Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-01

Washington, February 2S.-The fac4
that Gen. Otis finds it possible to spare
men to go TO other islands of the Phil
ippine group outside of Luzon, as he
reports in his cablegram received at
the War Department to-day Is taken
by the officials as the most reassuring
indication that has come to the de-
partment lately. Assuming that the
Generals declaration that everything
has been quiet for the past three days
the department that he surely would
not send soldiers to Negroes and to
Cebu If he felt any doubt as 10 his
ability to maintain himself at Manila.
- is said at the Navy Department
that there is no probability that adj
ditional ships will be ordered to re-
inforce Dewey's feet in the near flu
ture. The department can scarcely
spare any more of the smaller gum
boats and that is the only kind OF
craft needed to police the Philippine
islands and cut off smugglers. The
big ships would be very expensive to
maintain and from their great draft
would find it difficult to run down the
little schooners and light draft steam
ers which abound in eastern waters.
The Castine sailed to-day from Port
Said or Suez on her way to Manila.
She should arrive there in about three
or four weeks and will prove a valu-
able acquisition to the fleet. Admiral
Dewey's purpose is to make deter
mined attempt to cut off further sup
plies of arms and ammunitions to the
insurgents. These, it Is known are go
ing into the islands in small quanti-
ties from Hong Kong and Singapore,
Notwithstanding the efforts Of the
UniGed Staes secret service men to
spot the sales and inform the United
States naval authorities.
Conditions in the Philippines favoi
the blockade runners to the most, ana
THE task Of keeping munitions of war
out of hands Of natives will be diff
cult, provided they have the money to
purchase the goods. The fact tina.
these can be bought in the open market
in Asia cannot be made a matter of
complaint by our government for the
reason that it always has maintained
the right of neutral citizens to engage
in such business, so all that can be
done is to try to seize the arms when
they are afloat and about to be landed
in the Philippines.
Gen. Otis has made no mention in
any OF his recent reports of any OF
the propositions to surrender ascribed
by the press reports to the natives,
Therefore it is assumed at the War
Department that If the insurgents are
in this state of mind they have not yet
found the means to express themselves
officially TO the American command
ers.
Washington, February 28.-Although
the cabinet was in session to-day near
ly an hour longer than usual, 1t was
said that nothing OF special interest
was developed. The question Of whetI-
er the troops now being made ready
for Manila should be transported from
San Francisco or from the East by
way of the Suez canal and Red Sea.
was discussed and the decision was
reached TO ship them from San Fran
cisco. Although the expense would be
somewhat greater than by the Suez
canal about twelve days would 90
saved and then the danger of encoun-
tering the simoons which prevail at
this season on the Indian ocean would
be avoided. Nothing has to-day been
received from Gen. Otis or Admiral
Dewey, and just what the admiral in
his recent dispatch meant by the words
"for political reasons" Is not known,
as the admiral himself has given no
explanation and nothing has since de-
veloped that throws any light on the
question.
San Francisco. February 2S.-The
steamer Gaelic, from Hong Kong and
Yokohama via Honolulu. arrived to-
day. The Associated Press represent
tative at Honolulu sends the following
news dated February ii:
Commander Taussig, Of the Benning-
ton. is the first American governor oi
Guam The American flag went up
over the new possessions at 80 a m.
February /. 1t was raised over Fort
Santa Cruz in the harbor Of San Luis
d'Apra, the main harbor OF Guam, and
saluted by the guns Of the Bennington.
simultaneously it was raised over ths
government buildings at Agana, five
miles distant, and was galuted by
battalion from the Bennington and
company OF native militia with field
battery.