The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-18
BROTH WAS SPOILED
TOO MANY COOKS TOOK A HAND
IN THE PREPARATION OF THE
PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN
GEN. MILES HAD IDEAS

SO Had Merritt, and the Latter Oh
jected to the Proposition Ma1a
by the Commanding General of
the Army-AdmiraI Dewey Com
sidered That Five Thousand Men
Would BE Sufficient.
WASHINGTON. July 17.-Thfs state
iiienI was prepared at army headquarters
To-Day and given out for publication:
mere has been some discussion in the
press recently relating to an alleged diff
ference Of opinion regarding the number
Of troops to be sent to the PhiIjnn,ne ;sl-
ands in the first instance.
Immediately upon receiving the naws
through press dispatches of Dewey's vic
toFy al Manila, Gen. Miles recommended
the dispatch Of a military force to the
philippine islands. The following ia IA
letter: $50"
L have the honor to recommend that
Gen. Thomas M. Anderson be sent to &C.
cupy the Philippine islands in command
OF the following troops: Two battalions
Fourteenth infantry; two troops, Fourth
cavalry; one regiment of infantry. Cali
tornia volunteers; two batteries heavy
ment Of Infantry, Oregon volunteers. one
regiment OF infantry Washington vol
uheeers; the troops to go with all the
necessary appliances, supplies and equip
ments'
The force above designated was an
proximately 5000 men, and the recommen-
dalton was approved by the president.
DEWEY's SUGGESTION
up to this time no communication had
been received from Admiral Dewey. hIs
first dispatch, dated May 1, not reaching
Washington until May 7. Later the fol-
lowing dispatch was received from him;
am maintaining strict blockade of
Manila by sea, and believe the rebels ara
hemmlng 1t in by land, although they
are inactive and making no demonstra-
lions. Great scarcity of provisions in the
city L believe the Spanish governor gem
eraI Will be obliged to surrender soon. I
can take Manila at any moment. To re-
tain possession and thus control the Phil
ippine islands would require, in my best
judgment, a well-equipped force of 5000
men, although United States troops sent
by Pekin will be very useful to relieve
the Olympia guarding Cavite. United
States troops should make provision for
extremely hot, moist climate Spanish
force IS estimated 10000 men. The rebels
are reported 10000 men,
'On May 16, 1885, after seeing the ab,va
olspatch from Admiral Dewey, Gen. Miles
mace the following recommendation.
nave the honor to submit the follow
sng. IN order to make the United States
Iorce as strong and effective as nossibjc
with a view to its maintaining orr nos
session and our flag on the PhiIinpina
islands, and at the same time relieve our
navy as speedily as possible | suggest
that the command sent there conS;SF -
the Fourteenth and Fifteenth infantrY-
Two Two s9@uhadrons Fourth cavalry, one bat.
and two batteries of light artilIery from
the seventh, and in addition y, 975 voiun-
s s5eI from California, Colorado, Kansas,
Washington. North Dakota, South Dslro
Ia, Idaho; Wyoming and Minnesota. al
ready designated. also recommend that
Two tWelVe-1nch guns, two ten-inch guns
with disappearing carriages. and eigbt
mortars.; to be dismounted, also two
elgnt.lnch guns now at Benicia barracks
francisco and sent to Manila. there to he
mounted as speedily as possible for the
Getense OF that harbor. and used to-
gether with any rapid guns that can he
spared from the fleet now at that DIace
When this Is accomplished the fleet can
D9 released for more important service,
ne guns and mortarS referred to should
De replaced as soon as possible by others
sent to San Francisco from the gun
coast. -i'iN
THE troops designated in the abova
communication numbered 15.425 men
which was over 10000 more than Admiral
Dewey had asked for; but, notwithstand
ing this, 1t was Gen. Miles opinion that
IN view OF the admirars statement that
the Spanish force was estimated at 10 600
men, 1t would be advisable for us to have
preponderating force.
GEN. MERRITT OBJECTS
In the meantime Gen Merritt had
Deen selected to command the expedition
Tor the philippines and in letter to the
president. dated May 10, 1898, he submit
TED an estimate Of troops necessary to
constitute such an expedition. comprising
,4OO men, of which number 5000 were
regulars On May Is he supplemented
this by an estimate for siege battery
and a small ordnance detachment.
Gen. Miles had not seen Gen. Merritt's
estimate wheft@ he wrote the letter of
May 49,
1t appears that there was no contro-
versy regarding the number of troops to
be sent. Gen. Miles. in fact. having
designated more than Gen. Merritt called
Tor, but only a difference of opinion as
to the composition of the force. Gen.
Merritt desiring to have more regulars
than We're designated by Gen Miles.
Certain newspapers have attempted to
show that Gen. Miles did not want more
than 5000 troops to be sent to the Philip
pines under Gen. Merritt, but the above
official correspondence shows this not to