The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-07-22
OTIS SEVERELY CRITICISED.
Said To Waste Too Much Valuable
Time On Petty Things.

James Creelman, in a cablegmm TO the New
York Journal from London, has this to say about
General Otis and his methods:
After having spent several months with our
troops in the Philippines I firmly convinced
that unless General Otis is removed ana compc-
tent general put in command the whole campaign
will be failure I have been in the Cuban cam
paign as well as in the Philippines and l can say
honestly without the slightest prejudice That Gen
eral Otis is much more responsible for the diSas-
trous, Illuminating condition OF affairs in the East
than General Shafter was for the caiamities in
Cuba, for the War Department furnished General
Otis with perfectly equipped. well-fed army. and
he had months of dry weather in which to fight
against imperiectiy organized enemy
TO be perfectly plain, General Otis is a fusSy old
man. unaccustomed % anything but reEimcutal
command and saturated with the ideas and meth
DDS OF d routine clerk he IS a man who has grown
Old serving in regiment and his eI pcrjeucc and
abilities do not go outside Of regimcutal lines
Now that he finds himself In command OF large
army intrusted with the Government Of great
archipelago it is no wonder that things are as they
are.
1T was because Of this know ledge that Admj.ai
Dewey without consulting General Otis. privately
cablci to President Mckinley asking him 20 scud
to Manila small commission OF men skilled IN
craftsmanship and diplomacy. It was apparent
10 him, as Others, that General Otis was not
competent to deal with the dar-reachIns intricate
problems involved in 8 war with the natives
Again and again Admiral Dewey expressed at
the beginning OF the present hostiIites his disaI
isE1ction over the failure so make any advance
against the enemy When finally. IN dcs3~.g 90
any action by Otis Dewey began % take possession
Of other islands. OTIS wrote TO the Admiral Bis
ter letter complaining that the navy was forcing
the campaign 70 fast
Il was there then and remember how Ecuezs-s
and other officers on the firing line bitterly de-
nouucei General Otis IN private for immerSiuE
himself ia petty details o! municipal affairs army
contracts and cnstonhouse cases. while uac arHk
line was stretched p measured miles aregDl Nan.
ihl wing idly before an enemy growing stronger aut
more expert in infantry ere every day while wecs
AFTER week q dry weather slipped away an& ihr
rainy season approached
when ! reached Manila few DAYS after she
bloody outbreak the whole army vas lying .a
trenches being asrd az night AMI DAY whilc Ten-
era. Otis was absorbed N routine details that aa
army clerk could have done as ucl1 lie rrggs.,l
to allow the army TO make suy al ssnog- - ins.s-
tent was General Anderson that ihc only way o.
destroy ;he enemy vas 10 aEhl them that General
Otis treated hEn with open hostility AMI finally
had this splendid soldier return 50 the Uul1ci
states
General OTIS principal thought seemed 20 he Co
prevent real facts from being ,elcEnphyI O. ;av
GATED states sad bis abuse Of csu=lrsaip ha. bgcn
almost incredible. While the army Ia gae arla was
anxiously awaiting Orders daring ;ha aay4nc, oH
Nalolos, he spent whole hoar reading nay DIS
patch striking ogt names q Officers mentioned
for sallAntEy. changing descriptive passages rrls-
Ing all mention 81 the IaF; played by the navy ana
even occuPyiHs eve minutes In selecting single
word.
This IS the sane experience which ether c0re,-
pouleuis have had during The EsT. General u.ls
has wasted hours % valuable TINS during ihr aasl
critical days in revising press Dispatches. ca.osnE
them 10 suit his own views
ION the night Of the charge az Tzllhan rTcy
went 10 Gcuenl o;is palace. haYiax Fi3dcn iu
from the battlefield. The General insisted au
changing the dispatch submitted p hlga. and de-
finally struck oat the name % Colonel Funston.
Whose regiment swan THE river uujer a-r ;a4t
day saying I propose 20 make all the hsrocs THAR
are made IN this war.
Colonel TkomPsoa, the press censor. refused %
allow me 10 mention regiments distinguishing
themselves IN hattie. saying be vHs oricrcI % 80
50 By General o,is During General Wheaiaas
advance 90 pasg and leyoad with ihe F.yius Hr.-
gale otis Ordered al press dispatches stopped uu-
less they described the enomy aghtiag :urioa,.y
troops. Asa matter OF aae;. 90 ta!s occasion ;lr
insurgents we're contemplate On uuis,.ars aud r.u
away except So eases Of one or tNo ,Eas.l bands,
and their losses were very slight
'.Wneu It was announced INST L.wiaa u4s 90
his way to the Philippines 90 command aN :ae
troops in the field eurgs commsn-Icg, every
member Of the little clique surrounding OILS Nay
busy beli,tling Lawiun. When L8wtaa arrlrgd
Otis scfused to assign him % any command f1T owe
days, although there vas heavy fighting LauiaH
begged permission TO take part 80 g. Offering even
20 carry n musket II necessary.
Il asked Otis BhAi LAYTON status was ami " hy
he WAS MOI assigned.
General Lawton i merely officer reporting
10 me for Orders. he replied and when / get ready
70 give him orders he'll know what his status is
otis jealousy Of Lawton was 50 plain .o ny
childish For several weeks Otis never consulted
him. nor gave him the slightest information re-
garding the plans OF the campaign
The truth OF the situation Is that General OTIS
is regarded by practically the whole army, oficrrs
aud privates alike. an Incompetent afleer y 10
sacrifices everything 20 serve his own vanity aud
jealousy. do not speak with the slightest feeling
against GeuenI Otis whom / believe 20 b. pains
taking, industrious and according 10 his own Ishs