The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-09-26
Is LOYAL.

fighting like heroes, the First Montanu
regiment is also loyal to President Nc.
Kinley and tile policy Of the admins.
tration III the Philippines. II believes,
too, that General Otis has done all that
any commander could do, and the dem.
ooratic papers Of this state, which have
been 80 quick to publish, any adverse
criticisms they could gather of Presi.
dent Mckinley and General Otis.
should priut what Col, H. G. Kessler
and his officers ard men have to say in
interviews in the Butte Inter Mountain
of last Saturday. But these democratic
papers will do nothing Of the kind.
They are determined to oppose and
misrepresent the administration, what.
ever it does. 1t is gratifying, however,
to be able to give the lie direct to these
false and slanderous reports about the
incompetency Of General Otis and the
policy Of the administration in the
Philippines. M%ontsniuns will take the
word Of her own people OIL this subject.
Read what Col. Kessler and his officers
aud men have to say:
Col. Fl. G. Kessler-The generals IN
the field ara thoroughly competent to
crush the Nlipinos but, as l stated this
afternoon, I think General Otis has too
great Il burden in directing both the
field operations and administering in.
ternal affairs I shy this III nc spirit
Of unfriendly criticism, for I believe
him to lie n most capable commander
in either position, but combined these
seem to be physically beyond one mans
endurance.
Major aud Surgeon j. F.3Adams-
General Otis has displayed the highest
skill in the management Of the cam.
paign. The two big battles were plum
ned by the commanding general and
but for the failure Of General Wheaton
March 25th. at Lulomo, to follow the
plan laid down they would have doubt.
less ended the campaign. There Ia not
u man in the United States army who
10 better qualified to conduct both civil
and military affairs in the islands than
General Otis. There may be better
fighting generals. but there Is 10
man who can attend to both ends like
no oan.'
First Lieutenant and Adjutant ".
B. 'Knowlton. i think they are too
hard on General Otis. He has more
work than three men ought to try to do
and he has not enough troops. ] see no
ground for honest criticism.
Captain John Hallahan, Company
M.-Ihe war in the Philippines Is a
battle Of civilization against anarchy
and time will prove the correctness Of
President McKinley's policy. lii the
meantime the only thing patriotic
Americans can do IL to hold up the
hands Of the administration. The war
ID certainly a just and should be
carried to a finish. With the new reRi.
ments aud plenty Of cavalry the rebel.
lion can 0 be put down. With
plenty Of men General Otis could have
finished the job long ago. With the
resources at his command I don't zee
how any mar could have done better.
The islands will prove II very valuable
acquisition.
Private George king--The climate IL
causing more disaster just now than
bullets, The rainy season IL Oh and
the air il full Of malaria. II will be a
great general who could avoid these
troubles,
Sergeant J. A. Coulter, Company II.
Il will cast my first vote when | get
home. andI shall vote to put down the
rebellion and keep the islands.
First Lieutenant Samuel HilbuIn Of
Company II (pronoted to captain).- -
There IL only one thing the government
can do, and that is to hold the islands.
think President MoKinley's policy IL
correct, If Otis had had enough men
the rebellion would have been ended
long ago,
7 Corporal II, =. Burke. Company X
believe in holding tho Philippines,
The presidents policy suits me, When
Otis gets men enough to garrison the
captured towns tho war will end In
short order.
Musician q, NJ, Walker, Hold tho
islands, The natives provoked h0stili
ties and they are rebels, hut We'll soon
have them whipped,
Private ], j, Hayes, Company II, --
believe absolutely in holding tho
islAnds mud supporting MoKinley's OK,
paasion policy from top TO bottom,
Corporal j, W, knisf, Company H.
would 10 back theia to fight again II
] thought we were going 10 lose those
Islands, We've got the natives licked
all we've got 10 do " to corral than,
Alnlast IN q man tha Montana regiment
agrees with the presidents policy,
Corporal u, y, Harrington, uompany
E,-N0w that we've g0t the islands
thave's nothing ~ do hut ydaht fm thom
and keep them
rfov fan A0(jIuru. Compnuy IA