The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-04

WASHINGTON, Jan. General Otis
commanding at Manila has cabled the
War Department that in his opinion,
General Miller has the situation well in
hand at IlOilo, and that ne fully under
stands the purpose of the President not
10 crowd the insurgents unduly. 1t is
highly desirable that a hostile collision
between the American forces and the
insurgents be avoided At all hazards; at
least pending the ratification" of the
Paris treaty, and as General Miller un-
derstandS now this purpose on the part
of the President, he viii be guided by
ii and may be relied upon to resort to
force only under absolute compulsion.
The officials here are now fully salts
fed that the trouble at Iloilo may be
traced. directly back to the Spanish
colonel who was the senior Spanish
army officer in the Philippine group,
and recently in command of the Wis
ava group, including the island of Pa
nay and the city and garrison of uoilo.
General Otis reports show that, though
besieged with his 500 soldiers in Iloilo
Is superior force, the position of the
Spanish was thoroughly tenable. They
had TepulSed every attack of the in
surgents and had inflicted great. loss
upon the latter, and altogether there
was no reason why they should not
practically the case in view of the
knowledge of the Spaniards, that. by
the terms OF the treaty, the United
States Government has undertaken TO
carry them back to Spain, involving, of
course, their release from the siege at
The earliest possible moment.
1t is significant that Rios delayed the
evacuation of Iloilo until he became in
formed that the Americans were COM
ing. and there is curiosity here to learn
how that important information reach
ed Iloilo in advance of the movements
Of the American transports and in the
absence of cable connections. IN
d0ubtedly, it was conveyed by vessel.
and there may be a question raised as
10 the legitimacy of the transmission of
news Of the intentions of the American
troops in advance ~ this fashion.
One feature of General Otis report
that has escaped mention so far is his
notice Of the approaching meeting of
the so-called Filipino Parliament,
which is to gather presumably at Ma
la]Os, about twenty miles from Manila,
on the island Of Luzon on Thursday
next A good deal Of interest is at
tached to this meeting, as General Otis
reports that, by the attendance. the
strength of Aguinaldo's party can be
gagged. That this is waning rapidly is
not doubted, and General Otis feels
that when the attempt is made TO con-
Vene the Parliament it will be found
that AguinaldO has lost his control OF
the majority and cannot command even
working coalition. Such state OF
affairs would tend to make easier the
task Of the military authorities of the
United States Of establishing peace
fully a temporary form of government
for the Philippines that will command
the. support of the people and receive
the approval Of the civilized world.
no No rlr1hl
thn proclamation by President McKin-
ley. which was cabled from Washing
ton to him about a week ago. Feeling
fun Of confidence in his judgment. the
officials here are not disposed to ques-
ton his Withholding the proclamation
from the Filipinos. though it would
seem that the main purpose in pre-
pairing and cabling it was to soothe and
satisfy the FilipinOs and counteract. the
insidious attacks the Spanish element
has been making Upon the integrity Of
American intentions respecting the
Philippines
Admiral Dewey was heard from by
cable at the Navy Department to-day,
bat made no reference to the political
situation in the islands,. He reported
that he had found a building suitable
for a naval hospital at Cavite and ask
ed authority from the department to
establish 1t at once. It was not gath
cred that there is an unusual amount
Of sickness among the American sail
Ors, but realizing that the naval occu-'
patton Of Manila Bay is to be of per-
manent character, Admiral Dewey
Wishes to establish a shore hospital
Secretary Long called upon Surgeon
General Van Reypen. and after a con-
sultation they cabled Admiral Dewey
authority to establish the hospital.
Medical Inspector Remus c. Parsons
was selected to take charge of it and
has been ordered to start at once from
New York. The necessary assistants
will he selected from among the medi-
ii naicn,c Of Admiral DeMeYrS. feet