The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-13
AGUINALDO's AIDS.

The halt in military operations in Luzon
because of the rainy season and the call OF
the President for ten regiments to be in
the Philippines when the rainy season Is
over has been a signal for number of pa
pers to pursue course designed to lead
the people 10 suspect that affairs are much
worse in Luzon than they are represented.
Let Admiral Dewey tell the country the
truth about affairs in Manila is the de-
mand of Mr.. Wanamaker's newspaper in
Philadelphia, If the prominent officers
who have come home, including Generals
Anderson and King. have not told the truth
about the situation. With the unreliability
of class of Independent papers the Bos-
ton Herald has again Topped, thereby giving
to those who have slandered our troops ami
their leaders great encouragement. That
paper Is simply back upon its old ground.
For months 1t criticised the idea of holding
the Philippines. Suddenly it faced about,
urged the ratification of the Spanish treaty
and vigorously supported the President. II
continued three months in that line, and
then faces about, laments the war; accuses
the administration of inefficiency and of de-
of our troops and the work which has been
done. 1t tells its readers that our troops
are camping in the water and are suffering.
1t chatters about the censorship of General
Otis over press dispatches. In fact, every
issue contains a chapter of lamentations.
Several other papers have the same symp-
toms. They desire to discuss who began
fh4 o,I
Is 1t the purpose Of these papers to dis
courage recruiting? Would they have the
President haul down our flag and sneak out
of the Philippines? If not, why these COM
plants? Is 1t because in every war in which
the United States has been engaged there
have been croakers in the rear? After the
first Bull Run, until thirty days before the
surrender of Lee, political leaders and news
papers pursued the same policy that sew
eral papers are now pursuing.
Among the volunteer officers who have re-
Gently returned from Luzon is General King.
He is graduate of West Point. He re-
turned because of his feeble health. He has
recently written letter to the New York
World, at its request. He is an intelligent
soldier and is in position to criticise.
Here is what General King says:
Our flag must never be lowered in face of
an armed foe, and if il costs thousands of
men and millions of money the insurgents
who rewarded our friendship with treach-
cry and armed attack must be utterly SUBJ
dued
1 much mistake the temper of the Amer
| lean people If even small number fail
TO accord to our President and to our COM
mander in Manila that solid support which
glorious Governor vi
| TO our city urged as the paramount duty of
| the Nation to-day.
| is not an easy thing to whip those we'll
armed Tagals, protected as they were ev-
| cry mile of the way from Manila to San
could devise If driven ne from mor the paGs
! they can retire to the mountains or the
dense bamboo thickets. through which only
| be approached. Our little army in the Phil
| ippines has had to encounter great difficult
ey ah beem esn h its S
enemy have been infinitely greater. That
| It stood the climate and the hardships so
well was due to the fact that Major General
| Otis and his division commanders were
| tir.less in their efforts to see that the men
were well fed, clothed and cared for. Our
| supply system was excellent. our surgeons.
ambulance service and hospitals equally
good, and there was a total absence of COM
plant or cause for Ii.
| Just now it is the fashion for certain
papers to reflect upon the capacity and
character of General Otis. He is accused OF
Misrepresentation, and of late reports have
appeared indicating that our soldiers are
not well cared for. The testimony of this
experienced army officer is to the effect that
the precautions Of General Otis and his d.
| vision commanders have in large measure
| prevented disease and death.
The sensible and patriotic people Of the
country will accept the statements of such
| men as General King rather than those OF
| correspondents who write ISLANDERS about ouI
troops and leaders from the Hong-Kong
| agency of Aguinaldo.