The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-08
AN AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN.
Gen. Otis May Take MaIaIOs and Gen.
Miller OccunY IIOiIn

Miller Occupy IIOiIO.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.-NaturalIy there
was a great deal of speculation in military
circles to-day as to General Otis's future
conduct of affairs in the Philippines. but to
some extent this must remain speculation.
inasmuch as Secretary Alger has said that
the general is to be left to follow his own
discretion. To assist him to correct under
standing cf the diplomatic situation he has
been cabled the fun text of the peace treaty
ratified yesterday. Secretary Alger this
morning also sent the following cablegram
to General Otis: Accept my best cangratu-
lations upon your magnificent victory of
sunday, all the more creditable because you
were not the aggressor'
The question of pushing the campaign
against the Fiipinos was fully discussed at
to-days Cabinet meeting, and the conclusion
was reached that before permanent peace or
security of life and property could be Sc
cured Aguinaldo's forces must be made to
lay down their arms. 1t is therefore expect-
ed that General Otis, in cooperation with
Admiral Dewey will push forward at once
and give the insurgents no chance to recover
from the defeat of last Sunday. So far as
can be learned no positive instructions have
yet been cabled to our commanders at Ma
of the administration, presumably based on
cable advices from Manila, that this course
will be pursued. Iloilo may be occupied by
the American naval forces, and it is ex-
pected that General Otis will move imme-
diately on Malalos, the insurgent capital
and capture or disperse the so-called Fill
pino government. The more closely the in
surgents are pressed and the more vigorous
and determined the campaign, it is said, the
sooner we may expect peace.
The forward movement at Iloio, where
General Miller has been for weeks lying in
front of the town in his transports, may not
begin for few days. He has never had any
doubt of his ability to take the place when
ever he got the word, but there has been
restraining influence from Washington,
based in part on the hope that the insurgents
could be brought to a peaceful retirement
from the town and an apprehension that an
effort to force landing might result in
serious injury to foreign interests. Now,
however, 1t is felt that the latter are per-
haps more In jeopardy from continuance
OF the existing state of affairs than they
would be through a rapid seizure of the
town General Miller now has with him the
Nineteenth Infantry and a battalion of ar
tillery, and 1t is likely that he will be
strongly reinforced before the attempt is
made to take Iloilo.
OTIS NEEDS NO INSTRUCTIONS.
Secretary Alger was asked this morning
If ne had sent or was about to send imme-
diately any instructions to General Otis as
a result Of yesterdays developments, which
developments We're taken in some quarters
as charging his legal field of operations
The secretary replied: mo. sir. II does not
appear that General Otis is in need Of any
Instructions of any character just now" AS
near as can be learned that just expresses
the determination of the administration in
respect TO Manila and to the programme
of the future. The President. as well as
Secretary Alger, has unlimited confidence in
Continued ON Second PnEe.J