Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-08

NOS WERE LARGELY ARMED
WITH LATEST PATTERN MAUSER
RIFLES, WHICH WE'RE NOT Sc
CURED FROM SPAIN OR THE
SPANISH SOLDIERS.
Washington, February 1.-THE war
department to-day received the follow
ing dispatch from Gen. Otis:
Manila, February Z.
Adjutant General, Washington:
The insurgent army concentrated
around Manila from Luzon provinces,
numbering over 10000, possessing sew
eral quick-fring and Krupp field guns.
Good portion of army armed with Maui
sers, latest pattern. Two Krupp and
great many rifles captured. Insurgents
fired great quantity of ammunition.
Quite a number of Spanish soldiers in
insurgent service who served artillery.
Insurgents constructed strong in
trenchments near our lines, mostly in
bamboo thickets. These our men
charged, killing or capturing many OF
the enemy. Our casualties probably
aggregate $50 Full reports to-day.
Casualties Of insurgents very heavy.
Have buried some 500 of their dead and
hold 500 prisoners. Their loss killed,
wounded and prisoners probably 1000.
Took water works pumping station yes
terday, six miles out. Considerable
skirmish with enemy which made no
stand. Pumps damaged: will be work
ing in week Have number of con-
densers set up in city, which furnish
good water. Troops in excellent spir-
it's Quiet prevails.
Secretary Alger was asked if he had
sent, or was about to send Immediately,
any instructions to Gen. Otis based on
yesterdays developments, which de-
velopments in some quarters were TAX
en- as charging his legal field of oper-
ations The Secretary replied: NO,
sir; it does not appear that Gen. Otis
is in need of any instructions of any
character just now"
As near as can be learned, that ex-
presses the determination of the adj
ministration in respect to the situation
at Manila and the programme for the
future. The President, as well as Sec
rotary Alger, has unlimited confidence
in Gen. Otis; and as Adjutant General
COrbin was actually responsible for
his selection to command the American
forces in MALTA, it is apparent that
Gen. Otis can count upon the most loyal
support in his operations so long as
he continues to acquit himself with
credit as he has done. What gives the
officials particular qualification is the
fact, as set out in Secretary Ayers
cablegram, that Gen. Otis carefully
avoided allowing the U. S. forces from
being put in the position as was sought
by the insurgents of being the agrees
sOrs in the conflict Of Sunday night.
No matter how the Filipinos and their
sympathiZerS may seek to create the
impression that the Americans, by fir
ing on the Filipinos who were running
the American guard line, really took
the initiative in the action, no person
having the least idea of military law, it
is said at the War Department, could
question the duty imposed upon the
American guards of firing upon the
men. Just a week prior to the out
break some of the Filipinos who had
sneaked through the lines, sought to
assassinate some of the American SOL
diers, so that it was necessary for the
latter to take no chances in maintain
ing the integrity of their lines especial
ly during the night hours. Gratifica-
ton is also expressed at the state Of
preparedness of Gen. Otis forces, as
revealed by the alacrity with which the
troops got into action in the night,
thoroughly justifying Gen. Otis state
ment to the War Department that he
had the situation well in hand
Gen. Otis is absolute master of his
own movements and it is assumed that
he will take any steps within his power
necessary to protect Manila and the
American forces from further attempts
upon their safety by the insurgents.
Regarded in its widest sense, this
amounts to a belief that the American
forces not only will take strong de-
fensive position all along the advanced
lines, but that they will not hesitate
to push forward to crush out any fur
Their attempted gathering of the Fill
pinos in force.
The character Of the arms carried by
the insurgents, as set out in Gen. Otis
cablegram posted this morning, caused
a mild sensation among the army Off
GERS on duty at the department. None
of them cared to be quoted in comment
upon the statements made by Gen. Otis,
but one expert declared that so far as
he was informed, the latest pattern of
Mausers that the Spanish troops in
Manila had were dated as far back as
1896, while the latest pattern, such as
described by the cablegram, was right
up TO date, seeming to indicate that
they had not been obtained by capture
or gift from the Spanish, but from some
other source. Under international law
citizens of neutral states may sell arms
TO insurgents at the risk Of having
them captured as contraband on the
way to delivery, and these arms must
have been smuggled from some of the
Asiatic ports recently. However, as
Otis and Dewey undoubtedly have
taken steps to cut of the future supply
of ammunition, and the insurgents are
wasting great quantities, these arms
soon viii be of much less value.
Secretary Alger this morning sent the
following cablegram TO Gen Otis at
Manila: