The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-06
The BATTLE AT MANILA.


Otis has been made public:
To the Adjutant General.
Insurgents in large force opened at
tack on our outer lines at S:45 p. m. last
evening. Renewed attack several times
during the night. At 4 o'clock this
morning entire line engaged. All at
tacks repulsed. At daybreak advanced
against insurgents and have driven
them beyond the lines they formerly
occupied, capturing several villages and
their defense works; inSurgent loss in
dead and wounded large; our own casu-
aIt1eS thus far estimated at IFS, very
few fatal. Troops enthusiastic and act
ing fearlessly. Navy did splendid execu-
ton on fianks of enemy; city held in
surgents have secured good many
Mauser rifles, a few field pieces and
quick firing guns, with ammunition,
during the last month. OTIS.
Otis in Control.
New York Feb. 6-The Evening
World today prints the following dis
patch:
York: We control situation Engage
ment which continued for the twenty
four hours ending last evening was sat
isfactory. (Signed) OTIS"
A Shock at Washington.
Washington, Feb. 6.-The news of the
fighting at Manila came like a shock,
for the administration which, though
dpprlSeQ CnaC an ugly S1UuaI1On prevail
ed in the Philippines, had clung steadily
to the hope that by patience, actual
fighting might be averted, for even
those public men who felt hostilities
would follow should the treaty be rati-
fed and the United States attempt to
occupy the islands, believed Aguinaldo
would not force the fighting when the
treaty of peace was in it's most critical
stage. Some sensational opponents of
ratification of the treaty adhere to that
position but general opinion in Wash
ington is that the news from Manila in
SureS ratification of the treaty.
The situation is regarded here as
rather anomalous from a diplomatic
standpoint. Legally the FiHpfnoS are
still Spanish subjects. Therefore if op-
erationS continue outside of the limits
of Manila, as laid down in the protocol,
it will amount to a resumption of war
with Spain, at least technically.
Officials noted one little flaw in
Dewey's dispatch, in which he spoke of
orally successful conveying just the
least intimation, that at some points
results were not as satisfactory as at
others. 1t is inferred here that this
might mean a development of weakness
at some of more exposed points on the
American lines, which might be easily
explained by the fact that the attack
was made at night, perhaps in places
where the insurgents could creep close
up to the shelter of the tropical jungle
that grows nearly into the town of Ma
Mia
Every confidence, however, is felt that
Otis is master of the situation.
Fine Body Of Troops.
These troops with those in Cuba rep
resent the cream of the American army
according to General Corbin. 1t is true
that only about 5000 of General Otis
soldiers and regulars, but his volunteer
soldiers have been under thorough dis
cipline and training for months, some
as much as eight months and many
participated in the engagements attend
ing the capture of Manila and are prac-
ticalIy as good as the regulars.
No one here knows the real strength
of the insurgents opposed to General
Otis. The accounts of their number are
conflicting and none OF them comes
from reliable sources. Still the best
belief of the authorities at the war de-
10000 men but they are not comparable
to the American forces in personnel,
discipline or quality of arms. 1t is
known they have some Mausers, some
RemingtonS and a variety of other fire
arms and it is suspected thev have
been quite plentifully supplied with am
munftion from outside sources. Taken
as a whole this armament is decidedly
inferior to that of the American troops
Then with inexperienced officers, in
many cases even the cOlonelS of regi-
mentS being not more than q years of
age, and their lack of knowledge of tao
tics, they are at a great disa advantage
Their strong point is their knowledge
of the country and a certain fanatica1
bravery in onslaught that would be
formidable to a volunteer not we'll
trained.
No Fear for Otis.