New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-11
THE SITUATION N LUZON.

The course of events I'm the Philippines has not
met expectations encouraged by outgivings that
purported 10 come from the War department.
ore cannot tell whether the optimistic dis
patches announcing near surrender of the in
surgents as the result of negotiations were III
spired by some hopeful soul IN the department
or having the run of II, or by the conciliatory
Professor Schurman. who is now returning from
service on the Commission. II does not yet APP
pear that his hopeful predictions have been
answered by facts But Washington has us
champion optimist also. Whether II was some
body in the War Department or some too SAN
Cuine reporter of the press. eagerly interpreting
a wink as a victory and n nod as the end of the
campaign. the elaborate tactical descriptions OF
movements in progress. which never resulted at
all as Washington expected, gave the public the
impression that General Otis did not often
guess very we'll Later events have indicated
that II was not General Otis who guessed
wrong.
Putting details aside the larger facts are
satisfactory Not succeeding in any of the at
tempts 10 pocket insurgent forces ut the north
between different bodies II any such attempt
was really designed by him, General Otis has
pushed back all opposition TO region far from
Manila, has secured points OF vantage which
can be held in the north with moderate force
shutting out all attack from that quarter. and
has destroyed and dispersed large part OF the
force formerly commanded by Aguinaldo or
Luna At the south he has pushed back the In
surgents with disastrous defeat beyond the
point at which they could threaten the controi
of important points on the shore or the lake, ana
now holds securely all above and below Manila
for many miles, with apparently little further
chance Of any cooperation between the north
ern and southern bands Of insurgents.
II IS perhaps the fault of Washington out
givings authorized semi-authorized or pure
guesswork) that these results appear consdera-
bly, less satisfactory than was expected one
would really like to know what wonderful STRAIT
egy inspired some of the accounts purporting TO
be sent OUT from day to day from the Depart
ment by somebody But the practical results
attained are highly honorable to the General IN
command. If every day and every week less
satisfactory than the press dispatches indicated,
and they show that he has reasonable con-
ception of the obstacles TO be overcome.
The announcement that fourteen regiments
arc TO be raised for service under General Otis
is encouraging, because 1t shows that the Presi-
dent has ceased TO expect anything from his
Civil Commission. If it had any other purpose
than as a corps Of inquiry, 1t does not now seem
TO have had any wise purpose. Negotiation Win
insurgents under control Of leaders like Agui-
naldo who want to sell themselves, is sure
TO be mistake. The desire Of General OTIS TO
push forward steadily, ms far and as fast as ne
has adequate forces, covers the only tactics
which appear TO be admissible under the circum-
stances Supporting him. with forces organized
mainly by Regular Army officers and subord1
hates who have had practical service during the
recent war, is the Presidents sufficient proof
that he knows what the situation really requires
and what the people want.