Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-28
WEDNESDAY. JUNE 2s, 1899
SATISFACTORY, OF COURSE.

General OTIS mas taken inc mint dt IdS%
Under the pressure of suggestions from
Washington he has commenced to relieve
the pressure of embarrassment that Is
upon MIR. Mckinley in respect OF in
creasing further our Philippine army
and exercising fully the power conferred
on him in the army bill. 1t is true that
he has not called for more troops-has
not accepted the invitation to make such
a call. which the President has several
times practically extended TO him. But
he has done the next best thing so far
as Is concerned helping Mr.. Mckinley
out of q hole, and enabling him to take
the course he so ardently desires TO take.
He has done good service in the direction
of leading the public up to realization
Of the fact that if American prestige is
TO be maintained our army in the Philip
pines must soon be heavily re-enforced'
without compromising his pride as
soldier by confessing his inability to sub
iugate the Filipinos with the troops now
at his disposal, he has begun so TO clear
tho way for the dispatch Of re-enforce-
ments, and enlistment of more volun-
teers. that the minimum of responsibility
will fall on the administration.
Yesterday we printed u report from
General Otis. which was sent in reply
10 a direct request from the War De-
partment for information regarding the
situation and the conditions In the Philip
pines. The salient points of that report,
as bearing strictly upon the military
problem involved, are these: After
years operations General Otis holds only
a narrow strip of territory some sixty
miles long and our outposts are subject
TO constant attack from the enemy; our
troops arc worked to the limit of endu-
rance: u per cent. of the command is
reported I'll, and sickness is steadily in
creasing; during the rainy season our
policy will be one OF inaetion, except when
the "insurgents" make 4 necessary
to defend territory already in our pos
session. In other words, even If we shall
be able to hold what We have. while
our force continues to be weakened by
disease the "rebels" will be afforded all
the opportunity they could desire for re-
organization, reeuperaton, and recruiting;
for no one pretends that they have any
thing to fear from climatic conditions
While fever Is creating greater havoc
than Filipino bullets among the Ameri-
cans. the "rebels" will be gaining vitality,
and, perhaps, material war resources
and will probably be better equipped than
ever for vigorous campaign, when the
rainy season shall have ended.
OF course, 1t is not our purpose TO dues-
ton the wisdom Of American inaction.
Indeed, so far as we are competent TO
speak 1t would seem that General Otis
would not be justified In forcing the fight
ing until the advent Of more favorable
weather. Judging by his experience up
70 the present time active operations
during the "sickly season" would viz
tually decimate his command. But none
the less the facts remain as we have pre-
scented them. And though 1t Is declared
that General Otis has iterated in another
cablegram his assurance that with 10000
effective men he can control affairs on
the Islands, II cannot be denied that he
has demonstrated. the need OF having
vastly more than that number when he
begins to push hosuliues again. II can
not be denied that ne has taken the re-
sponsibility Of Reinforcing the army
largely from the shoulders Of the Presl-
dent and placed it upon the necessities
OF the case and by the same token he
has afforded Mr.. Mckinley an excuse for
calling for more volunteers.
But General Otis does not step here
In respect OF serving the President and
playing into his hands. His report also
embraces a brief political campaign docu-
ment IN Mr.. McKinleys interest. He
Gays the insurgents proclaim near over
throw OF the present administration. TO
be followed by their independence and
recognition by the United States, aud
that this is the influence which enables
taem 10 hold out. In our opinion that is
~ Tommy rot" But II is a good enough
MagGan for the administration. and we
usy expect the Mckinley organs TO work
b v fragile.
A Washington special says that General
Otiss report is very satisfactory 20 the
War Department. IL not. why not? In
this matter the War Department repre-
ncDts Mr. Mckinley's hopes and ambl-
tons. and what more could II ask?
Within the space OF less than half "A
column Of the average newspaper Gene.