Evening star., 1899-04-04
BACKBONE is BROKEN
Crisis in the Philippine Revolt Be-
lieved to Be Past.
OCCASIONAL RAIDS LOOKED FOR
Military Movements Before the
Wet Season.
COMPLETING THE CAMPAIGN

No disappointment was expressed at the
War Department today because General
Otis had made no report this morning. 1t
was taken to mean that everything was
progressing favorably. and that the condi-
tions indicated in yesterdays dispatches
continued. War Department officials are
fully convinced that the backbone of the
insurrection is broken and that while there
may be raids from time to time by bands
of marauders, the main body of troops will
eventually surrender. 1t is believed that
when the Filipinos who surrender find that
they are Well treated and fed, and that the
wounded are cared for while food is sent
to the suffering, there will be less inclina-
ton to continue hostilties. Those who are
so treated and sent to their homes, it is
believed, will be missionaries among their
people in favor of the United States.
Future Military Movements.
War Department officials look upon the
approach of the wet season in the Philip
pines as lihcly to be an important, if not
decisive. factor in determining the charac-
ter of the military movements during the
next six months. This period of rains and
storm is no new anu untried danger, for the
United States troops were in the trenches
around Manila through much of the worst
part of the wet season last summer. Major
Simpson, chief of the bureau of military
informa ton, was then on the staff of Cen
eral Green. and learned from experience
about how far this wet season affected the
health and comfort of the men, and re-
tarded military operations. Generally
speaking, 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 IA great
personal inconvenience, 1t 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
execute military improvements on a large
scale. as the roads were too heavy for the
troops. and practically impossible for ord
nance.
The wet season does not begin, as rule
until June, so that it is about two months
before its effects will be seriously felt The
months of April and May generally
come under the head of the hot season.
which just precedes the drenching rains be
ginning In June. The hottest weather is in
May, although it never goes above 100 de-
grees. Gradually this merges into the
keavy rains and violent storms. of June, the
wet season lasting for six months. The
season does not come on abruptly but is a
gradual transition until everything is in
condition of soak.
Experience in the Rainy Senson,
Last summer the first expedition of
United States troops landed about July l.
and by that time the wet season was well
under way. Their camps We're well pro-
tected from the elements, but IN the
trenches there was a chance TO learn the
| full effect Of the season. The trenches
were esta oiished about July Is, running
WeIl back from Manila bay toward Laguna
de Bay. 1t was an exposed point. Mai.
simpson says the plan adopted was to send
the men into the trenches for twenty-fou
hours, and then relieve them. In this way
two regiments would be moved up every
morning and for that day and night would
stand IN the knee-deep rain and mud keep
| ing up the Intermittent firing at the Span-
[ lSh lDtrencbmpptS hayop1 Tn, II;
men were not exposed beyond twenty-four
hours, and no serious hardship was felt
But 1t would have been difficult, If not i'm
possible to keep troops exoosed To such
condluonS Tor 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
! terry, was here recently, and in speak king of
| the sick during the wet season said that
! 1t was kept down to per cent. This is
considered very low, even under fayora BILE
circumstances, and is taken to offset some
OF the serious reports to the effect of
| the wet season. This low sick rate is in
part attributed to the strict sanitation en-
Joined upon the American forces. Malaria
and typhoid abound. so that our troops
were made to drink boiled water. Major
Simpson says that at no time did the ma
iaria or typhoid assume an epidemic FORM
What is Expected.
This experience through the last wet sea-
| son gives officials here considerable relief
as 10 what may be expected during the
coming season, as the country where Mac
Arthur's and Iawton's divisions are cper-
ating is not materially different from that
| IN which our trenches were built last sum-
| mer There is, of course, considerable
| element of uncertainty as to these wet sas-
sons, some being much more severe than
| others. Occasionally there are typhcons
| of intense severity. These are vast cyclones.
| 60 to. 100 miles in circumference the outer
edge being a great swirl of water brought
| IN from the ocean and swept down III a
| vast, sWlrilng deluge upon the islands
| such typhoon destroyed Manila in 1882
| but they are of rare occurrence. The
| usual storms bring a steady downpour of
| rain, which lasts few hours, when there
! IS general clearing and a long period of
| not, steaming, muggy weather
! 1t is the general belief that Gen Otis will
| compete his present campaign before the
wet season opens, and confine his efforts
| after that to holding the ground already
| won, Keeping up communications protect
| ing his TANKS and waiting for the dry sea-
son TO give him another period of active
| operation