twenty
second regiment have been concen-
trated at the camp on the Luneta, at
the water 'front.' in readiness for imme-
diate transportation when the plans OF
the military leaders have been formu-.
lated.
Our troops are entrenched and the
situation is practically unchanged The
enemy has refrained from making any
attacks recently and it would appear
that the rebels are saving their ammu-
milton for a decisive movement.
According to a prisoner captured Dy
our troops, Aguinaldo has announced
that he will personally conduct the re-
serves at Malolos and march into Ma
Mia within twenty days unless the
Americans withdraw in the meantime.
The concentration of rebel forces in the
vicinity of Malabon gives color to the
statement of the prisoner.
Advices from Cebu by coastlng
steamer say everything is quiet there.
The United States transport Sherman
from New YORK on February 3rd has
arrived here. One child, two sailors and
two privates died on the voyage and
one man was drowned in the Mediter-
ranean.
THE ADDRESS OF THE COMMIS-
MISSIONERS.
New York, March 22.-The Journals 5
correspondent cables today that the
address To the natives of the Philip
pine islands drafted by the American
commission in behalf of the United
States government and embodying the
views of the president has been made
public After being translated into all
the native dialects it is to be dissem-
mated throughout the archipelago. The
address assures the Philippines of the
intention of the Americans to develop
the powers or self government in the
: people. 1t explains that the United
States has assumed international Obl1-
cations which it must fulfil, and which
make it responsible TO the whole CIV
ilized world for the stable government
of the Philippines. &@
The commission, 1t is explained, is
to interpret to the natives the purposes
and intentions of the president toward
tnem ana also suggest luc tSldDllSA-
ment of such a government as snail
suit the capacity and requirements of
the Philippines and be consistent with
the interests of the United States. The
protection of the United States is not
to be exercised in any spirit of tyranny
or vengeance; but having destroyed the
Spanish power and accepted the SOW
ereignty of the Islands, the United
States lis bound to restore peace in the
Philippines. To this end all insurgents
are invited to lay down their arms and
place their trust in the government
that emancipated them from the op-
preston of Spanish rule.
The majority of the commissioners
incline toward giving the Philippines a
sort of tribal or provincial autonomy
under a central government which shall
be military until a purely civil system
is proved to be feasible.
MORE TROOPS REACH MANILA.
Washington, March 22.-Additional
Teinforcements reached General Otis
at Manila this morning, as indicated by
the receipt of a dispatch from that
general saying that the transport Sher-
man had Just arrived with the troops
CThird infantry and four companies of
the Seventeenth infantry under COM
mand of Colonel Page in good condi-
tion. The Sherman followed the Grant
through the Suezs canal and preceded
the transport Sheridan over the same
route.
The Sheridan is expected to reach
Manila in about two weeks. These
three vessels will add about 5000 fresh
regular troops to the military forces in
the Philippines and are expected to aid
materially in the plans which contem-
plate the complete subjugation Of the
insurrectionists before the opening of
the rainy season, about the middle of
April.
Friends of the First Tennessee regf-
ment having lost track OF its where
abouts, the war department made in
q quiry of General Otis. His reply is as
follows:
Manila, March %.
"Adjutant General, Washington:
1.-The First Tennessee is in Iloiio in
good condition and performing excel
- lent work. OTIS.
AtGER GOES TO CUBA.
Washington, March 22.-Secretary
Alger and a party of friends left here
tonight for Savannah, Ca, on their way
to Cuba. They occupied a special car
on the train leaving over the Southern
railroad at 9:20 O'Clock, which is sched-
uled to reach Savannah about o'clock
tomorrow afternoon. At the latter place
the party will take the transport In
gals in which the voyage to Havana
will be made. The secretary's trip has
two objects in view; first, to familiar
ize himself with existing conditions in
Cuba, and, second, to obtain a brief
respite from the routine Of Office du-
ties. Whether the trip will be extended
beyond Havana will depend entirely
develop. Those who accompanied the
secretary include the following: M. S.
Smith, his business partner at Detroit;
A. NJ. Henry, his brother-in-lnw, and