The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-01
TO CENSURE OTIS
Court Martial of the Commander
Is Possible.
Merritt Suggested as a likely
Successor.
NEW LEADER WANTED.
Criticisms of the Campaign
Reach Mckinley.
Otis Friends Want the General
to Make a Record.
NEW LEADER WANTED.

Chicago. Aug. IA special dispatch
from Washington to the Chronicle says:
An Industrious effort is being made
to show that the president has officially
approved General Otis management of
the campaign in the Philippines as re-
vealed by early and late news from the
seat of war. In proof of this, it is al
legged that the president and secretary
of war cabled General Otis this ap-
prevail.
clares that it is evident that cable cor
respOndence between President McKin-
ley and General Otis, recently publish
ed, can have no possible connection
with events subsequent to the latter
part of June. What the president said
amounts only to commencing General
Otis for obeying instructions when he
was ordered to begin active operations
against Aguinaldo and give the insur-
gents no rest until they surrendered.
In other words, the president was bound
to commend his own general order that
the Filipinos be conquered.
The president evidently" said this
officer, did not refer to the condition
of things made public by the CORE
spondents' round robin, by officers and
men returning from Manila and by re-
ports criticising General Otis, which are
now held up at the war department,
and which in the opinion of army Off
GERS, would warrant the court-martial
Of General Otis.
1.-The publication of the correspond
ence (and the telegram of the president
to General Otis has already been pub
Hshed by all the papers) has therefore
no bearing on the opinion which is
widespread among military men that
there must be a new commander in the
Philippines for the fall campaign. All
the signs point to General Merritt as
that commander"
The disappointment of the admins
tration with the failure of General Otis
to crush the insurrection, as indicated
by the latest information from the
islands, has induced the president to or
der activities to begin again. Otis
friends find in this an opportunity for
the general to make some sort of a rec
ord which Will help him to stem the tide
of adverse criticism and save him from
the disgrace of the contemplated re-
call
General Otis cabled today for twelve
Colt machine guns and ], 900 900 rounds
of ammunition. The war department
promptly complied with his request.
The navy department is the only
oranch or the service using these guns
and 1t has agreed to turn twelve of
them over to the war department. One
million rounds Of ammunition is more,
however, than can be spared and Cen
eral Otis must be satisfied with 300 OOO
The guns and ammunition have been
ordered shipped to San Francisco and
will be sent to Manila by the first trans
port going out.
~ Ces@At 0eLeTd1 COTDln Sa1Q last
evening that three regiments would be
ready to start for the Philippines by
September Is, by which time the trans
ports Grant, Sherman and Sheridan,
now on the way from Manila with vol
unteers whose terms have expired. will
be ready to make the return trip. The
regiments at Fort Thomas and CanD
Meade will be the first ordered to Ma
Mia.
A battalion of $50 marines has also
been ordered to proceed to Manila, Ma
jor George F. Elliott, now in command
of the marines at the washington nav
yard, will command the detachment.
These marines are intended to strength
en- the force at the Cavite station. a
force which will ultimately be increased
to about 1 200 men.