The San Francisco call., 1899-04-29
Is GRATIFIED AT
SMITHS PROMOTION
MAJOR GENERAL ANDERSON
ARRIVES FROM MANILA.
Duboce Was Given Too Much Credit
in the Engagement of February
5-Major Sine Is Praised.

Major General T. NJ. Anderson, q. S. v,
who is also brigadier general in the regu-
lar army, arrived from Manila on the
America Maru yesterday and is a guest at
the Palace. General Anderson received or
ders to come to San francisco, and after
telegraphing his arrival to the depart
ment at Washington he will await fur
ther instructions here. 1t is more than
likely that he will be assigned to one of
the four departments now vacant. These
are the Departments of the Lakes, Gulf,
Platte md Columbia.
General Anderson first came to this city
from Alaska, where he was colonel
of the Fourteenth Infantry, and he was
placed in charge of the first Philippine
expedition which left this port soon after
the outbreak of the war, and included
the First California Volunteers. In an in
terview regarding various topics last
evening, General Anderson said:
81 was very much gratified at the pro-
motion of Colonel James F. Smith to be
brigadier general / consider that he
should have had it long before he did. 1t
should have come after the battle of Ma
Mia, where Smith distinguished himself.
He has proven himself a good soldier and
a prudent and able adviser. He has been
intrusted with number of important ne
gotiations, notably the reconstruction of
NegroS, and has performed them all with
excellent judgment. His promotion is
deserved one"
Regarding the Fflipinos, must say
that they are natural born fighters with
q good deal of military spirit. All things
considered, they got up very good or
ganization; but, fortunately, though they
had better arms than we had, they did
not know how to use them. They cannot
use artillery effectively either. In thu.
battle OF February l captured seven
guns from them-two krupp and five old
fashioned muZzle-loaders.
fFNl do &c. Ch
He has the sympathy of the people, but
lately he has been but mere figure-head
because the revolutionary junta, com
posed of a set of professional revolution
lists, has taken the matter in it's own
hands The Malolos crowd determined to
achieve independence II they could and
then divide up the church property, which
is very valuable, abrogating all the old
Spanish concessions and appropriate them
to their own use.
General Wheatons flying column is
surgents. The object Of the present cam
paign is to drive them from a railroad
from Manila to the northern part of the
island and force them to the hills
81 must say that the First California is
an excellent regiment. Major Sine has
also proved himself capable soldier. He
is quiet and unobtrusive and thoroughly
posted in military affairs. An injustice
in ascribing most of the credit of the
engagement of February to Duboce.
While the latter did good work, his COM
mand was not as important as that of
Smith or Slime. The little that Duboce
had to do he did very well. He was held
back in command of the reserve. Most
of it was drawn away, leaving him in
command of two companies. An attack
was made on them by lot of Fflipinos
from the village near by. Duboce drove
them out but he did not take part in the
more severe and decisive part of the bat
tie; mind you, through no fault of his
own. To mention him and not the others,
however, appears TO me to be an unin-
territorial injustice"