The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-02-08
RECEIVED AID FROM SPAN|ARDS.
FILIPINOS WELL ARMED.
General Merritt Discusses the Latest Outbreak
in the Philippines Says We Have splen-
did Force OF Men on the Ground.

Maj. Wesley Merritt was inter-
viewed Monday regarding the attack
by the Filipinos upon the American
forces about Manila Saturday and
Sunday. Gen. Merritt spoke first OF
the condition of the troops when he
left there in September last. I.e said
he thought there is absolutely no cause
for apprehension by the Americans as
he considered the American troops
perfectly able 20 cope with their
enemies.
"rhe insurgents" said Gen. Merritt.
have the habit OF attacking their
enemies at night. IL was so when |
was there. / think there Is no use In
temporizing with them. The Fllipincs
are apt to imagine that tempOri2ing
policy indicates fear.
1T is n strange fact that all our
fighting Is done on Sunday, even In
The far East This seems to be our
fate"
He was asked how large he thought
the Filipino army Is. and he estimated
when he was there that they had from
$1,000 to $1,000 men. He arrived at this
estimate, he explained, by counting
the rifles. The insurgents. he said,
fight In rather peculiar way. a man,
for example, stays i'm trench for As
hours and then is relieved by another
man, who uses the same gun. 1t Is
therefore quite probable that the
Filipinos are much greater In number
than the rifles which he counted.
"I have no doubt" he continued.
that since I left there much ammu-
milton has been smuggled to them by
the Spaniards from Hong Kong. They
have about 1000 pieces from the Span
ish deserters. 1 know. Probably they
are now well supplied with guns.
My estimate has been, and Is now,
that 10000 to 10000 men can cope with
the Filipinos. Two-thirds of this num-
Der might be natives. The experience
of the English with their colonies
shows us that good soldiers can be
made of the colonists by manning
them with efficient officers"
The general was asked If he had
any reason to fear, at the time he was
In Manila. that the Filipinos would at
tack Manila. He replied: mo, l
never thought they would attack u.s.
think they have been led to this by
events that have taken place since.
He said he did not wish to be un-
| derstood as criticlslng the present
| military surveillance of the Philip
pines. but IT was his opinion that the
holding in allegiance of the treaty of
peace may have Influenced the insur-
gents to make this attack.
General Merritt spoke of the excel
lent troops that are in Manila and its
| suburbs. He referred particularly to
| the First Minnesota. commanded by
| Gen. Reeve, and the Colorado regi-
ment, commanded by Col. Hale. a
graduate of West Point. and who has
superb staff of officers, and also of
| the California regiment, which. he
| said is made up of magnificent men.
Gen. Merritt said that when he was
| In Manila he was of the opinion that
| he could have CLEANED out" the insur-
gents In half n day If he had orders to
| force the fighting. He spoke of the
| preparations which Admiral Dewey
had made during his stay there for a
possible attack upon the army. and
added that Admiral Dewey always
| kept two picket boats in readiness to
| aid the army. They never had been
needed. however He thought that
| one good lesson would be sufficient.
Gen. Merritt spoke of the swampy
environments OF Manila and the diff
] Guilty to be encountered by our troops.
| He said the roads are about 30 feet
vide and are known as causeways.
| On either side are rice fields. There
are also bamboo hedges.