Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-13
OTIS MAY RELIEVE HIMSELF
General Said to Be Tired of the Criticism,
Made Upon Him.
CONFINED TO HIS ROOM FOR THREE DAYS
Transport Tartar Is Detained at
Hong Kong on Account of the
U~nsnnitary Condition of
the Vessel.

Copyright, 1899. by Press Publishing Coz
HONG KONG, Sept. 12.-(New York
World Cablegram-Special Telegram.)-
have received advices from Mania stating
that General Otis has been confined to his
bedroom for three days. He has been
reading the newspaper attacks upon him and
Is quoted as saying: IF Washington does
not relieve me I'll relieve myself"
The United States transport Tartar, which
expected to sail today, has been detained
by the harbor authorities under the British
merchant shipping act whereby it's capacity
is limited TO $50 passengers, although the
Tartar has a licensed capacity Of 1,34O.
Consul Wildman, representing the United
States government, took the matter at once
before the local government authorities,
maintaining that the Tartar is an American
troop ship, although 1t is flying the British
flag, and is not subject TO the merchant
shipping act.
The authorities have been discussing the
matter all day and it is very probable that
400 of the soldiers on board the Tartar Will
be left behind when it is finally permitted
to sail for San Francisco.
Several Of the discharged soldiers on
board the Tartar filed complaints of its
unsanitary condition, which started the pro-
c~eedings to detain the vessel.
Give Otis Another Chance.
CHICAGO. Sept. ia special to the
Record from Washington says: The
friends OF General Otis are becoming
hopeful that they will succeed in having
him retained in his present command. Last
week they were deeply discouraged. and
one, a high official of the War department,
openly admitted that he believed popular
clsmor'' would result in his friends recall
and the assignment OF General Merritt or
General Miles to Manila.
The prediction Is now being confidently
made by General Otis admirers that he
will be permitted to demonetrate what he
can do with a large army force before be-
ing censured for his failure to make more
progress during the last campaign.
1t is impossible, owing to the conflicting
interests at work, to state positively how
the contest for supremacy will terminate.
General Miles friends are as confident as
are those of General Otis, but the drift Of
feeling now seems to have rurned In favor
of the latter. Plans have been adopted at
the department, however, under which
General Lawto and General Macarthur are
expected to be given a responsible COM
mand Of several divisions, and they will
begin operauons Just as soon as the rainy
season is considered at an end. The cav
airy Will DC uuNeT CSuuIldnu VI eit Il
Lawton, while General MacArthur's com
mand will be composed principally of in
fantry. One command will operate to the
north, while the other will probably cover
the south.
The president has directed that the navy
cooperate with the army In the fall cam
paign, but 1t Is expected that its work
will be generally confined to blockading.
A few Of the smaller gunboats will, how
ever, be sent as far inland as the condi-
lions will permit. The marines. too, are
to play an important part in the operations
IN the vicinity Of Cavite. Within a short
time nearly 700 marines will be on hand
in the Philippines and they will be assigned
to duty in the southern part OF the island
of Luzon, which is the hotbed Of the in
surrecion.
General Macarthur and General Lawton
will be held responsible for the campaign
in that territory.