The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-15

States government undertook finally to Sc
cure the release Of the prisoners. 1t never
contemplated trying To secure their release
by ransom. but simply through the sup
preston Of the insurrection, and cannot be
held by any requirement Of international
law TO do more than has been done 70 secure
the release Sf the prisoners There Will be
no relaxation of efforts in this direction,
but as the United States campaign I'm the
Philippines is being conducted with all the
energy possible, and the release of the
prisoners depends on the issue of that cam
paign, there can be no complaint Of failure
on the part of the United States to meet its
obligations.
In preventing the Spanish government
from negotiating directly with the insur-
gents ii is said here that General Otis un-
dOubtedly was correct in his attitude. Inas-
much as the ratification OF the peace treaty
has not been effected, the United States and
Spain are still technically in state of war,
qualified only by the operation of the proto-
col suspending hostilities. In this condition
there is no authority on the part of the
Spaniards to negotiate with the insurgents
without the explicit consent of the United
States. Under the rules of war alone there
would still be ample warrant for any action
General Otis might take calculated to pre-
vent the insurgents from receiving supplies
OF food, clothing, munitions OF war or
money. for the latter always with more
or less difficulty be resolved into the FORM
er. even in the face of blockade. If the
Spanish minister of foreign affairs feels
called on to address himself respecting this
subject to the State Department, directly
or Indirectly, he undoubtedly would be in
formed that General Otis must be sustained,
though reassured as to the intentions of the
United States TO use all proper efforts TO
carry out it's undertaking.
The attention OF the officials at the War
Department having been called to the re-
port from Manila that General Otis had
refused to allow the retiring Spanish troops
TO carry arms to the Carolines, it was
learned that this refusal was in strict pur-
suance of the terms of the protocol. which
govern in the absence of the ratification Of
the peace treaty. Under the technical sus-
pension of hostilities it could not be per-
mitted that Spain should change the status
quo to the extent of fortifying and strong
ly garrisoning points heretofore unpro-
tected, as was to be the case i'm the Caro-
lines. 1t is gathered that General Otis's re-
fusal probably applied rather to the re-
moval of cannon than to the small arms
been included. When Colonel Rios. the
senior Spanish army officer in the Philip
pines, evacuated IIoilo, he carried the Span
ish garrison of the town directly into the
port of zamboangoa. the south coast of
the Island of Mindanao, taking with them
as much OF the cannon and munitions of
the place as his ships would carry, and
1t is these stores and guns that Rios desires
to take to the Carolines
Officials here are a little puzzled to ac-
count for this desire on the part of Spain
to garrison and fortify the Carones, for
1t has been assumed that the negotiations
between Spain and Germany looking toward
a sale OF the group to Germany would be
consummated. IL is suggested with some
plausibiity that Germany has required
Spain, in case of a SALE to turn over the
group in such condition as will not require
an effort on Germany's part to suppress an
insurrection such as the United States au-
thorities faced in the Philippines.