Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-23
A SHORT, SHARP CAMPAIGN
Completing Preparations for the Operations
in the Philippines.
Secretary Roots Conference With the
President-Gen.O Otis to Remain
in Comma

iHc dNtiNc anu eAlenSiNe pTcpdi pe-
ing made at the War Department for the
dispatch of heavy achievements to Cen
eral Otis indicate that the officers OF the
administration have very little faith in
recent reports that the Filipino insurgents
have seen the folly of further resistance
and are ready to acknowledge the sover-
eighty of the United States without further
hostilities. The entire wealth and power
of the government are being directed to
the transportation of troops to the Philip
pines. and the movement will be expedited
to the fullest possible extent.
Notwithstanding these efforts. it is adj
mitted at the War Department today that
it will not be possible to land at Manila
the ten regiments of volunteers which have
just been raised much before the end of
October. and that the ten additional volun-
teer regiments which are to be added to the
military establishment will hardly be or
gained and equipped much before the LIST
of November, much less ready for service in
the Philippines by that date.
Although it has been stated that these
twenty regiments are intended for service
in the Philippines it is pretty generally un-
derstood that the authorities have no idea
of sending any of the ten regiments yet to
be organized to the Philippines unless it
Shall be demonstrated by actual experience
that the proposed army of 5000 men.
which will be al Gen. Otis command by
the LIST of November, Is not sufficient to
put uo"N tne III SiioIl
VIII Ee Held az a Reserve.
That the authorities are not absolutely
certain that this be done is evidenced
by the rush orders for the organization of
the ten additional regiments of volunteers.
While it is contemplated to hold these reg
ments as reserve corps. they will be dis
tributed so to permit their mofiliza ton at
Manila III case of necessity on the shortest
possible notice.
In case of prolonged hostilities these
troops will also be available for the relief
OF troops exhausted by service in the
tropics. In case it is contemplated to use
all the volunteers in the winter campa On
in the Philippines, General OTIS viii have
an effective force of $4,000 men by the list
OF January.
Secretary Root favors a short sharp and
decisive campaign, and all the military
preparations now under way have that end
in view 1t is now thought that Je.0 $50 men
will be ample to crush the instruction dur
ing the coming winter, and present meas
ures are devoted to the plan of providing
Gen Otis with an army Of that size by the
list of November.
The necessary transports have been
secured and complete schedule of the
entire movement already outlined. The
movement contemp,ates one round trip be-
tween San Francisco and Manila by each
one of the large fleet of transports on the
Pacific. In case that additional reinforce
ments are required it has been arranged
other trip, by doing which the entire re
serve force of ten volunteer regiments will
also be transferred from the United States
to the Philippines
The Conference with the President
Considerable interest is taken here in re-
gard to the conferences held at the Hotel
Champiain yesterday by the President, Sec
rotary Root. Attorney General Griggs and
Cen Merritt. 1t is known that Secretary
Root had some very important matters to
lay before the President in connection with
the prosecution of the campaign against
the Filpinos
No information has reached here yet as
to the. result Of the conference, but it is
expected that the plan of action agreed
upon will he made known soon after Sec
rotary Root returns to this city Adjutant
General Corbin received telegram from
him today saying that he would spend the
early portion of the day in New York city
ard would reach here tonight.
All sorts of conjectures are -afloat as to
the military policy agreed upon at Lake
Champlain. In the absence of all those
who took part in the conference it is i'm
possible at this time to obtain accurate in
formation on the subject. 1t is stated,
however, that one of the first steps to be
taken upon the renewal of hostilitieS will
be toward the capture of Aguinaldo.
With the insurgent leader prisoner it
is believed that the insurrection would
come to a rapid conclusion.
Gen. Otis to Remain in Command
There is no longer any doubt that Gen
Otis will remain in command of the Amer
lean forces in the Philippines. and that he
Will be intrusted with the important duty
OF putting down the insurrection at all
hazards with the least possible DELAY.
Although war of determination is NOT
In contemplation, it is known that the
administration officials are determined TO
leave no stone unturned for the prompt
and complete establishment of the United
States sovereignty in the Philippines as a
preliminary step in the arrangements for
the establishment of permanent govern
ment in those islands
Death of MOncure Tompkius.