The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-20
were interviewed. is Wen expressed in the

were interviewed is well expressed in the
following statements:
Corporal William Herder, company H:
entire Volunteer force in the Philippines
directly under the charge of General Otis.
pany H of the Oregon regiment, most Of
my time was occupied in the capacity of
opinion of the man as hard worker in the
clerical line Comedies with the other men
fit and never was fit to command our
forces and direct the work of the army in
to me he IS trying to prolong the war in
every way possible.
we have had many opportunities to
make headw9y against the natives, but
nothing was done owing to the refusal of
the opportunity. Repeatedly we have cor
nered the FfipinOs in such a way that in
impossibility for them to escape US. These
advantages have always been neglected,
on account OF counter orders by General
fOtis.' as the boys call him. merits the
name fifty applied to him-'the old woman
He seems to be earnest, but his seeming
is not getting, and in consequence the
United States government should place a.
more capable man in his position. If the
as Miles or Lawton, for instance-the war
in the Philippines would be extremely
short. It has been rumored among the
boys at Manila that the war is being pro-
longed, with their lives and health at
stake. simply to keep the officers in good
positions. Whether this is true or false,
1 am not in a position to voice the senti-
ments, of others; but SO far as, I am con-
cerned 1 firmly believe this to be the rea-
son why the Fflipinos are allowed to con-
go 55@ m 5a9 but otis-n adH IN favor OF any
Private Plumb, company F: ct don't
myself on a subject Of this kind or not
but whether 1 am or not 1 intend 70 take
the chance. My impression Of Otis is
that he is pre-eminently unfit to command
the forces in the islands He has mani
gagernent he ever directed. To show how
pinos, we have taken towns often as
three times in the course of a few days.
the possibility of its being peopled and gar
risOned by mob of Fiipinos. we simply
drove them to the outskirts of the place,
leaving their homes and possessions and
tGortlhc2uons in g0od state OF preserva-
trouble as possible OTIS must go --''---
in more than one battle against the Fill
pinOs under the command of General Otis
nothing of the stupendous undertaking
that has bene intrusted to him. He makes
a better clerk than general, and in con
eminent, I think the best Thing that c6I3id
be done would be to return him to clerical
Private Ranheld. company F: although
I would not like my sentiments on a sub
ject of this kind to interfere with my dis
charge from the service still 1 will take
and incompetent and is not the right man
%e shg my %O ehoee alhf or the Commas
there
Corporal Smith, company E: ''I am still
in the army, but I Will say this much:
The boys in Manila would like to see Gen
eraI Miles in command there,
Private Lindsay, company G: THE SOL
diers in Manila refer to Otis lightly. They
call him Grandma and 1 think they are
Private ,AdcA[1qrray. company p: "otis
tives on the run. a halt was ordered ana
fhey MerS q9T o8 to Eet a%ay vo Niles
an Improvement on Otis. He is too
Private NIizenheimer, company G: ''Otis
is a nice old grandmother. In half a dozen
instances we had the enemy c9rnered and
were permitted to march away through a
opened for them. Our Colonel i was he'd
back by orders from above. AS the cam
men ten years to subdue the Flip;nos,
who fight and run away. We are not al
Private Frank Cacto, company D: "Otis
is an incompetent old woman, and unless
more energetic general is placed in com
mand, the Filipnos Will never be pacified.
OTIS IS not fighter; The general opinion
be placed in command Otis will do well
in Washington as clerk
Sergeant Gamble, company f: IF
good commander had been in charge the
island campaign would have been over
our men viii die of fever and scattering
slow
Sergeant Cammack, company D: 1.-The
is a farce. Miles, Lawton Wheaton or
even Funston would have settled this war
several months ago Otis never can be
successful. He is too slow and does not
Private Puzey, company F: with
good general in command the war would
be over in a hurry. Otis is an old grand
ma
Sergeant Hayes. company A: s'Otis is
incompetent. Not a man in the Eighth
army corps will contradict this. He is
also a fakir of the first class The whole
campaign in the Philippines has been a
series of blunders on the part of OTIS