The Mena star., 1899-04-06

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 siopers Issue a Proclamation.
 Washington, April 5-War depart ment officials look upon the approach of the wet season in the Philippines as likely to be an important fac tor in determining the character of the military movements during the next six months. This period of rains and storms is no new and untried dan- ger, for the United States troops were in the trenches around Manila through much of the worst part of the wet sea- son lost summer. Mai Simpson, chief of the bureau of military information, was then on the staff of Gen. Greene and learned from experience how far this wet season affected the health and comfort of the men and retarded military operations. Generally speak ing, he says, men were up to their knees in mud and water during July and August, when our trenches were drawn around Manila. But while this was great personal inconvenience it did not cause any material increase in the sick rate. About the worst feature was that the stretches of quagmire made it next to impossible to exc cute military improvements on a large scale. The wet season does not begin, as a rule, until June so that it is about two months before its effects would be seriously felt April and May generally come under the head of the hot season, which just precedes the drenching rains begin ming in June. The hottest weather is n May. although 1t never goes above 100 degrees. Gradually this merges into the heavy rains and violent storms of June, the wet season lasting for six months. The season does not come on abruptly. but is gradual transition until every thing is in condition of soak.
 United States troops landed about July and by the time the wet season was well under way. The men were sent into the trenches for "A hours and then relieved. In this way two regi- menis would be moved up every morn ing and for that day and night would stand in the knee-deep rain and mud But it would have been difficult if not impossible to have kept troops ex- posed to such conditions for any extended time. The Astor battery was one of the bodies serving during part of the rainy season. Capt March one of the officers of the bat tery, was here recently and in speak ing of the sick rate during the wet season said that it was kept down to four per cent. This is considered very low, even under favorable circum- stances, and is taken to offset some of the serious reports as to the effect of the wet season. This low sick rate is h part attributed to the strict sanita- ton enjoined upon the American forces. Malaria and typhoid abounds, so that our troops were made to drink boiled water Maj Simpson says that at DO time did the malaria or typhoid assume an epidemic form. 1t is the general belief that Gen. Otis will complete his present campaign before the wet season opens and con- hne his efforts after that to holding the ground already won, keeping up communications, protecting his Hanks and waiting for the dry season to give him another period of active opera ton.
 Convinced the Insurrection I. Broken.
 Washington, April 5.-No disap- continent was expressed at the war department to-day because Gen. Otis haf made no report. It was taken to mean that conditions were progressing well and that the conditions indicated m yesterdays dispatches continued. War department officials are fully con- vlnced that the back bone of the ir.sur- rection is broken and that while there may be raids from time to time by bands of maranders, the main body of troops will surrender. 1t is said that when the Filipinos who surrender md that they are we'll treated and fed, that the wounded are cared for, and food is sent to the suffering. there will De less inclination to continue hostili- aes. Those who are so treated and sent to their homes, it is believed, will pc missionaries among their people in iavor of the United States.
 Com mtssioners Issue Proclamation.
 Manila, April 5.-The proclamation ot the United States Philippine com mission. which was issued to-day, re- cites the cession by the peace treaty oi the Philippines to the United States, refers to the appointment of the com mission. assures the people of the good VIII and fraternal feeling of the pres ident of the United States and the American people and asserts the ob-