The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-19
HEAT GROWING OPPRESSIVE
MANY OF GEN. OTIs's SOLDIERS AT
FECTED BY HOT WEATHER.
Insurgents Are Concentrating Their
Forces in the Jungle Near the Wa
ter Works Pumping Station.
,eeial to the indianapolis Journal.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.--Judge Advocate
General Charles l.. Jewett, of New Albany,
Ind, reached Washington this evening. He
came from Manila via the Suez canal and
on landing in New York yesterday was
copiously interviewed on the Philippine sit
| uation. There was a GOODNESS between Judge
Jewett and General Otis at Manila, which
led the latter to write the War Department
a letter in disparagement of the Indianan
and advising against too great reliance be-
ing placed in his statements about Philip
pine matters, volunteering the opinion that
he was not fully conversant with conditions
on the island. Judge Jewett, however, dis
cusses the situation as though he knew
something about it. According to one of the
New York newspapers, when Mr.. Jewett
was Informed of the fighting in the Philip
pines, he said:
Il am glad of 1t. The sooner the crisis is
reached the better. Might is the first reauis-
lite for enduring peace. The Filipinos will
not give US any trouble after the malcon-
tents and guerrilla leaders are captured.
We must not forget that the utter absence
of a policy regarding the future is to blame
for this trouble. Aguinaldo has had cause
to doubt our good faith. He used to come
to see me nearly every day, just as he went
to visit General Merritt. He would ask:
What is your government going to do with
us| We could not tell him. He naturally
believed us liars and cheats. He could not
conceive of a powerful nation without
fixed policy. Then he took to uttering false
hoods to the world about the American oc-
cupation."
Had he had any grounds?"
None but motives of revenge" was the
reply. Il went into Manila when it was
captured and established our courts. In
week, by proper police system, we made
Manila, with all its superficial population.
as safe as New York. Aguinaldo's infa-
nous falsehoods about the maItreatment of
native women were circulated to infame the
Filipinos. We had 22,O 600 men there, and not
a single censurable act was committed by
one of them. That is remarkable, but
true
What is the real situation?"
Satisfaction among the Spaniards and
some discomfort in the insurgent ranks due
to the delay in declaring our policy. Be-
yond question we owe considerable to the
insurgents They cowed the Spaniards by
their show of strength when we landed
They kept the Spanards i'll the city, ex-
pecting to make cold meat of them when
we came ashore. Naturally, from their
POAhN VI NACHs tllE3 were disappointed. IneY
wanted to their weapons on their for
mer tyrants, but we would not let them
At the same time General Merritt kept the
| insurgents punched, so that they could not
spread into the hills, and when he had to
| strike he delivered a crushing blow. The
guns on the ships threw shells with the
precision of Mausers. 1t was wonderful
Whole groups of the insurgents, with guns
in their hands n kill orr man xxera Ijtaro Ilx
effaced. There will not be any serious guer-
rilla warfare in the Philippines. If there
is, Spanish regiments will be organized with
American officers, and short work will be
made of the natives.
THE audacious bravery of our men-vol-
| unteers chiefly, be it remembered-in charg-
ing the intrenchments the side hills back
of Manila was amazing to several English
army officers who witnessed the charge
Our men crossed the open and climbed hills
in the full blaze of rifle and canister fire.
They did this as if they had been soldering
all their lives 1t was astounding. Nothing
more than an order was necessary Off
they went. This utter disregard for fear
has impressed natives and Spaniards alike
l predict that Iloilo will be as quiet and or
derly as Philadelphia before the month is
over. am glad TO hear what President
Mckinley said at Boston. That will do
more fer peace than any action of Con-
gress."