Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-24
Sixth and Ninth Infantry are Or
dered to Manila.
FOR OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
war Department Omciais Urge tina
an Active Campaign be Pushed
In the Pm iiippincs.

Washington. Feb. 2s.-Thc war de-
partment has arranged to dispatch
further rclnforcements to Gen. otis. at
Manila. The regiments selected are
the Ninth. infantry now nj New York.
and the sixth infantry. now at San An
tonic, Tex. Doth these regiments VIII
~ by way Of San Francisco.
I, Is expected that the transports
taking them viii be able to leave by
March 18th. by that time Gen. OILS
will have received all the reinforce
ments now aiioat ana bound for Ma.
Mia. save those ON the Sheridan which
sailed frUm New York last sunday.
This will give him 5000 more troops,
made UP OF the flower 81 the United
states army. regulars tried In Indian
service. the most " them Injured To
the cuban climate In the worst aspects.
having participated In the campaigns
there during the last wet season.
Every report that comes to the war
department goes to convince the oili-
clals that an offensive campaign must
be Immediately assumed In the Philip.
pines. This " no longer u matter OF
choice, but OF necessity against which
the officials say no sentimental con-
alteration can stand.
Of American troops now In the neigh
borhood OF Manila depend upon the
Initiation OF such a campaign. Gen,
Otls's report of the big FIRE In Manila
yesterday and last night. while agree
ing closely with the press reports.
makes mention OF rather formidable
demonstration by the insurgents near
caloocan. the scene Of some ~ the
heaviest lighting succeeding the nrnt
engagement with the insurgents On the
18TH. This u taken rs an Indication
that the rebels have not yet been
thoroughly Impressed with the strength
OF American arms.
A diHuuictinR feature noted Ia the
press reports n the presence OF small
bodies OF armed insurgents within tn
American outIortH. possibly AN cvi-
dencc that our lines arr too far ok
tended and too thin around Manila.
IL N realized that II viii b. necessary
60 sweep tho country clear - all hos
tile elements The task Will he a 'ilr.
ncuult one BECAUSE of the resemblance
OF the FiliplnoH TO one another, which
would make q hard to distinguish
between non-combatant and an out
and-out rebel.
a most serious problem confronts
Gen. otis In the protection OF Manila
and suburban towns from IRE. not
only from the trcnoherouH character
~ the philippine rcbclH. but also boz
cause the outside houses are OF tho
iiimHieat bamboo. hung with mating
screens Even the floors are made Of
strips OF bamboo separated No as to
allow the free circulation ~ air. II II
within the power OF almost any per-
son 10 set IRE to these houacH from
without or within IN few seconds.
and aH they are closely built the raw
ugca ~ single firc In quarter 10
closely constructed might easily reach
the hair -million-dollar point mentioned
by Gen. Otis.
The foreign quarter, IL OF better con-
ttrbctlon. but r,ill Includes many Of
these llEht bamboo houses which the
older residents seem 10 lind cooler
than houses OF more solid cnnatruc tlon.
The walled town which She insurgents
threaten TO burn N Faid 20 40 OF sub
ftnntlal construction and probably II
more easily defended against such an
attempt than any other section II tho
town. The officials here uny that II
the rebels continue this sort Of tactics
IN Manila. citregnnllng tho rules "
war and lcopardlairg the lives NJ
women and children and foreigners
who are not Involved IN IN, war. Gen.
otis Will be- under the necessity OF
making house Co house insprvtion.
and Summnrily dispoaing OF all Hgs-
plcl1ls characters.