The evening times., 1899-07-01
EASTERN WAR MEASURES.
Postmaster General Smith Says 0tis
La Ant Rnirnc Nec Iectad

NeW 1oTk, July line NOrId THIS
morning prints the following from Wash
| ington:
The situation in the Philippines Is the
most important and absorbing public ques-
ton just at present. l am we'll aware
that there is some restlessness on the mat
ter and in some quarters no little impa-
tlence. This feeling is entirely natural,
but | think it rests on Misrepresentation.
There is notion that the Administra-
| tion should have been more energetic, and
| when the Filipinos prolonged their war
fare should have called for and sent for
ward more troops. But those who make
this criticism do not know what the Ad-
ministration has done
so spoke Charles Emory Smith Post
master General of the United States.
World staff correspondent met the Post
master General by appointment and re-
quested an Interview on the Philippine sit
General Smith editor. diplomatist, and
the 'ablest politician in the Cabinet as
everyone knows, is the recognized spokes-
man of the Administration. His views are
! as nearly reflex of those held by the
President as it is possible for the views OF
one man 20 be expressed through another.
I iic IL, Pei HdpS, ClOSsT 10 lne PRESIDENT ttlan
any other Cabinet official
The interview is given in his own
words, having been taken in shorthand and
subsequently revised Continuing he said:
'1hey do not know that the Admins
! tration has recruited nearly two thousand
men week right straight along since Con-
gresS adjourned on March 4. They do not
know that with these recruits and with the
re-enlistments a force of nearly 40. 900
| MGR ha haan faiG GaH t,rtt hot
" They do not know that the Army bill
which passed on March = practically COM
PEELED the reorganization of a new army
nearly 2. fourth as large as that which was
raised for the Spanish war. They do not
know that under the law authorizing the
creation OF the army for the Spanish war
all of the regulars above q coo, as well as
all of the volunteers, had to be mustered
out at the ratification of the Peace Treaty,
and that while the new army bill provides
for force of $4,000 men the whole num-
ber above %, 900 had to be raised afresh.
In other words while many people have
within the past week or two awakened to
feeling of impatience and have said that
the Government ought to call for troops, il
has been steadily recruiting them for the
past three months. And while people have
supposed that it was doing little or moth
ing in that direction it has raised more
than 10000 men.
. 1t has been said that the President,
on his return to Washington this week,
determined to respond to this pub.ic ex-
preston and to enlarge the army. AS
a matter of fact the President made 10
new determination whatever. He was
already doing what critics were clamor-
| ing for. and they are just beginning to
find out that he has been steadily dong
ii for months without making any noise
about it,
- He long ago gave the direction that
the work of raising troops should be in
augurated and carried steadily forward
and conducted with the utmost care. He
| has kept such close watch On this work
that last week, while in Massachusetts,
he telegraphed to know the number of
recruits of that particular week.
q" Had he called for volunteers two
months ago. and had he done as long ago
as then what some people want him 10
do now, nothing more would have been
practically accomplished than has ac-
tually been accomplished by the less
demonstrative but more effective p an
which he has followed
" On the ratification of peace with
Spain the Presidents problem was 10 re-
construct the army up to the maximum
unmber of regulars permitted. namely. Co.
GOO men. He began that work Immediately.
He did not wait for any sudden tide IF
public feeling, but addressed himself at
once TO the task without any pubic dec-
laration whatever About 40, eco men have
now been added to the force, and OF the
recruits fully 20 per cent were in the SER
vice during the Spanish war This fast
signifies two things:
" 'First-That those who served had no
terrors from what they had gone through
and were ready to serve again.
" 'Second-That the force thus recruited
was Injured to the service and able TO
stand its hardships.
:" Besides, no married man is taken. The
highest physical standard is enforced. No
person applying with any physical defect
or weakness is accepted. In this way the
largest efficiency is obtained. II might
have been possible to have called Tor vol
unteers, TO have had rush, TO have put
them into camp to have had the hurry and
the possibilities of mistake which came
with the quick, sharp action at the begin
ming of the Spanish war; but even if this
had been done troops could not have ac-
tually been sent to the Philippines faster
than they have been. and they would not
have been anything like as effective.
. Within two weeks 5.000 additional men
will be in the Philippines, or on their .ay,
and by August /, before the close of the
rainy season, there will be $4,000 regulars
or more at the disposal of Otis; and with
this force he will certainly be able TO cope
with the situation. If there should he need
for more by September they will be there.
" The plan which the President directed
and has followed with his own personal su
pervision permits this. without the neces-
sity for any public call for troops.
General Otis has managed affairs IN the
Philippines with skill and judgment. He
has never indicated belief that he needed
more than 10000 effective troops.
There is no trouble in the Philippines
outside the Island of Luzon. Aggressive
fighting is ncw restricted fer about three
months because Of the rainy season, but
as soon as aggressive opc' ations can be
resumed short work will be made of the
conflict
81 observe that one newspaper says that
unless the rebellion shall be subdued with
in six months it will be most unfortunate.
Never fear; there will be no need to eX-
ceed that limit.
a. Without understanding the difficult
ties, it may be accepted that our Govern
ment will be equal to the demands of the
situation. 1t may also be accepted that if
an additional force should prove to be
required there would be no hesitation in
using 1t.
The Filipinos are not our enemies.
One tribe alone out of many is in revolt.
What should be done in the Philippines
when this rebellion of a single tribe is
subdued is a question on which l ought
not to speak. The final determination of
our policy rests with Congress.
g Meanwhile the President will hold
these possessions for the American peo-
pie and will give the inhabitants the larg-
est measure of freedom and self-govern-
ment consistent with The recognition of
our sovereignty and the maintenance of
peace, order and lawful admin straIion in