The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-06
were PREPARED
FOR AN EMERGENCY.
Although Assault Of Fi|ipinos Was
Unexpected, Neither Army Nor
Navy Was Taken by Surprise.

office Dec 10, the date OF the last rep.
were zl,t49 troops. and Of these there were
present for duty 1856 men.
portion OF this force. the Eighteenth
infantry and battery OF artillery. are at
lloilo. where General Miller was sent a
| month or more ago.
approximately 5000 men are on their
way TO join General Otis in four separate
expeditions, though none are expected
TO reach Manila for three weeks or
month
The transport Sherman is now making
ready In New York to carry 1920 men. and
she VIII start not later than the 14th inst.
That Is all that can be supplied to Cen
efal Otis in the way Of reinforcements,
according 10 General Corbin, IL the SOL
diers are 20 be Of service I'm this cam
paign. More. OF course, will follow as
rapidly as they can be gotten ready IL
deneral Otis needs them I'm any future
operations he may plan; but, as already
stated, 1t is thought the particular crisis
VIII nave passed before they can be
transported the great distance from the
united states 10 Manila. These troops
with those now in Cuba, represent the
cream OF the American army according
70 General Corbin. II is true that only
about 5000 OF General Otis soldiers are
regulars. but his volunteer soldiers have
been under thorough discipline and
training for many months. and many
participated in the engagements attend
ing the capture Of Manila and are prac-
tically as good as the regulars
NO one here knows the real strength
or the insurgents opposed to General
Gus. The reports Of their numbers are
conflicting and none OF them comes from
reliable sources. Still the best belief of
the authorities at the war department
is mat they number about 80 600 men. but
they are not comparable To the American
FORCES in personnel, discipline or quality
OF arms 1t is known that they have |
some Mausers, some Remingtons and a |
variety OF other firearms. and IL is sus- |
pected that they have been quite plenti- |
rully supplied with ammunition from |
outside sources. Taken as a whole. this |
armament is decidedly inferior 10 that /
or the American troops. Then, with in
experienced officers. in many cases even
the colonies Of regiments being not more
than Il years OF age and their lack of
knowledge OF tactics, they are at a great
Their strong point lis their KNOWLEDGE
OF the country and a certain fanatical
bravery in onslaught that would he for
10 volunteer force not we'll
trained 10 stand fire. Like the Cubans
they rely too much on swordlike weapou
to the machete. n wear non
'f Htte value against long range rifles.
Altogether, the war department Of
nclals have not the slightest doubt of
reheraI otls' ability to hold his position
Iaoehnltely, and the only cause for an
prehension is the fear that by taking TO
'hs interior of the country, practically
mpaSslble for American troops in the
preaching rainy season, a prolonged
hdian lighting style campaign NAV
ollow
Besides his soldiers. General Otis ha,
I ! ms back in Manila bay, commanding
he city, veritable rock Of Gibraltar i'm
'eWey's fleet. With the vessels he has
low and those about TO join him Dewey
VII nave Il ships OF various types. or
uIl nedged warships he now has nine
; IohoWs; The flagship Olympia, the
,os'on' baltimore, Charleston. Concord
lonadnock Monterey. Petrol and tho
'uiialo. He also has three armed SUNNY
hips' which are just as effective as
, mp almost, in attacking troops ont
zoe OF fortihcations and in maIntainine
ne plockade. They are the CuIgoa. tho
'anshan and the Zafire