The Mena star., 1899-03-01

TweBtieth Kansas, DangeronsIy Vound-
 ed-The Rumor That Dewey Had Fired
 Geroan Warship Denieo-Cahle-
 gram from Gen. Otis.
 Washington, Feb. 2S.-With the ap- proach of the rainy season i n the Phil ippines, now possibly not a month off, material increase in the sickness among our troops may be looked for. The war department authorities ap- prehend no alarming developments in the condition of our men as the result of the incoming of the rainy season, but have prepared to meet any possi- ble contingencies The city of Manila itself is stated to be a comparatively healthy vicinity and the troops re- maining there with reasonable care may be expected to get along fair ly we'll Outside of the city con- ditions are not encouraging and are favorable to malarial and such in- dispositions. In a general way there Is likely to be a considerable number of cases of ailments originating from climatic causes aud an unusual number of doctors and medicines have been rendezvoused at Manila. The medical force now on the islands is believed to be sufficient for ordinary purposes and to meet any demands of the future re- Inducements are being hurried there The hospital ship Relief will sail from New York direct for Manila via the Suez route in a day or two with 150 picked men from the hospital corps and ten doctors This is in addition to the regular equipment of the doctors and nurses of the Relief The Relief will be placed at the disposal of Gen. Otis either as floating hospital or for use in transferring the sick and convales- cent to the general hospital now under way ct San Francisco. She is loaded with all the medical supplies that she can carry, though there has been no official call from the Philippines for these supplies. The authorities there have full authority to obtain all the supplies of any character that are wanted wherever they can be got. Lieut. Col. Wood hull, deputy surgeon general, is now en route across the continent going to Manila for duty as chief surgeon. He
 
 officers in the army and has had the benefit of army service throughout the civil war He has given special attention to sanitation matters and thorough sanitary system is expected to be maintained where our troops are encamped.
 The Usuei Desultory Firing.
 Manila, Feb. 2S. There has been the usual desultory firing along vari- ous parts of the line, but the only cas- ualties to-day are Capt. David s. Elliott, of company c, entieth Kansas vol nntee=s, and private of the same regiment. They are both dangerously wounded. They were shot by the en- emy's sharpshooters near Caloocan.
 The rebels at Malaoon fired upon the cruiser Callao from the jungle yes terday while Admiral Dewey was vis- iting the monitor Monadnock. Three shells were dropped by the monitor into the Malabon church, demolishing the structure and killing n number of rebels who were inside.
 A factory at Malolos is reported to be running day and night to supply ammunition for the insurgents The natives have collected empty Spring field shells and are reflling them. More than 2,00O of these cartridges have been found in houses in Pan- dacan by an officer of the Washington volunteers.
 The cruiser Charleston and the gun boat Concord have gone on ten days cruise. presumably looking for fili- busters. It is believed that arms are landing in small quantities at northern ports.
 Rumor of a German Clash.
 Washington, Feb. 2S.-A rumor was extant here this morning that Admiral Dewey had fired on German warship. Another story had it that a German ship was sunk by the Americans at Manila. At the war and navy depart mcnts it was said that there is no truth in either runor.
 Cabiegram from Gen. Otis.
 Washington. Feb. 2S The follow ing cablegram was received to-day at the war department:
 Manila Feb. 2s.-Adjutant General. Wash ington: battalion of the Twenty third infan- try sailed for Cebu on the 26th inst; battalion of California volunteers sails for Negros to- morrow; everything quiet here the past three days.-Otis