The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-06

most critical stage.
Some senatorial opponents of ratifi-
cation of the treaty adhere to their
position, but the general opinion in
Washington tonight is that the news
from Manila insures the ratification of
the treaty tomorrow afternoon.
The news of the beginning of the war
came from Admiral Dewey. No word
had been received from Gen. Otis up
TO nightfall. 1t seems to be Dewey's
fortune always to be able to report
favorable news, and like all of his
messages that have gone before this
cablegram, told of the success of the
American forces in the action 1t was
with great regret, however, that the
administration learned that the insur-
gents had forced the issue. 1t had
hoped all along that they could be
brought to see the advantages of
placing their trust in the American
people and relying upon the president
to deal justly with them.
The administration argued with the
Philippine commission fairly on the
sea Ell route for Manila, bringing with
them messages from the president and
with the peace treaty still Enacted on,
1t was not to be credited that they
would refuse to wait to learn the pur-
poses of the American government, but
would precipitate the long impending
conflict.
While this was true. the officials here
and officers in Manila had not been
blind to the threat contained in the
situation there and every preparation
mad been made for just what occurred
last night. 1t is now acknowledged
mat fear of an outbreak in Luzon, was
the explanation for the much-com-
mented on failure of Gen. Miller to force
a landing at Iloilo on the island of
Panay.
Otis felt that he wanted all the
troops at Manila, where was located the
centre of danger. Part of Miller's
force. therefore, was returned to Manila
and that general was left with one reg
1ment of regulars and a battalion of
artillery just sufficient to take advan-
tage of any detection in his front. but
not enough to force his way ashore and
mold his own. Then. rather as a for
MAJ authorization, for he did not need
lne instruction, Dewey was told to CO.
operate fully with Gen. Otis in any
measures the latter might take
IL is believed that it was unknown
10 insurgents that some of the Aneri-
can Warships were quietly moved into
positions where they perfectly com
nanded the insursent trenches and de-
lenses and could shell them with eff
AeGI IN case of an outbreak
This movement was effected more
IMAM IMAM ten days ago, and the adrninistra-
tlon has not felt serious apprehension
OF Gen Otis ability at least to hold his
own The American position might
nave oeen greatly strengthened. 1t is
Salo' by Judicious extension of the
llhes in certain directions. and also
by taking summary measures to nre.
vent the operations of the insurgents
forces. u s "iiiAiiis
PRESIDENT Mckinley took the view that
perhaps under a strict construction of
terms of the protocol which still holds
soou III the absence of the ratification
oL the treaty, he lacked authority to
sAtend the held of occupation Of Amer
4Gdhs. The fact that the insurgents
themselves have been the first to break
me truce, probably releases the Tinted
states government from further ohIi-
sdtIon IN this respect so that Cen Otis
was unquestionably warranted. in tbe
opInlon OF administration officials in
extending his lines as Dewey renorts
ne has done. 10
Inc situation is regarded here &c
rather anomalous from a dinlomatic
ste1IiI9polht. Legally the Filipinos are
sun spanish subjects. Therefore if hos
. .iIe operations continue outside of tbe
IIil1ts OF Manila as laid down in the
paaoSocol' 1t VIII amount to a resumption
cally. ie'St technl-
Ohlcials note one little flaw in DaY-
dispatch that he spoke of tba
-Niiieflcan army and navy as 'generaIiv
successful, conveying Just the least in,
tltnation that at some points the resnif.
~ hot as satisfactory as at others
10 inferred here that this might mean
ne development of weakness at sonaa
ot the more exposed points on the
american lines which might easily he
eAplaIhed by the fact that the ettanL
vas mace at night, perhaps in MACS
WHefe the insurgents could cream closa
up 10 the shelter of the tropical iungIe
NJ NJ grows nearly into the town Of
Every confidence, however. is fa,+
mat Ten. Otis is master of tha stu
ol; ms confidence is based not only
III ms mornings cablegram. but fror;,
Ispedleu assurances TO that affac+ ~, -li
4eyed by Gen. Otis to Washington FROM Irr
ING 10 time during the past few
The forces under his command 90
shown by the records of tha adi,,+o a.
seneraFs office. Dec. 10, the dale Of the
!ast report, was 21,649 troops, and of
men. Iol uuty 1916
ms command is composed of the fol.
i4M!hg organizations: Company A
SSIiiteu states engineer battalion
IIIoHipanles c, q, G, l. K and L, Fourth
United States cavalry; troop Of Ne
yada cavalry; Companies G. Fl. K and
y OF the Third and D and q of tha
skin United States artillery. Com
pahles A and d of the California ana
a ana b Of the Utah artillery and tha
Tlst wyoming battery; the Third and
Fourth United States infantry; the
fourteenth and headquarters and
companies B, d, F, H, l. K, l. and M
OF the Seventeenth United States In
Iiantry the Eighteenth Twentieth and
iWenty-third infantry; the First Cali
Iornla, the First Colorado. the First
1oaho, the Fifty-first Iowa, the Tween
tleth Kansas, the Thirteenth Minna-
sofa, the First Montana, the First Ne
braska, the First North Dakota, the
second Oregon, the Tenth Pennsyl-
Eahla' the First South Dakota, the
FIRST tennessee, the First WASHINGTON
and First Wyoming regiments Of vol
unteer infantry.
A portion of this force the Eish-
teenth infantry and battery of arfij-
lery, are at Iloilo, where Gen. Miller
was sent month or more ago.
Approximately 5000 men are ON their
way to join Gen Otis in four SEPARATE
expeditions, though none are expected
TO reach Manila for three weeks or a
month. They are as follows. The Fourth
and four companies of the Seventeenth
infantry 1928 men, under Gen LaWton
which sailed from Gibraltar last Fri
day; the Twentieth infantry, compris
ing 81 officers and 1868 men. under Cen
Wheaton, which left San Francisco
Jan. 81; the Twenty infantry,
in command of Col. Egbert, which left
San Francisco early in the present
month, and 1000 men and officers of the
Third and Seventeenth United States
regiments nj tt-bi Ioct