Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-08-04
President Has No Notion Of
Removing Otis.
Is PLEASED WITH HIS WORK
All Talk Relative to Administration
Dissatisfaction Regarding the
Conduct of the Campaign In
the Philippines Had Its Origin
with Iavenfiye Newspaper Cor
respondents.

Washington, Au.g. 3.-It may be
stated without breaking confidence.
but on the highest authority alhat the
president has no ir1tenrion of relieving
General Otis of the commai-h i'm the
T'hTtpIines or of cuntaiIing his duties
as governor general of the Philippines
This a1ruoUncament is made in view
of the many erroneous reports that
have gore out from Washington THIS
week that There WAS likely to be
change liz command in THE Philippines
and that the president was thinking Of
sendiIy or promoting some other gcn-
eral to take command there
Unless his health breaks down. or
something Unforeseen happer's General
Otis will not onfy continue IN ooa-
mand. but win hayel charge of the cam
paign Wilhelm it opens again in the
Philippines after the rainy season.
General Otis by his conduct I'M Manils
has given the president every satdsfae-
tion. and the latter has rever contem-
plated any change.
Some time Before he left for Lake
Champaign Tile president received mes
sages from the philippine commits
s1oners and many of the generals un-
der Geueral O. is assuring hiln that the
best of feeling and confidence existed
beltweeu al those in high positions at
Manila With General Otis. Col. DENLY
cab'ed:
General Otis conduct and action
have been heroic and no fault what.
ever can be forrd with him
Therefore the president feels
strengthened in his determination TO
let G5Giaral Otis remain in command
ald the new secretary of war has been
made acquninozd with these facts and
says he has no intemtion of differing
with the president on this question.
A great deal has been said-and most
of this gossip has been false-as to
how General OTIS used high influence
to got his assignment TO the Philip
pines. and how fe is being kept there
by the same influence. The truth of
The matter is that General Otis went 10
the Philippines ON his record as a sol
dier art in the regular order. When
1t became necessary to send troops to
the Philippines. General Merritt was
selected TO take charge of the expedi-
tion. and the generals under him were
chosen On account OF thsfr records and
rank.
When the assignments We're made
out, the president, at the advice of tGIe
secretary of war and his assistants. Sc
lected General Otis as ons of the gen
erals, because he had w1lD cFhe assign
ment by his record. his ability and his
rank. General Otis. therefore, went
out as second in command. next to
General Merritt. When General Mer-
rift came home. General Otis. in view
of his being second in command, was
placed in charge.
It can be said that never has the
preSitt M regretted that General Otis
was in command. and rlat he was and
is now. perfectly satisfied with Otis
conduct at Marta. He has shown
executive ability. good judg-
ment, and what is best of all, diplo-
macy. As Statsd, his relations with
ne commissioners, the naval officers
antf the generals are close and t-OrtlilI
The officials themselves report the
goo,f feeling existing between tllecn
md therefore the reports and Stale,
nents of a few disgruntled news.
iaPer correspondents are not going 10
>rrwpigh this testimony or cause the
PRESIDENT TO change his mind in regard
0 the general in command in tlto