The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-19

|
Meeting of the Cabinet by the OPP
timistic Messages From Manila.
but DissensiOns Are Expected Mt
the Next Meeting President
Fears to Call for Volunteers.
| WASHINGTON, June 18-Members of
the cabinet are seriously divided over
the policy to be pursued in the Philip
pines. 1t is apparent that a majority of
the Official family favors vigorous mea-
sures, and advocates swelling Otis army
to any number necessary to crush the
insurrection, while the minority still
holds that concessions may win over
Aguinaldo's followers ..,
When the cabinet adjourned Saturday
with no prospect of another meeting for
two weeks, the members, from the dis
patches read to them, were under the
| impression that affairs in Luzon were
progressing satisfactorily. News Dispatch
es since then, however. have dispelled
this illusion, and now all realize the Sc
r1ous aspect of the situation. Another
meeting would develop dissension in the
| administration. 1t is believed and, there
| fore, the presidents absence and the en-
forced abandoning of cabinet councils
give time to test the various plans I'M
der consideration without an open
| breach.
Dispatches from Manila showing that
after four and one-half months of war
fare the insurgents are as lively as ever.
apparently well supplied with arms and
ammunition and ever ready to attack the
RI lf,11-
here with establishment. The fact that
many more soldiers must be sent to the
Islands at once is generally admitted, but
the plan for effecting the increase is in
dispute. Additional warships may also
be furnished Watson, as 1t is now deemed
necessary to draw a tight blockade about
the island Of Luzon to prevent the land
ing of supplies from outside
PRESIDENT OPTIMISTIC.
AT Saturdays cabinet meeting the pres
ident read the most encouraging dis
patches to the members, and declared
that he had every reason to expect a
speedy end to the war. This prevented
an expression of the differences said 10
exist among the secretaries from crop
ping out. They were smothered at the
meeting by the optimistic nature of the
| Information that the president disclosed.
The immediate point at issue is in re-
gard to the enlistment of the provisional
army, but the real differences are said to
extend much deeper. going to the very
root of the war itself. Secretary Long
| has been president of peace society and
Is said to favor Prof. Schurman's
! plan of seeking to end the trouble by
making concessions to the FIIipinos
afcV.x =.
sists that the only terms offered shall be
Identical with those Spain offered to the
Cuban rebels-unconditional surrender,
trusting to the magnanimity of the vic
tors to do what is right" Another MEM
Der Of the cabinet. whose identity could
not be learned, is said to stand with
Secretary Long, but all the rest are said
to agree with Secretary Alger
The war department insists that all the
$1,000 men authorized must be raised at
once, so as to be ready for the fall cam
paign. The president, 1t is said, hesitates,
not so much because he fears the politi-
cal effect of call, although this 1T is
admitted. would be bad, but because he
fears that in some states there would be
considerable difficulty in raising the
quota. AS long as enlistments can be
made from all over the country no diff
fculty is anticipated in getting all the
recruits needed. But the administration
in certain sections, and fears the effect
of attempting to raise troops in them
The decision of the comptroller of the
treasury that the hospital corps of $500
men did not belong to the g. 900 was a
temporary relief The device of forming
three regiments from the volunteers at
present in the Philippines by Offering
bounties of travel pay. amounting to $780,
| for re-enlistments, is another
FEW VOLUNTEERS.
1t was said some time ago that some
1000 volunteers would re-enlist at Ma
Mia, but it is now admitted that this fig
ure was too high, and that it is doubt
! full whether enough can be had to form
! even the skeletons of the three regiments.
| III this can be done and recruits can be
obtained to fill up these regiments, it is
said. some other device for raising 5000
of 5000 more would almost certainly next
be resorted to, so as to avoid a formal
call. Then there might be another de-
vice and yet another until the whole
$4,000 have been quietly enlisted.
There is the best authority for stating
that some such plan this is intended
by the president. If the necessities of the
situation shall require the men.
President Mckinley expressed surprise
that the fnsurgent forces should be able
| apparently, to procure inexhaustibIe
supplies of arms and ammunition, and
| directions were cabled to Admiral Wat
/ son to cooperate with Gen. Otis in try
ing to prevent the landing. of munitions
of war on the island of Luzon A block
ade of the island was reported estab-
| lished some time ago, but every encoun-
| ter with the insurgents demonstrates
that they still have abundant supplies
Cabinet officers are of the opinion that
| If a strict blockade is maintained the
insurgents will quickly exhaust their
| resources. Especial reasons for using ex-
traordinary vigilance in maintaining the
| blockade are now said to exist English
and American merchants in Hong Kong.
who. are helping the Philippine junta,
to be offering enticing inducements to
| munition to Aguinaldo.
1t Is more than four months since tha
| Filipinos took the initiative in making an
| attack. and, while they were soundIy
thrashed for their temerity, nothing
| permanent seems to have been accom-
| Dlished.
+ AMERICAN LOSSES HEAVY.
Nearly 300 Americans. have been killed
in action and five times that number
| wounded since hostiities began In Feb
ruary. and there is little indication that
| the island is any nearer pacification than
| 1t ever was.
The war department confines its ex-
| pressed anxiety to Aguinaldos where
| abouts. 1t is not denied, however. that
the Filipinos have shown q remarkable
| ability to recover from disasters. and
another battle is expected to take place
between Gen. McArthur's troops and