The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-30
LARGEn ANN ron orIs.

y LAhGEH ARMY FOX OTIS.
The inference from the report Of the
conference on Wednesday between the
President and Secretary Alger, Gen. Cor
bin and Col. Bird, the assistant quarter
master general. is that volunteers for the
war in the Philippines are to be called for
at once, and that Gen. Otis is to be given
a considerably larger force than he has
asked for. It Is stated that it is the pur-
pose Of the President to give him 40 900
men, II not more.
This determination Of the President will
be very generally approved. Some of the
officers who have returned from Manila
have expressed the opinion that if Gen.
Otis had had as many as 5000 men at the
beginning of the Philippine trouble he
would have been able TO crush out the in
surrection by the beginning of the rainy
season. II is possible that this opinion Is
an erroneous one. but there are good rea-
sons for thinking that il isn't
II Is not expected that Gen. Otis will
undertake to do much until after the
rainy season. He win simply try TO hold
the territory which he now occupies, and
ceeds In doing that. He may have to
abandon some of the positions he now
holds in order 10 defend other and more
important places. Whether or not he will
be able to maintain the lines ne has estab-
lished will depend. probably. on whether
Aguinaldo waits for an attack or deter
mines OF an aggressive campaign.
will be forwarded to Gen. Otis, so that he
will be ready to begin vigorous campaign
as soon as that season is over. 1t is hardly
probable that the President win again
make the mistake of undertaking the
strength of the enemy. 1t would not be
Just to hold him responsible for that mis-
take. however, because he had the advice
of both Gen. Otis and Gen. Miles. The
latter now thinks that a very large force
should be sent to the Philippines, but in
the beginning of the trouble there he is on
record Of advising the President that
5000 or 5000 troops would be sufficient to
maintain order in the islands
During the rainy season Gen. OTIS should
thoroughly inform himself as to the
strength of the insurgents, and if he
thinks he ought to have 100000 troops he
ought not to hesitate to say so. The peo-
pie are tired Of the war, and want it
brought to an end as soon as possible. They
recognize the fact that this country has
got TO fight the insurgents to finish, and
they win furnish the men and money for
that purpose. They may not approve the
war or the Presidents Philippine policy,
but they intend to see to it that the honor
Of the country is upheld For the mis-
takes which have been made in the Phil
ippines, including the demand for the ISL
ands and the payment Of $2o,OO0o00 for
them, they wiA hold the administration
responsible.
1t is understood that the states will not
be called on to furnish the volunteer reg
iments. The volunteer regiments will be
enlisted as the immune regiments were
That is the better plan. BY adopting 1t
some troublesome things will be avoided.
AT the war department now the talk is
that Gen. Otis will be able to crush the
instruction by Christmas. He will be for
tunate if he succeeds in his undertaking
as soon as that. 1t is certain that he will
have to do a good deal of hard fighting
before he succeeds in pacifying the is
lands