The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-28
SITUATION NOT ALARMING.
Nothing Has Happened to Warrant Any
Apprehension.

Washington, February 27.-There is moth.
ing in the situation at Manila to cause
alarm for the safety of the American
troops, In the opinion of well informed off,
cials Since General Otis cabled Saturday
evening to this effect there has come no
word from him tending to qualify the
statement in any sense.
Admiral Dewey has not been heard from
further, according to Secretary Long, anJ
from this absence of positive news the off,
cials draw the conclusion that nothing has
happened to warrant apprehension.
Respecting the reported landing of for
elgn marines at Manila, not a word of con-
irmaton has been received al either the
war department or the navy department.
A press dispatch received several days ago
mentioned the landing of a few British
blue jackets each evening to wet down tho
British consulate, a measure OF protection
from fire during the intensely dry season
in the Philippines, and 1t Is probable that
this is the foundation for the Madrid story
of a general landing.
Some notice is beginning to be taken
here of the markedly hostile reports that
are being cabled to Madrid by Senor Rios,
and which tend only to increase the fric-
ton. Technically, Rios is a prisoner of war
and his actions are subject to the COM
pete control of the United States officers
at Manila.
Misstatements of Facts
His reports, it is said in official circles
here, have been uniformly mis-statements
of facts or gross distortions of them, with
the plain purpose of giving a false impress
sion of the weakness of the American po-
sition In the Philippines, perhaps with a
deliberate purpose to justify some of the
powers to recognize the belligerency of the
insurgents, The latter are believed to be
suffering from the lack OF war supplies,
and such recognition at the hands of even
~ l,Rax Aoafn
der or the China sea, would be of the
greatest assistance to their cause.
Just why Rios is going to Zamboagna, as
announced from Manila, is not known here,
but 1t is presumed that General Otis would
not permit of any such movement were 1t
not demanded by the necessity for prepar-
ing the remnant of Spanish troops In the
Philippines for shipment homo to Europe.
When he evacuated Illoilo just In season
to embarrass the Americans in their at
tempt to occupy the place he took his
garrison down the coast to Zamboagna on
the island of Mindanao. 1t is supposed
that when he came up to Manila himself
he left these troops there, and that he Is
now going there to ship them home, for,
according to the reports of the war de-
partment the Spanish Transportation COM
pany will have taken aboard the last OF
the Spanish troops in the Philippines be-
fore the middle of next month.
Gen. Otis Position
Touching General Otis position at Ma
nila 1t is stated at the war department that
tho truth is that not for a moment has he
had any doubt as to his ability to maintain
his position, though his lines are so long
and thin, the estimates being that they
extend over twenty-five miles over the
worst kind of country, that without con-
siderable reinforcements he is not able to
carry on the aggressive warfare that he
feels the situation demands. With the <p-
proach of the wet season the necessity In
creases for the dispersion of the insurgents
from tho neighborhood of Manila. and this
can be done only with the aid of reinforce
ments. 1t is estimated from General Law
toms prediction yesterday that he would
arrive at Singapore by next Sunday, and
will bc at Manila by the Wednesday fol-
lowing at the latest, as the Grant will
make ALI possible speed now that It 10
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