The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-02
II Treats Of Large Questions Of 1nsu
lar Policy and Campaign in
the philippines.
OUTBREAK OF THE FILIPINOS
And How It occurred-Tortitude and
Courage Of Our TroOps-A Gov
ernmsnt for Porto Rico.

AAh9AG VA SAAeA1 SsAlA Va eAAS ttA
the Philippines. the first annual report
Of Secretary Root. just made public, is
of exceptional interest.
In treating of the Philippine outbreak
the secretary Of war says: General Otis
was ordered to avoid any conflict with
AguinaldO's forces, and, strictly com-
plying with these orders, he made every
EFFORT to secure a peaceable under
standing. The peaceable attitude OF
the American forces was unfortunately
misconstrued as Indicating weakness
and fear of a conflict. on the night Of
the 4th Of February, 1899, our forces
were attacked by the Tagalogs, who
attempted to capture the city. They
were promptly repuised IN series OF
active engagements which extended
through the night OF the 4th, and the
9Th, 9Th, and 10th days OF February.
Our lines were extended and established
at considerable distance from the city
in every direction. on the 22d of Feb
ruary q concerted rising Of the TasalOgs
in the city of Manila, of whom there are
about 100000, was attempted, under in
structlons to massacre aii the Aneri-
cans and Europeans in the city. This
attempt was promptly suppressed and
the city was placed under strict con-
troll,
The troops composing the Eighth
| Arnv cnrns under General Otis's COM
mand at that time were Of regulars Ill
officers and 5.2O1 enlisted men and OF
volunteers 6s7 officers and 1881 cnlIst-
ed men. making an aggregate Of Sss
officers and 2O,OS2 enlisted men.
All Of the volunteers and 1850 of the
regulars were. or were about to become.
entitled to their discharge, and their
right was perfected by the exchange Of
ratiflcatlons OF the treaty on the nth Of
April. ,......,s---l-z-.
The total force which Major General
Otis was thus entitled to command for
any considerable period consisted Of
! only Ill officers and 1851 enlisted men.
The numbers of the Eighth Army Corps
above stated, give the entire numerical
strength of all troops present in the
islands, including those at CavIte and
Ilollo. the sick and wounded, those serv-
ing in the civil departments and in the
staft organizations. and deduGting
these, the effective men Of the line, on
GERS and soldiers, were about $4,000, OF
these 5000 constituted provost guard
necessary to preserve order within Ma
nIla and prevent the known intention Of
the secret hostile organizations in that
city to burn and sack the city when our
troops were engaged on the lines of de-
fense.
Including, therefore, all the troops
who were entitled to be discharged,
there were not more than 1900 officers
and men available to engage the insur-
gent army, which was two or three
times that number. well armed and
equipped, and Included many OF the ma
tive troops formerly comprised In the
Spanish army, and to occupy and hold
positions in comparatively unknown
country. densely populated by inhabl-
tants speaking in the main an un-
known language.
The months of the most intense heat
followed by the very severe rainy sea-
son Of that climate, were Immediately
approaching, and for any effective oc-
cupatIon OF the country It was neces-
sary to await both the close Of the rainy
season and the supply OF new troops to
take the place of those about to be dis
charged Practically all the volunteers
who were then in the Philippines con-
sented to forego the Just expectation OF
an immediate return to their homes,
and to remain in the field until their
places could be supplied by new troops.
They voluntarily subjected themselves
to the dangers and casualties OF NUM-
erous engagements, and to the very
great hardshlps of the climate. They
exhibited fortltude and courage, and
are entitled to high comendation for
their patriotic spirit and soldlery con-
duct
The troops now In the PhiHpplnes
comprise 0O5 officers and 2O,57s men OF
the regular force, and 694 officers and
1888 men Of the volunteer force, maxi
ing an aggregate of 1,409 officers and
1896 men, and when the troops on the
way have arrived the total force con-
stitutlng the Eighth Army Corps will
be 2O52 officers and 6S.4SS men,
The Significance Of the annual rate OF
death from disease In the Philippines
u7.2O per thousand) may be better ap-
preciated by comparison with the rates
in some OF our well-known American
cities,
The annual death rate per 1000 in
Washington, 2O.7G Boston, 2O.O9; San
Francisco. 1874: New York 1928; Bnitt-
more, 1910: soldiers in the Philippines,
1920
The total deaths in the army OF the
Philippines for the ten months from the
ist OF January, 1899. to the list of Nov
cmber, ls99-thnt is to say, for the en-
tire period covered by the war with the
lnsurgents-havc been OF those killed In
battle and dying OF wounds and other
Injuries. Az; those dying of dtsrase'
s0G--maltins total OF $40.
The secretary suggests a framework
for the government Of Porto RICO Us