New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-12
PHILIPPINE CAMPAIGN PLANS.
GENERAL LAWTON EXPECTED TO PLAY
PROMINENT PART IN THE OFTEN
SINE OPERATIONS.

Washington March lit was positively de-
MED in the Adjutant- Generals Office to-day that
any dispatch had been received last night from
General Otis regarding a conference with Cen
eral Lawton. 1t is well understood that General
Otis is only awaiting the arrival Of the re-
mander Of his reinforcements TO begin ac
tive campaign. though the Department has
heard nothing from him this subject. The
War Department. according to It's officials, IS
awaiting with as much interest the public
some definite news from the Philippines which
will show just how General Otis intends to
utilize General Lawton and his renforcements
in the campaign against the insurgents. 1t has
been generally understood. without official con-
frmation. however that General LawtOn on his
arrival would he assigned to active command of
operations in the field. leaving General Otis
more time for the administrative duties of mill
tary government. in which position he corre-
spends 10 General Brooke in Cuba. The fact is
that none except general insu uuctions have been
sent 70 General Otis and the Department says
that it has not tied the commanding generals
hands with hard-and-fast orders.
The probabilities are that General Lawton
will take an active part in the offensive cam
pagn soon 10 begin. His training in Indian
fighting has peculiarly fitted him for his present
command. and General Otis is well acquainted
with his capabilities one Of Lawton's numer-
GUS Indian ,obriquets literally translated is
The Man Who o-Gets-Up-s end Fights Md
de-of-the- Night" l; was his dash into Siboney
that sent the Spanish detachment there lying
to La Guasma. leaving its breakfast on the are
for the American troops to eat The Depart
ment fully expects Lawton 10 spring few
similar surprises on he Filipinos. and is await
ing news Of the campaign with great interest
AN EXCELLENT TRANSPORT SERVICE.
The report Of the Grants safe arrival at Ma
Mia with part Of the l1th and 18th Infantry
is a source Of considerable congratulation 10 the
War Department. which Is now looking forward
10 the errval Of the Sherman at the same port
about March Is. The Department is taking
great interest in the performance OF the trans
ports ON this long run, and II the sherman ana
me Sheridan equal the Grants record for speed
and for the health and safety Of the troops 1t
will feel that this Government has a transport
service letter in quality If not in quantity, than
that OF Great Britain. This was the comment
Of the English officers who inspected the Grant
and the sherman at Gibraltar. They were sur
pris,d not only at the number Of men who were
housed on a single transport, but at the COM
plete arrangements made for their health ana
comfort The number of tub and shower baths
the simplicity and cleanliness Of the canvas cot
arrangements. tn, swinging mess tables that
can be removed TO give exercising space on the
decks. and the effectiveness Of the galley sys-
tenn and the messing arrangements were all
subjects of comment.
The Department spent considerable time IN
working out the details Of the transport service,
and feels that IT has a practically peTiect
system. The loading is done in 9rCh way that
the officer in charge not only knows Just Whefe
everything is on board bat can get at anything
that s likely to he wanted on the voyage. me
men are provided with reading matter. there Is
a chaplain aboard each vessel, so that religious
services can be held whenever desired, and the
hospital arrangements are as good as anything
Of a Ike size TO be found on shore The Gov
erDment no V has thrtY-onc vessels in the ser
vice which it owns and fourteen others under
charter All OF the latter are on the Pacihc TO-
gether with the Warren the Hancock and the
Grant while the Sherman and the sheridan are
on their way there as fast as steam can carry
them.
Among the things TIA have gratihed the De
partuant were the COurtesies extended TO the
American troops at Malta, where they were IN
yited 10 land. and drilled under arms in the
presence of the British officers on duty there,
receiving concentrations on their ilne appear
aElTW