Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-30
PROVISIONAL
army CALL
MAY Be Made by the President
In a Short Time
UNDER LAST ARMY ACT
The Government Realizes That More
Men Mus! Be Sent to the
Philippines at Once.
UNDER LAST ARMY ACT

New York. May 3C.~-A special :, the
Herald from Washington says: The Sit
uation in the Philippine islands as de-
scrihed in recent dispatches is such as t..
make it almost necessary to raise at least
a part of the provisional army authorized
by the last congress-, if the United States
expects to secure complete control of the
archipelago. The administration has been
brought to realize that it is no longer war
and diplomacy in dealing with the insur-
gents. but plain war. Diplomacy and the
commission must take back seats until
The enemy has been completely whipped
and forced to surrender. Gen. Otis has
not a sufficient numbe Of men to accom-
plish this end. 1t is believed that he has
so informed the war department, but the
officials Will not admit it. They do adj
init, however, that the outlook for an
early peace is very gloomy and that more
troops are badly needed in the Philip
pines. Just how to meet this situation is
a question which confronts them and re-
quires prompt decision.
Although Gen. Otis states tina he will
continue an aggressive campaign during
the rainy season, it is appreciated that he
Will be able to DO little more than garli-
son some of the points which the forces
under Gems. Macarthur and Lawton have
taken and hold them until the rainy sea-
son is over. 1t is also plain that there will
be more or less illness during this period
Of bad weather and that when the cam
paign is resumed the force capable Of ac.
tive warfare will be materially reduced.
Including the 1000 troops now on their
way or under orders for service in the
Philippines, Gen. Otis will nave only %, 900
regular troops under his command. With
10000 regular troops in Cuba and Porto
Rico, there will be only II 1000 regulars left
in the United States. The question, there
fore, hinges on whether it will be prudent
to further draw on the regular forces in
the United States in order to ugume
Gen. Otis forces in the Philippines. Those
opposed to organizing a provisional army
favor sending more regulars to the Phil
lpplnes and also enlisting some Of the
F%ilipinOs. But another element in the
war department is opposed to half way
measures in dealing with the situation.
They arc urging the president to issue at
Gree a call for at least POO, 900 for a pro-
visional army, t!at it nay be organized.
trained n sent to the Philippines in
time to begin an aggressive campaign in
the early autumn 1t is expected the
president will discuss all phases of the
situation with the cabinet Tuesday and
reach an early decision.
Secretary Alger has been advised by
Gen. Otis that he has appointed, as a
board to pass upon all claims against the
United States, Lieut.. Col. F. Fl. Crowder,
Judge advocate: Maj. G. y. Gauntbrien,
Second Oregon volunteers, and Capt. H.
A. Green, Twentieth infantry. This
board is also to meet a commission repre-.
senting the Spanish government to cxpe-
lite the settlement of the claims of
Spain in the Philippines. 1t is expected
that the joint commission. will consider
the question Of the compensation for the
armament and Qualifications around Ma
Mia that should be allowed to Spain UNI
der the terms of the treaty of peace.