The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-08-30
Called Lawton Back In
Critical Time.
Peace Commission The Worst
Farce Imaginable.

MacQusen, pastor of the Day street Con-
eregational church. Someryille. and au-
thor OF Around the World with the
Flag" has returned from Manila on the
transport sherman.
MIR. MacQueen was with the army
nearly six months. and most of that time
on the firing line. He has eaten and
bunked with Gen. Lanton, Gen. Hale,
Gen. Wheaton ami Gen. Macarthur and
their staffs, and he has camped with and
shared the rations of the men. He had
exceptional privileges for obtaining in
formation.
"The weakness of the whole affair in
the Philippines is in having Gen. Otis
act as military and civil governor" said
he. ''Gen. Otis is not competent to con-
duct the affairs Of the dual position. He
never saw the firing lines and has no
personal knowledge. of the exigepoies of
the situation.
He cannot direct military operations
successfully and attend to mis- executive
duties at the same tune; he has not the
capacity. Every soldier and civilian with
whom talked says the same. In my six
months stay found not one man who
would say that Gen. Otis is a competent
officer.
"There are few who desire his rsten-
tion as civil governor, but for financial
reasons only.
"Gen. Otis IL constantly calling Gen.
Lawtun back. When Gen. Lawton went
out there ths entire army thought be
would assume command. In fact, one
could infer nothing else from orders Ia
gYlad Inv IA liam ~ he uelA
iers were noticeably encouraged and in
fact, jnbilant.
when he arrived, and it was learned
that he was subordinate to the dishearten-
Ing conditions that had prevailed for SO
many weary months, the Evolutionary
had finer body of troops than
those volunteers and regulars. but they
chafed and fretted over their inactioD and
desultory policy. Lawton knew this
and l trust / aInHnot betraying conf
denoe when say that Gen. Lawton was
In sympathy with his men.
II have the most positive and ooDviBc-
ing evidence that IL Gen. Lawton had been
permitted TO carry out his desires ON the
18th of March the war would have been
practically ended. Aguinaldo was with
the flower of his army at Maieios, and
Macarthur was in his front. There was
only one route by which Aguinaldo could
escape. Lawton desired to execute a move
ment by ths right flank and take
Aguinaldo's army in the rear.
1.-THE insurgents then would have been
between Lawton and Macarthur.
Aguina1do could not have moved off by
bis right flank, owing to the bay, and
his left flank would have been covered
by Lawton, while his at ir MT was Mac
Arthur's brigade.
sit was movement that could have
been easily executed, but 1t was not per-
skaftf tod
to escape. After he had done 50 the order
to advance on Malolus we Is issued
sin the San Isidro campaign Gen. Law
ton fought 20 battles In 20 days, march
ing 100 miles. destroyed 100000 pounds of
rice and established civil government
In two towns. After one battle we
counted 400 dead Filipinos.
AT San Rafael Sen. Lawton, with a
part Of his forces. cut his way through
tine centre of the insurgent forces under
Gen. Sregorio Pillar. After gaining their
rear he deployed his men in line of bat
tie and soon had them in retreat.
AT this time Gen. Llwton was six
miles beyond Angat, the terminus of the
| Held telegraph line. Shortly after he be-
gan his dash for the Insurgents centre a
telegram for him was received from Gen.
Otis in Manila. 1t was not deli yered.
Then kilograms from Otis began pouring
In, all to the effect. 'Where Is the com.
| manding gsnerals'
"Fiye OF those kilograms wers received,
| but rot a COURIER had the heart to deliver
them. Gen. Lawton brought mp his
brigade OF $500 men and had the Fiiipnos
In full route when the queries from Gen.
| Otis became 50 important that q courier
galloped to the front and delivered them.
"This was Gen. Lawton's reply: AT
the front with his army, where he ought
to be-
"a construction of impertinence might
be placed on that, but one not ON the
ground can have no conception of the
proyocation. for Gen. Lawton seemed to
realize what was coming. 1t WAS not long
delayed. Immediately after the reply
had been received Gen. Otis telegraphed:
Withdraw your command six miles to
Angat'
81 will not say how this order was re.
ceived at field headquarters. Gen. Law
ton had moved his entire brigade, artillery
| and wagon trains, had routed the enemy
and now had to release the fruit Of his
victory.
"The sole cause OF the issuance of that
order by Gen. Otis was his receipt of a
mt ssage TO the effect that representative
from Aguinaldo was on his way to ar
range for an armistice. The reprss sntatiye
arrived In the form of a second lieuten-
ant.
"Gen Otis refused to treat with him,
and ordered Gen. Lawton 10 again ad-
Fdnoe On 7hn nAIaali Dut OF course no In
surgents were found. Now this Ia not a
matter OF hearsay; 1t came within my
knowledge and is matter of record.
There Is not IA Filipino In the island
that wants the American form of govern
ment. There WAS tims when the con-
quest of the Islands might haye been
completed with comparatively little
blooeshed, and that was Immediately ar
ter Dewey's victory. Since that tine the
policy has been such AS to encourage their
resi- aDcs.
You are told tkas The only plan is TO
exterminate the 1agalcs You mt 81 take
into consideration that the Iasalos mum,
Der =. COG, coo people and that the island of
Luzon along is an smifeHs, Territory.
'6en. Lawtou told me they are as
brave RAGS Of people as he ever met