The evening times., 1899-05-29
MONDAY. MAY %, 1899.
Summer i'm the Philippines.

Summer I'm the Philippines.
On Saturday last the War Department
had its hand on its heart assuring the
press that all the newspaper talk about the
insufiiciency OF Otis force TO suppress the
mutiny and occupy captured places was
CANNON and spinach. The War Depart
ment is a great doctrinal institution, and
its cardinal principle is that the public
should believe in it on faith without the
least possible reference to its works.
Everyone who has followed the Luzon
campaign. from the outbreak in Manila to
the present time. knows that the discredt-
ed newspaper accounts are true, and proba-
bly, more than true, since not all the facts
are allowed to get on the cable through
a rigorous news censorship. 1t is un-
doubted that Otis is seriously handicapped
by the smallness of his force. II he were
not he would have held all the places with
Unpronounceable names that his troops
have taken; whereas they have been aban
doned and. confessedly. most of them are
again in the possession of the rebels.
Our morning Manila dispatches inform
us that Lawtons withdrawal from San
Fernando has been promptly followed by
native reoccupation, and that Aguinaldo's
followers are once more swarmng in its
vicinity. In brief. the advent CT the rainy
season finds us in control only of a line
from Cavite TO Manila and thence along the
Dagupan railway 10 Malalos. The country
outside of that line, although we have
swept il as with broom Of fire, has been
handed over 10 the mutineers.
IL is possible and perhaps even probable
that if the DENLY meddiers had been kept
away our general could have ended the in
surrection before field operations became
impracticable. The plan and execution OF
his campaign, on the face of things, prove
what he felt he had to do and was doing
successfully when the civilians in cooked
mats, gold-laced blue coats, and red
breeches came along to spoil his game. 1t
Is perfectly evident that, knowing he had
not enough men to hold and garrison a
Large area OF country, Otis expected to
bring the Tagals to an abject surrender
by whipping them day after day and keep
ing them on the run until they were worn
out and glad to quit. This was the cnly
campaign policy open 10 him under the
circumstances, and it is positively shame
full that it should have been defeated by
the innocent, but not the less effective.
assistance the civilian Commissioners
gave to the mutiny By suspending hostili-
ties-the suspension being altogether fav-
orable TO the enemy, who never had any
idea other than to gain delay through
season should set in.
The mischief is done now, and everybody
regrets it, with the possible exception of
firms. corporations, and individuals in
terested in the prolongation of hostilities.
A summer campaign, with all its incidents
of sickness and hardship, becomes neces-
sity. There will be no thought of aban-
doning the enterprise of subduing the ISL
ands. Our flag is there and the soil has
become sacred American soil, since it has
been watered with American blood Otis
must be re-enforced. and adequately. Pres
ident Mckinley must not permit himself TO
be longer placed in the attitude Of Mr..
Facing Both Ways His Administration
is afraid to call out the volunteers pro-
vided by law; afraid of possible political
consequences, and afraid that a call would
lead to a general demand that new head
be given to the War Department. But,
soon or late, Mr.. Mckinley will have to
take the bull by the horns and again ask
the youth of the Union to rally to the
defence OF the colors and avenge the
slaughter of their brethren in the Far
East.
The rumor OF Aguinaldo's death may be
true or false; it is unimportant which.
His semi savage horde has Aguinaldos in
plenty. The mutiny will only be Guelled
by the sternest and most unrelenting war
fare and by overwhelming numbers. And
whatever measures are to be taken should
be taken at once. for it is far cry from
Washington to Manila.