The times., 1899-02-16
THE PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN.
The Recommendations CT Generals
Miles and Merritt.


The correspondence of the Adjutant Gen.
erals Office relating to the campaign
in the Philippine Islands and Porto Rico.
a copy OF which was obtained yesterday.
gives some interesting information about
the recommendations made for the Philip
pine expedition by Mai. Gen. Wesley Mer-
ritt and Major General Miles. President
Mckinley personally selected General Mer-
ritt to command the expedition. and it was
after an interview with the President that
General Merritt sent the following letter;
Mr. President: | have the honor To furnish
the following my estimate OF troops necessary
TO constitute expedition to the Philippines
with fair chance of success after arriving there.
In this connection desire 10 point in very EN-
phatic terms the fact that the volunteers from
the Northwest not well drilled or discip-
/ lined as those from any State in the East in
I terror. Foo that reason urgently request the
number of regular troops have asked for.
| In his estimate appended General Mer-
ritt asked for the following forces:
Regulars-Four regiments of infantry,
/ two squadrons cavalry, two field batteries,
one mountain battery.
| Yolunteers-Six regiments infantry. one
/ squadron cavalry, two field batteries, one
| mountain battery. two compani-s OF reg
! ular engineers and necessary men for hos
| pital and signal corps.
This said General Merritt, would
give about II 600 electives on landing and
taking the field. 1t is agreed that these
must go in two detachments, about one
half at time"
Several days later General Miles ssnt 10
! the Secretary OF War his recommendations
for the Philippine expedition. He said:
In order to make the United States forces az
strong and effective possible, with a view to
its maintaining our possessions and our fag in
the Philippine Islands md at the same time rc-
/ lieve our navy speedily possible. suggest
that the command sent there consist OF the
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Infantry, two squat
rons Fourth Cavalry, one battery heavy artillery
from :he Sev NTH and two batteries OF Light ar
tillery from the seventh, and in addition t2,g27
volunteers from California, Colorado, Kansas,
Montana. Nebraska, Oregon, Utah Washington,
North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, Wyoming,
and Minnesota, already designated
General Miles communication was at
once forwarded to General Merritt for re-
mark. The latter answered on the 18th
of May. saying:
consider the composition of the force outlined
by the Major General Commanding the Army as
I unsuited 10 the ends to be accomplished and in
sufficient in efficiency for the expedition to the
Philippines.
Two regiments OF regular infantry. two-thirls
of i regiment of cavalry, and two light batteries
is very small proportion Of the f0rty-two reg
uiar regiments IN the army when inc NOFG 10 he
done consists OF cOnqueIine territory 200
miles from our base defended by q regularly
/ trained and acclmated army Of from l0G0O TO 2j,
| 900 men and inhabited by 100000 people the
| majority OF whom will regard with the intense
/ hatred born OF and religion. Besides. il
l am not greatly mistaken, the suggested command
1 is only on paper, the Fourteenth Infantry 3
/ only partially available
/ When this reached the Major General
Commanding he again endorsed it. stating:
! The reference to the Spanish troops is believed
/ to be very much exaggerated. No reports have
been received thus Tar that there Is anything like
the number indicated in the above endorsement,
while the population OF that territory IS probably
nearer One-half the number stated. The number
OF troops already ordered to the Philippine Islands
IS three times many as Admiral Dewey called
/ for. The force ordered at this time is not
| pectcd to carry on war 10 conquer an extensive
territory, and the chief object of the within letter
was TO suggest means OF quickly establishing
strong garrison 10 command the harhOr Of Ma1ild
and to relieve the United States feet under Adj
mral Dewey with the least possible delay. This,
| in nv Judgment, i of pre-emnent Importance.