Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-08-01
HAS FAITH IN Gen. OTIS.
Administration Cabled that They
Have Full Confidence in Him.
CRITICISMS IGNORED.
Rapid Progress is Made in Recruit
ing the Ten New Regiments
of Infantry

Washington, D. c., July 29.-About ten
days ago Secretary Alger cabled Gen.
Otis saying that there was some criti-
cism of him in the American press, but
assuring him that he had the entire con
hdence of The secretary Of war and the
administration. SO far as known at the
war department, the only messages sent
by President Mckinley to Gen. Otis were
those which have been made public and
consisted Of commentators words of the
general and the troops III the field for
what they accomplished.
Col. Petit, commanding the Thirty
first regiment at Fort Thomas, Ky, tele-
graphed the war department that his en-
listments number 1850, which is within
200 of the full quota of the regiment. lie
will withdraw the recruiting officers on
Monday and the regiment Will then be
organized for actual service. He thinks
that in /; month it will be ready for the
front. 1t is stated at the war depart
ment that the Thirty first regiment, the
Twenty-scventh and the Thlrtieth will
no doubt be ready to sail for Manila
Oh the Grant, Sherman and Sheridan
about September 10.
Gen Greedy, chief signal officer, has
received dispatch from Maj. X. +.
Thompson. commanding the signal corps
in the Philippines, saying that Maj. Max
Bay from Taguig to Calamba, the last
town to be captured from the insurgents.
This lRSureS uninterrupted telegraph1c
communication between Manila and the
advanced posts of what has been the IN
Surgent country.
Lieut. Eberle flag lieutenant OF the Or
egon, under Capt. Barker has just ar
rived in Washington from the Philip
pines, and brings some interesting details
Of the situation in Manila. He says that
the social and sanitary conditions III Ma
Mia are better than is generally believed
in the United States, and better than
would be naturally supposed after such Il
short American occupation.
The city has been cleaned On an Amer
lean plan, the military authorities enei-
neering the work with a large force of
Cinnamon and friendly Filipinos. The
Cinnamon are relied on for the heavy
manual labor. The streets have been
cleared of ancient accommodations of fifth.
and there has been house to house iii
spection, which is still continuing
There has been more or less native oppO-
sitlon TO these innovations, but the people
are beginning to see the value of the new
measures, and to accept the change from
the old order.
He says it is favorable sign that the
temper Of the native population has
changed considerably toward American
occupation. When the Oregon arrived in
March, the native population was dissat-
1sted and III an ugly humor, even in the
city itself. Cab drivers. hotel keepers
and other seni-public servants rendered
service under protest, and even refused
American trade III some instances. Now,
however, they have found out that they
are paid. thing they did not seem to be
used TO, and finding American official
promises carried out, they accept the new
sovereignty cheerfully.
The soldiers III and around Manila are
now well housed in permanent quarters,
or neipe houses. which are built on a
bamboo framework and are cool and
dry. Even on the outworks the soldiers
had comfortable palm huts before the
rains set in, and, except for the intense
heat, were very comfortable. The rains
had not started in earnest when Capt.
Barker and Lieut.. Eberle sailed for
home. 1t was well understood then that
the rains would cut off all transportation
except by railway, and that is given as
the reason for LaWton's abandoning San
Isidro. there being a big swamp between
it and the railway, which is impossible
in the rains.
The only animal available for trans
pOrtatiOn in the wet weather is the wa
ter buffalo, but the army has utilized this
dOcile beast for other purposes, having
the outskirts Of Manila and raising fine
quality of virus from the buffalo calves.
Gen. Davis at San Juan, Porto Rico,
today notified the war department of the
death at Lares yesterday of Private
George W. Wintz, Co. L, Eleventh in
fantry, from typhoid fever
The number of enliStments for the
Philippines regiments Yesterday was 45G,
making total of 1892.