The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-16
TO TAKE oEBU NEXT.
General Miller Has Orders to Raise
the Flag Over the Island.

New York, Feb 16-A dispatch to the
Tribune from Washington says:
The authorities at the war depart
ment expect dispatches from Gen. Otis
the end of this week announcing the oc-
cupation by an American force of Cebu,
the third city of Importance in the Phil
ippines. When Gen. Miller started for
Iloilo his instructions were, after es-
tablishing American authority at that
port, to proceed Immediately to Cebu
and occupy that place. For this pur-
pose the Fifty-hrSt Iowa. volunteer regi-
ment was sent after him, but on ac-
count of unexpected opposition to the
landing of Gen. Mller'S troops at IlOilo
compelling a tedious delay of the forces
on shipbOard, the Iowa regiment was
returned to Manila last week and the
First Tennessee was sent to take it's
place for the purpose of garrisoning
Cebu. 1t appears that the regiment was
landed with the other troops at IloiIo
on Saturday and Sunday, but in view of
the ease with which Iloilo can be guard
ed against attack on the part of the
natives, it is thought by this time that
Gen. Miller has found it possible to re-
embark a. portion of his forces to carry
out the original program of securing
Cebu.
This place is the capital of the island
of the same name and is the most an
cient town in the Philippines being for
merly the seat of government Of the
Visayas group, which includes Cebu,
Bohol, Panay, Negros and Leyte. The
administration was, however, removed
to Manila in 1S49 Its population at
present is over $4,000 and it is consid-
cred the natural mercantile center for
the archipelago, being about 800 miles
from Manila. It is well built and the
neighbOrhood possesses fine roads. AL
though it's climate is better than that
of the other towns in the group, the
natives have been devoid of CONNER
cia1 enterprise.
The trade of Cebu consists principally
of hemp and sugar, the neighboring is
lands of Leyte, Mindanao and Bohol
having extensive hemp plantations
most of the products of which finds it's
way to Cebu for shipment. There are
some valuable and extensive coal de-
posits not far from town, but the mines
have as yet been worked only super
ficially and without much enterprise.
The town is built on large plain at
the foot of the chain of hills that trav-
erse the island throughout it's length,
is well constructed and of late years
has been thriving place. The mer-
chants quarter, situated along the port,
includes some well built stone houses
though many are old. The huts of the
Malays, for the most part fishermen,
are on the beach east and west of the
city. There are a fine cathedral
bishops palace, a court house, a post
office and telegraph station. The port
is formed by the narrow channel which
separates Cebu from Matkan island. 1t
was on this little island that Magellan
was killed in 1921, after making the
first passage across the Pacific.
1t Is not the intention of Gen. Otis
and Admiral Dewey to esta blish gar
risons for the present at other towns in
the Philippines than Manila, Iloilo and
Cebu, although as soon as these ports
and their revenues are thoroughly un-
der control of the United States, the
smaller vessels of Admiral Dewey's
fleet will make systematic cruises
throughout the island to command re-
spect for the American flag. On the
visits of these ships to various ports
their officers will learn positively
whether the commerce of such ports
will warrant the establishment in them
of customs houses and American repre-
sentatives, but at present there is not
sufficient information to warrant the
dispatch of forces to any other ports
except perhaps at the northern termin-
of the railway line extending from
Manila to I1ingayen.
1t will be Gen. Otis effort to open this
railway throughout it's length as soon
as possible. 1t is owned by a. British
corporation and in addition to the COM
mercial advantages accruing from it's
opera ton, its strategic value can hard
1y be oyerestimated, especially as
Aguinaldo's adherentS in the island of
Luzon are apparently confined to the
immediate neighborhood of it's lines
One of Admiral Dewey's ships will
soon go to the extreme south of the
archipelago to secure the alliance of the
Sultan of Sulu, and to report on the
harbors of that miniature group; while
another ship will explore the compare
lively undeveloped island of Palawan,
in the China sea- which many naval
important island in the Philippines.