The evening times., 1899-10-11
FAULT FOUND WITH OTIS.
Comments of Returned Soldiers Upon
His Management.

His Management.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 11.-Major J. j.
Wisenburger, of the First Washington Vol
unteers. who arrived from Manila Monday
after ten months of hard campaigning,
summarizes the Philippine situation in
these words:
"The insurgent forces are better armed
better provisioned, and better entrenched
today than when the rebellion broke out
l am sorry to have to admit it, but our
commanders have been outgeneraled by the
Filipino leaders. The sort Of campaign
which is being carried on in the islands
will never end the war.
"The citizens of the United States have
no idea of the difficulties under which our
troops labor" continued Major Wisenbur-
ger. Before the fighting began on Febru-
airy 4, was field officer Of the day in the
Paco district, where the severest fighting
afterward took place, Days before gun
was fired Il reported that the insurgents
were throwing up; entrenchments and for
tifying their position in every way My
report came to the notice of General Otis,
but he did nothing.
"A week before dhe2rebellion broke out
knew all hope of peace was gone. Again
reported the activity in the insurgent camp,
told of the strong Notifications they were
preparing and asked permission for my
troops to dig trenches and prepare for the
unavoidable conflict. My request was re-
fused.
"A few days later, at midnight of Feb
ruary 1, I-iay with my battalion in an open
field beside a blockhouse, trying to dis
lodge the rebels from their entrenchments,
while men were being killed and wounded
all around me because our position was
not properly fortified.
The American people do not realize the
gravity of the Philippine situation. The
entire Thirteenth Regiment of regular in
fantry dropped their arms, their haver-
sacks, and their baggage and fled like
sheep before midnight insurgent attack.
1t was not the fault of the men. When
they have had training they will be the
equal of any men in the islands. They
were bundled aboard their transports be-
fore they knew how TO load their guns.
When the ship reached Manila they disem-
barked at once and without any drilling
were marched to the firing line and ordered
to make camp within sight of the enemy s
lines. Their colonel protested, explaining
that his men were but an undisciplined
band, but the orders were not counter
manded.
I'VE have accomplished nothing after a
years fighting in the Philippines. The in
surgents, led by Aguinaldo, a natural fight
er, have more than held their own.
Il see that there is talk of displacing
Otis with General Miles. l hope this is
done. Miles is the man who will fight the
natives. Our present dillydallying policy
must be changed before the insurrection
is subdued. Despite the enemy's entrench-
ments, We beat them decisively when We
were allowed to fight them a campaign,
in which We drive the natives from their
trenches, only to return after a week and
drive them out again, will not do
The sentiment among the men Of the
Washington regiment is almost unani-
mously antagonistic TO Otis. Private c. c.
Jackson of Company F. said: Il doubt if
half the stories of Otis mismanagement
have been told. American soldiers have
been ill-treated in every conceivable way,
and every effort has been used to force
them to remain In the service"
Atrifcer e. H. Conwell. said: The trou-
BILE in the Philippines Will continue as long
as Otis is retained in command Lawton
| Wheaton, or any OF the half dozen gener-
ais there would have no trouble in whip
ping the Filipinos.''
/ Private d. Fitzgerald, said: IF Otis took
as much care Of his men as he does OF the
| Filipinos the boys might overlook his in
| capacity as commanding officer"
Regulars join in the chorus against the
| commander. A. Neell, of the Fourth Cav
| airy, said: General Otis is never seen al
| the front. With an aggressive policy car
| ried out the war would soon end and some
body would be without a job
George Hubbard. of the Fourteenth In
fantry. said: Otis is unfit for command
| ing. The trouble with the Filipinos could
have been ended long ago If the boys had
| been permitted toigo ahead"