Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-07-19
The Criticism Of Gen. Otis.

General OTIS nave now become lOuuer
and more frequent and can no longer
be disregarded by the country. From
story, and it's text is the inability OF
General Otis to meet the demands or
his important position. Returning
volunteers and civilians, as well as the
correspondents of the press in Manila
agree that General Otis view OIL the
situation has been more rose colored
than the circumstances have war
ranted. They complain that he mas
shown too little vigor in pushing the
campaign to a close; that he has been
jealous of his brother. officers ana that
he has devoted his own time TO petty
affairs that a clerk could handle, ana
neglected the large matters which II
was his business to manage
If these charges are true thev snow
| the incompetency of our Philippine
commander. The government should
lose no time in finding what element of
truth is in them, and in acting prompt
| ". 1t owes it to the country, the army
and the Philippines that the campaign
| he vigorous and effective, with no I'M
necessary loss of life or treasure. and
| If the present leader is not qualified to
conduct this kind of campaign he
should be superseded by a leader VINO
| has the necessary qualifications. Inc
country wants the Philippine insurrec-
ton crushed once and for all, and or
der restored in the archipelago. 1t Is
ready to send an army large enough TO
do this, if the present forces are in
sufficient. 1t does not want rose col
ored reports from the front 1t wants
the whole truth, and if the situation Is
worse than has been supposed it will
go about the task Of crushing the re-
bellion with all the more determination
and yigor. There is only one course
omen to this country. The matter OF
the future government of the Philip
pines can be discussed when peace and
order reign there.
1t is not fair to condemn General
Otis without giving him chance TO De
heard and making careful eXamlna-
| ton of the charges against him. But
action should be prompt. y movement
| has been started, and has now no mean
impetus. to send General Miles 10 the
Philippines to supplant General Gus
General Miles has had much more ex-
perience in handling armies than Cen
eral Otis. whose work hitherto has
been chiefly that Of a fsimental com
mander This ms2xeNssInt, however
had its origin with the yellow journals
of New York, and this of itself is a
severe handicap to its success. Some
of the strongest and most definite
charges against General Otis have been
made by James Creelnan, who has
been representing several American
papers in the Philippines. But the
memory of Mr.. Creelman's career in
| the Santiago campaign NILS poPui''i
faith in anything he says, and his
criticism of General Otis will need
s,lbstantiation to carry much weight.
He is a conceited and bumptious in
dividual whose report of the battle Of
| San Juan contained the personal pro-
noun "I' in every line, and who really
| Ng .l,n ra1i fnr
the famous capture of the block house.
His criticism of the officers of the San
tiago campaign reacted to their credit,
and it is probable that those who are
opposed to General Otis will not thank
Creelman for coming to their assist
...,ance- ,,.. ~
Another strong protest against Cen
eral Otis is made by the American
newspaper correspondents at Manila,
who object to,the manner in which he
has cut ana .mangled their reports.
They have united in round robin
: letter which gives in detail their
: wrengs. These correspondents of the
Associated Press and the LEAD ins pa
pers of the country are men of high
standing in tbeI profession and their
: word in this matter is beyond dispute
They represent that General Otis has
censored their letters until they have
been untrue in many particulars. he
has shown the situation in false light
has withheld praise from officers and
regiments worthy of it, has Suppressed
the hospital reports, and in general NJ
, has kept back the truth from the
American people. He has done TINS DS
a rigid censorship of all press dis
patches, which he has himself person
ally attended to.
Now. these are serious charges, anc
l ! there is no room to doubt their truth
1 General Otis has no right to thus mis-
' represent the situation and suppress
E the truth. The people of the United
= States have alright to know the Whol'
e truth in regard to the war in th'