The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-04-07


Washington. April 5.-War depart
ment officials look upon the approach
of the wet season in the Philippines
as likely to be an important fac
tor in determining the character of
the military movements during the
next six months. This period of rains
and storms is no new and untried dan.
ger, for the United States troops we're
in the trenches around Manila through
much of the worst part of the wet sea-
son lost summer. Maj. Simpson, chief
of the bureau of military information,
was then on the staff of Gen. Greene
and learned from experience how
far this wet season affected the health
and comfort of the men and retarded
military operations. Generally speak
ing, he says, men were up to their
knees in mud and water during July
and August, when our trenches were
drawn around Manila. But while this
was a great personal Inconvenience it
did not cause any material increase in
the sick rate. About the worst feature
was that the stretches of quagmire
made it next to impossible to exc.
cute military Improvements on
large scale. The wet season does
not begin, as rule, until June
so that it is about two months before
Its effects would be seriously felt
April and May generally come under
the head of the hot season, which just
precedes the drenching rains begin
ming in June. The hottest weather is
in May, although it never goes above
100 degrees. Gradually this merges
into the heavy rains and violent storms
of June, the wet season lasting for six
months. The season does not come on
abruptly, but is gradual transition
until everything is in condition OF
soak.
Last summer the first expedition of
United States troops landed about
July and by the time the wet season
was we'll under way. The men were
sent into the trenches for "a hours and
then relieved. In this way two regi-
ments would be moved up every morn
ing and for that day and night would
stand in the knee-deep rain and mud.
But it would have been difficult if not
impossible to have kept troops ex-
posed to such conditions for
any extended time. The Astor
battery was one of the bodies serving
during part of the rainy season. Capt
March, one of the officers of the bat
terry, was here recently and in speak
ing of the sick rate during the wet
season said that it was kept down to
four per cent. This is considered very
low. even under favorable circum.
stances, and is taken to offset some of
the serious reports as to the effect of
the wet season. This low sick rate is
In part attributed to the strict SANTA
ton enjoined upon the American
forces. Malaria and typhoid abounds,
SO that our troops were made
to drink boiled water. Maj Simpson
says that at no time did the malaria
or typhoid assume an epidemic form.
It is the general belief that Gen. Otis
will complete his present campaign
before the wet season opens and con-
fine his efforts after that to holding
the ground already won, keeping up
communications, protecting his TANKS
and waiting for the dry season to give
him another period of active opera
ton.
Convinced the Insurrection Il Broken.
Washington, April 5.-No disap-
pointment was expressed at the war
department to-day because Gen. Otis
had made no report 1t was taken to
mean that conditions were progressing
well and that the conditions indicated
in yesterdays dispatches continued.
War department officials are fully con.
WINGED that the back bone of the insur.
rection is broken and that while there
may be raids from time to time by
bands of marauders, the main body OF
troops will surrender. It is said that
when the Filipinos who surrender
find that they are. we'll treated and fed,
that the wounded are cared for, and
food is sent to the suffering. there will
be less inclination to continue hostili.
ties. Those who are SO treated and
sent to their homes, it is believed, will
be missionaries among their people in
favor of the United States.
Commissioners Issue n Proclamation.
Manila, April 5.-The proclamation
of the United States Philippine com.
mission. which was issued to-day, re.
cites the cession by the peace treaty
of the Philippines to the United States,
refers to the appointment of the com.
mission. assures the people of the good.
will and fraternal feeling of the pres.
ident of the United States aud the
American people and asserts the OBJ
iect which the United States govern.
ment apart from the fulfillment OF
its solemn. obligations, has assumed
toward the family of nations by the
acceptance of sovereignty over the
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