The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-11
OTIS PLANS.
Will Not Wait For Dry Season
to Begin Fighting.

New York Sept. IA special to the
Herald from Washington says:
Considerable progress has been made
by Major General Otis upon the plan of
campaign he will inaugurate immedi-
ately upon the beginning of the dry
season. To prevent similar prepara-
tions being made by the insurgents and
perhaps as a fOrerunner to the COM
prehenSiVe operations to occur when
the conditions permit an offensive
movement by the commands of Major
Generals Macarthur and Lawton will
begin at once. It has been expected
that this movement would have begun
last week, but evidently the prepara-
tiOnS have not been completed or the
elements have prevented. for up to this
time, so far as the department has been
ADVISED nothing has been done. Inc
officials are i'll hourly expectation, how
ever, of advices showing that the col
umnS under command of the officers
named have begun a new campaign
against Aguinaldo's troops.
General Otis proposes to divide the
army of 64,649 cOmbatants and the
mountain batteries and dynamite guns
which he will have in December into
two divisions, commanded by MacAr-
thur and LawtOn. One of these will
operate to the north of Manila and the
other to the west and south. Each di-
vision will operate in two military pro-
vinces to be defined by Gen. Otis, but
there will be effective and prompt CO.
operation when it is desirable.
It is expected that each commander
will have six brigades under his COM
mand, the remainder OF the troops be-
ing employed to garrison Manila and
other seaport towns through which the
insurgents are receiving supplies Law
ton will be required to make quick
movements and it is proposed to place
the cavalry brigade under his COM
mand.
The navy and marine corps will also
he off c
stood to be the intention of the admin
istratiOn to enforce a strict blockade of
the Philippine ports This action has
been considered upon the recommended
tion of Rear Admiral Watson, who has
called attention to the amount of sup
plies which the insurgents have been
receiving. The blockade which will be
enforced Will be municipal IN character,
so as to prevent any foreign nation
seizing upon the blockade, if it were
formally declared, as a preteXt~fO the
recognition of the Filipinos as bellig-
erents.
General Haywood, commandant of the
marine corps, said today that he ex-
poets that there will be more than 700
under Colonel POpe's command within
the next few months. There have been
consultations between Rear Admiral
Watson and General Otis respecting the
operations to be conducted by the ma
rines, and it is understood here that
they be given the province of CaVite in
which to operate. CaVite is the hot
bed of the insurrectiOn and the work of
the marines will have to be supplement
ed by the army, but the use of Colonel
Pope's command will make possible the
concentration of practically the entire
military force in subjugating Aguin-
aldo.
1t is apparent from the plan of cam
paign prepared by General Otis that his
duty will be more of supervisory and
supplying character than anything else
He will remain in Manila sending sup
plies and troops to the front and keep
ing the two division in the best possible
condition, but the military operations
themselves will be directed by the divi-
sion commander. OF course General
bility, but 1t is evident that the admin
istration is quite satisfied to trust the
conduct of the field operations to Gen
erals Mac Arthur and Lawton.