The times., 1899-06-03
TROOPS Will REST
DURING Wet season
Hostilities in the Philippines
Will Be Suspended.
President and Cabinet Discuss the
Military Situation.
Authority Given to General Otis to
Enlist as Many Natives
He Needs.

practical suspension OF hostilities in
the Philippines, during the rainy season.
was determined on at a meeting of the
Cabinet yesterday. The military situation
in the islands was discussed at length. 1t
was announced that the question Of en-
listing additional regiments will be held in
allegiance for some time owing to the rainy
season in the Philippines.
The reason given for the decision that
hostilties shall be suspended is that
the medical authorities of the Army
agree that the campaign would be
disastrous to the American side if carried
on during the unhealthful period Sur
geon General Sternberg has said that the
result would be more disastrous even than
in Cuba, for the reason that there is in
the Island of Luzon or in the vicinity no
high ground to which soldiers suffering
from disease may be withdrawn for re-
clperation.
The officials Of the War Department be-
lieve that Aguinaldo has no intention OF
| surrendering as long as the rainy season
| lasts, for he appreciates the disadvantage
| under which the Americans are laboring.
Secretary Alger said, after the meeting OF
| the Cabinet, that no regiments would be
| enlisted for some time, if at all, under the
provision of the army law which allows
the mastering of $4,000 men for service
| until 1901.
| The Secretary said that IL 1t should
| be decided to increase the military es.
| tablishment, some of the volunteer regi-
ments which served in Cuba in garrison
duty, or which did not have the opportu-
| nifty to go out of the United States. and
which desire to go to the Philippines,
might be enlisted, so as to preserve their
present organizations. Among these or
ganizations is the Fourth Immunes, a
volunteer regiment commanded by Co.
onel Petit.
| A letter from Mai. Gen. Leonard Wood
was received at the meeting of the Cabinet
| in which he described his recent trip
through Santiago province. General Wood
| said that his tour was very thorough one.
and that he was very much gratied 10 find
universally satisfactory condition of af-
fairs throughout the territory.
He met with no cases of privation or
want everybody was at work and there
was as little lawlessness as in any part OF
the United States. He regarded the con-
dition of affairs, he said, as exceedingly
prosperous.
| II was evident from the exchange OF
views at the Cabinet meeting that there
was a pretty general feeling among the
Presidents advisers that no volunteers
should be called for This view is shared
by officials who express the belief that
six thousand men>can be taken from the
Regular Army for service in the Philip
pines Secretary Alger furnished the
! President with a list showing the number
OF regular troops at every post in the
United States, Hawaii, Alaska, Cuba, and
Porto Rico, to assist him in determining
whether any more regular troops can be
spared to re-enforce General Otis. After
a full discussion of the subject the Pres
ident said that he did not think there wa;
any necessity of taking action on the
question of the -advisability of calling out
volunteers until after Secretary Alger':
return from his three weeks trip. The
transportation facilities between this coun-
try and Manila are so limited that il
| would be impossible to begin the ship
ment of additional troops to the Philip
pines before Secretary Alger resumes his
official duties here. 1t was determined
however to give General Otis authority
to enlist as many native troops as he
deems proper. and telegram to that eff
feet was sent to him by the War De-
partment yesterday afternoon. The only
restriction placed on General Otis in rails
ing native force was that he should or
ganize the Filipinos into small detach-
ments.
1t was decided some time ago by the
military authorities that 1t would not bl
| wise to organize large bodies OF native!
in any of the possessions OF the United
| States until il had been ascertained by
actual experience that there was no danger
of mutiny. The plan of the War Depart
ment is to have these native detachment:
commanded by American officers with {
number of Americans as commission
| ed officers to set an example in discipline
and soldierly bearing to their dark-skinnet
| comrades.