The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1899-11-02

(tfom our own Correspondent. }

Wsshiagtoa Letter.
Utfom our own Correspondent.)
President Mckinley, since his re-
turn to Washington, has expressed
his qualification at the general mani
; festation of patriotism that greeted
him everywhere on the trip. He is
Satisfied that the masses of the peo-
pie, irrespective of party preferences,
are in favor of maintaining the
American flag in the Philippines. at
any rate until Congress passes upon
the question. The President is now
busy on the preparation of his mes
sage to Congress. The other two
members o. the Philippine Commits
sion will soon be in Washington, and
together with Admiral Dewey and
President Schurman will make their
detailed report aud recommendations,
upon which the President will base
his suggestions to Congress. 1t is re-
garded as certain that the President
will recommend that our sovereignty
be maintained permanently, but with
civil government to succeed the mill
tary. as soon as the latter has repress-
ed armed insurrection, and wide lati-
tude to be SLOWED the various sec.
tions in self government under
American supervision.
Secretary Root explains the reason
why some of the towns recently taken
by our troops in the Philippines were
not held, rs follows: "There are pecu-
liar conditions in the Philippines.
Our troops cannot live in water up
to their waists. The whole country
is flooded and during the rainy sea-
SOB our soldiers must be chartered
in some kind of barracks. We are
holding certain lines, and to do so it
is necessary that we occupy towns
where proper quarters can be pro-
vided. While occupying these places,
the insurgents were annoying Us, and
it became necessary to chastise them.
They were driven some distance be-
yond our lines, and in pursuing them
our troops entered other places. They
could not remain in these towns,
owing to the absence of proper quar-
tsrs. and having accomplished their
purpose Of driving the enemy be-
yond the established military lines,
returned to their former stations.
That is why towns taken by Ameri-
cans have not always been occupied"
As there are some criticism Of the
hospital service in the Philippines,
Secretary of War Root called for
reports from several sources as to the
real condition of affairs. There are
four permanent hospitals in Manila
with 1000 beds. These have never
been filed, the largest nsmber Of sick
at any ore time having been 1S47.
The army has 1892 hospital tents be-
sides, each meant to accommodate
elk patients, 80 that 1882 more sick
soldiers can be cared for. The army
with Otis has double the number Of
medical officers usually supplied to an
army of its size. besides . full regi-
mcnt of hospital stewards and nurses,
most Of whom have had medf:al
training. It has been the policy of
the department whenever requisi-
tions have been made to send double
the quantity asked for a. a precau-
tjon against suffering and neglect.
Director of Posts vairle reports to
the Postmaster General that there
has never been . censorship of mail
matter for the United States at
Manila. Mr.. Vaille says: II wish to
state positively that there has never
been a single letter for the States
opened in this Office by anyone after
it was mailed at this Office and before
it's. dispatch to the States"
The Government will forward free
from San Francisco any Christmas
boxes for officers or troops in the
Philippines. that are delivered prior
to November Goth to Major O. F.
Long, Army Transport Service, San
Francisco Christmas boxes will also
be forwarded free from New York if
delivered there before November 1st
to Major F. B. Jones, Pier %, Colum-
bia Stores, Brooklyn. All packages
must be marked "Christmas Box"
giving the company and regiment Of
those to whom they are sent. Boxes
must not weigh over 20 pounds,
should not contain perishable matter,
and express charges to New York or
San Francisco must be paid.
Acting on the advice Of his phYsi-