New-York tribune., 1899-02-11
TOPICS BEFORE THE CABINET.
THE SITUATION IN THE PHILIPPINES
DISCUSSED.
WORK OF THE WAR INVESTIGATING COM
MISSION COMMENDED-TALK OF AN

WORK OF THE WAR INVESTIGATING COM
MISSION coMMENDED-TALK OF AN
EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS.
Washington Feb 10-Secretary Ager went to
the cabinet meeting to-day without any ohciai
advices from General Otis as TO the situation al
Manila. The disoatches received referred to the
condition OF A sick man. the finding Of the BODY
Of a soldier who had been reported as missing.
and the last. dated 1t II o'clock this morning nj
Manila related to the purchase OF some horses
needed by General Otis. AS General Otss INES
are extended It becomes more difficult TO keep
up speedy communication between the American
outposts and the base at Manila. and he pur-
chased six hundred horses for this purpose
General Otis said nothing about an engagement
and the expulsion Of the insurgents from Caloo-
can The action at that point reported in press
dispatches exactly bears out the opinion OF the
officials OF tho War Department to the course
likely to be followed by General Otis in dealing
with the insurgents in his front. 1t was believed
that he would not undertake a campaign OF
subjugation at this stage, but that he would not
hesitate 10 attack and disperse any gathering
Of the insurgents that appeared to threaten an
other onslaught on his men without waiting for
another overt act on their part In other words.
he would regard gathering such as was re-
ported to be going on at Caloocan, about SIX
miles north Of Manila, as justifyng an instant
attack on the insurgents to prevent them from
attaining degree o: strength that would make
them dangerous. Viewed in this light. General
Ots's action really would be in the nature OF
defensive tactics.
At the meeting the President read brief ex-
tracts from the report of the War Investigating
Commission. and it discussed Informally
A can OF roast beer which had been taken from
the commssary stores was brought In and
opened. The Cabinet officers examined it as
well as could be done with the means at hand
and all declared that. so far as they could de-
termine il was in perfect condition, wholesome
and sweet Members OF the Cabinet declare the
report Of the Commission to be in no sense
whitewashing report. On the contrary, 1t is
said that the Commission has not failed to point
out where there was error fault For in
stance, it has not passed without criticism the
arrangements made fo' transportation OF the
troops. and IT also has found some things to have
been amiss in the supply of medical stores ana
assistance to the troops, though It has set out
the paliating circumstances, such as the unpre-
pared state of the country and the difficulty OF
suddenly training green men to discharge heavy
duties. Regarding the much discussed question
as to the character Of the meat furnished TO
the Army the Commission declares that the
food generally was OF good quality. and censures
General Miles for his alleged failure to acquaint
the War Department with the faults said by
him to have been discovered in Porto Rico.
The question OF an extra session of Congress
was also discussed and It is the opinion Of MEM
bers of the Cabinet that IL the Amy Reorgani-
zation bill falls an extra session will be neces-
sary. 49,.
The transportation to Cuba OF the S300OO00
with which the insurgent army is to be paid
off and the kind Of money to be sent were
briefly considered 1t was agreed that the
Cubans could have any kind of money they
wished whether gold, silver silver certii-
Gates, or part in each. Shipments Of 100000
each probably will be made at intervals Of
few days. or as rapidly as needed
The President called attention to the urgent
necessity for an American cable across the Pa
clfc and read the message to Congress which
he had prepared.