The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-08
OTIS NOT TO BE RECALLED.
NOTHING TO INDICATE THAT TEE
PRESIDENT rs DISSATISFIED.
An Arrre..i,. Complain Against Aruln.lds

AN hRkreonive ChmphtHn AEatuet Akuinalu
May he Begun "a Early rs Oct. I. an
1t IL to He Pushed with the Utmost viRo
| No Friction Between Otis and LAwton
WARRINGTON. Sept. I'll the President an
Secretary OF War have in contemplation an
change in the command Of the army In tn
| Philippines they are not taking anybody int
| their confidence. Those who are very init
/ mate with the President are as evidently 10
| norant q his views on that question a. tn
rest Of the country is. and the of1cial adviserI
OF Secretary Root are apparently equal!
unenliRhtened. 1t may be said without an,
violation OF confidence that II Major Gen. Miei
believes that q change In the command OF tn,
military force In the islands 10 desirable. he hal
not mentioned 1t to the President or the Sec
rotary OF War. and does not know thai
President Mckinley and Secretary Roo
have given any consideration to the
matter. The most careful inquiry to-
day in quarters usually we'll inform cd
failed to disclose anything to indicate thai
President Mckinley and Secretary Root have
given a moments consideration recently to
suggestions that some other officer than Gen
Otis be placed In supreme command in the
Philippines. Despite statements to the con-
trary. the matter was not mentioned at Mon.
days Cabinet meeting.
Gen. Otis Is not without staunch and infiuen
tial friends here. although a contrary pres
sion appears to have obtained circulation. and
they answer Inquiries As to whether his
recall has been considered by the Yankee
method Of making another inquiry OF the ques
toner. Can anybody show any good reason
why Otis should be superseded ?" is their
way OF putting 1t. One OF them said Just
that to-day to THE Sun reporter. and he added
that he was not aware that any considcra-
oil To hn ttar
The remarks Of this man are mentioned be-
cause he Is an oficial OF high nding. and 1t
would be breach OF Official etiquette IL the
President and the Secretary OF War ignored
him 10 considering so i'm portant q question a.
changing the commander OF tho Philippines
army.
Secretary Root declined to discuss the sub
ject OF the recall or subordination OF Gen. Otis.
He said to TIE SUN reporter that he had moth
ing moro to say than he said to newspaper
mon last month when he returned from one Of
his visits to President Mckinley at Lake Cham
plain. The impression gained from the Secre-
tary's remarks by THE SUN reporter who saw
him at that time was that Gen. Otis
would remain in command. In connection
with all the present talk about Gen. Otis tho
answers given by Mr.. Root to other questions
asked him to day may be considered signif-
cant. He was asked IL there were any pros
poets Of tho beginning Of an aggressive move
ment By the Americans as early as Oct. l.
You will have to find out that from Gen.
Otis" answered the Secretary smilingly. He
was then asked II any date could be set for tho
opening OF the military campaign and he re-
piled: That will be determined by those on
the spot"
1t was suggested to Mr.. Root that Brig. Gen.
Harrison Gray Otis, who recently returned to
this country from the Philippines. had said
that the dry season did not begin until the
first Of December. Tho Secretary responded
that the seasons in the Philippines were very
variable. In some years the rainy season
lasted longer than in others. But then. he
added. we may not wait for tho ending OF the
rainy season"
Whatever there may be In the reports that
Gen. Otis Is to be recalled to the United States
or relieved OF supreme command In the Philip
pines. 1t is certain that the Government 10 de-
termined that the coming campaign shall be
pushed with vigor. and that 1t shall DO opened
at the earliest date possible. The Impression
Is general in military circles that tho agrees
sive movement will begin In tho island OF
Luzon much sooner than people have been led
to believe.
II the President and Secretary Root share
this impression or have knowledge that such
is the case. their failure to select by this time
a new commanding-general for the islands
from the general officers now In tho United
States. apparently indicates that Gen. Otis Is
to be retained In charge OF military
operations. He 10 the senior off1cer
in the Philippines and could not be
to any officer now there
To make change OF commanders immedi-
ately it would be necessary to recall him, as all
tho officers In the islands are. OF course. his
juniors in rank. both In the regular and volun-
teer service. 1t would take at least six weeks.
perhaps two months. for an officer now
in the United States detailed to supersede
Gen. Otis to reach Manila. An early opening
Of the campaign would. therefore. find Gen
Otis in command unless he were eramptorily
recalled, leaving Major-Gen. Lawton as the
senior officer in tho islands. and. by virtue Of
that seniority. Governor General OF the Philip
pines and military commander OF the United
States forces.
There has been much talk Of friction between
Gen. Otis and Gen. Lawton. A letter recently
received from Gen. Lawton by a friend in
indicated that Gen. Lawton be-
loved that Gen. Otis had the kindliest feeling
for him and was convinced OF his
military ability. There was nothing
In that letter that would tend to give
the impression that Gen. Lawton did
not like Gen. Otis or thought him unified to
command an army in war. 1t was ascertained
to- day that Gen. Otis had recently sent an
official message here which showed that he
was staunch supporter Of Cen Lawton. both
as man and military commander
All the evidence obtainable falls to Indicate
that the President and Secretary Root are dis.
satisfied with Gen. Otis but then, practically
nothing OF what they think about him In novn
As was said in The SUN this morning, there
Is an undercurrent Of feeling In military circles
that Gen. Otis is not the man for the place at
this critical time. The President has presum-
ably looked into tho reasons urged by those
who want to secure the detachment OF Gen.
Otis from supreme command In tho islands.
but. as said In the beginning OF this despatch.
he is keeping his own counsel. sharing 1t only,
from all signs, with Secretary Roof