The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-29
FULL CONFIDENCE IN OTIS.
THE GENERALS CONNER HEiRTILY
APPROTED Br THE PRESIDENT

There IL No Intention of Removing Him
from Command in the Philippines -Ncws-
paper Crticisms of His Conduct Have
Had No Eject on the Administrations.
WAsH!SGToS, July 2S-In HE face OF the at
tempts made to show thut the Administration
IL dissatisfied with the course OF Maior-Gen.
Otis'in the PHILIPPINES. President Mckinley has
sent to Gen. Otis an expression OF confidence in
his ability and judgment and assurances hat
his conduct OF civil and military matters meets
with the hearty approval OF the Government.
There has nevsr been n time when criticism OF
Gen. Otiss administration would have had
30 little effect upon President Mckinley and
his advisers In Washington. rhs opnlon is
general In official quarters that the attacks on
Gen. Otis are based on nothing more than a
desire to cmbarrass the Government and to
mako political capital out OF the Philippine
situation.
The knowledge possessed by the Govern
nent OF the situation at Manila and elsewhere
In the archipeaCo 10 much broader than 10
generally supposed. 1t is so complete that no
person in this country outside Of that small
circle which is close to the President can know
half as much about the true condition .of
affairs The Government has kept fully
Informed on everything worth knowing that
has occurred in the islands II has not So
cured its information from Gen. Otis alone.
but has had the advantage OF the opinions OF
the members OF the Philippines Commission
and other men who have been on the spot.
These opinions coincide on all i'm portant ques-
lions
II IL true that one man Of prominence. whose
opinions were sought by the Administration.
did not agree with Gen Otis as to the conduct
OF the campaign in Luaon. While it cannot be
40 stated as fact, there is reason to believe
that this man urged q more conciliatory pol
Icy IN dealing with the insurgents than thao
followed by Gen. Otis After n careful consid-
GRAFTON Of all the evidence In regard to tho con-
duct Of the campaign and the civil adminstra-
ton In the arch oeago. made in ewiof the criti-
| oisms OF Otis, the President and those whose
counsel he sought could find no flaw in tho
record OF The commanding General at Manila.
It was known thatlGen.,Otis was aware that his
course was being criticised. and the.president
| therefore decided that the time had arrived
when It was well to indicate to Otis that his
| conduct was fully approved. The Presidents
| telegram was sent accordingly.
| The reply OF Gen. Otis is regarded In Adj
minlstration circles as extremely manly and
straightforward. Otis thanked the Ptesident
for his expression Of conrdeaee and followed
ward on account OF his work at Manila lie
sal, that he sole purpose wa':to bring peace
him had that end in View He exnres.ed re-
greet that the cruelty OF the Flliplnos and thei,
| seeming lnnDlllty 10 recognize tne ueSlre OF
the United Statesto treat them with kindness
and consideration and the benefits OF republi-
| can institutions. compelled him TO pursue eI-
| IRENE aggressive measures
II his despatch Gen, Otis mentioned that
| his conduct in civil and military matters was
fully approved bv Messrs DENNY and Worces-
ter. the members Of the Philiprine Commits
sion.now IN the Islands, and by everybody there
| whose opinion was worthy Of consideration.
| Gen. Otis took very hopeful view ~ the situn.
tl9Tn,;; and said that the practical cessation OF
vorable weather conditions and to the eY-
change Of his army then going on. meaning bv
the:last EXPRESSION the denartnre Of volunteer;
| for the u nited States and the reception and
this country. In view Of the sentiments eS-
pressed BY President Mckinley in his message
e Gen. Otis; Il may be en- phaticallr de"lnrcJ
| that the Administration has no intention 4
relieving him from command OF the Initel
| States forces in the Philippines. and tina, tho
| criticisms OF his conduct published in Amer-
can newspapers have had no effect upon the
| Government
| In an Official communication to the War De-
partment Brig. Gen. Thomas N. Anderson.
| who Recently returned to this country from
Manila. denies that he made the sta tements in
| criticism Of Major-Gen. Otis credited to him
| in New York newspaper interview.