Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-09
MERRITT TO RETU RN
To the Philippines "A Sharp Cam
paign to Be Inauguraled as Soon
as Roads are Passable.

NEW YORK, September S.-A spec
ial to the Journal from Washington
says: After forty-eight hours of al
most constant discussion among the
President, Secretary Root, Prof. Schur-
man, Senator Beverage, General Miles
and Adjutant General Corbin, it may
be stated positively that General Mer-
rift will go to the Philippines.
A Tribune special says it has not yet
been determined whether General Miles
and staff will go to Manila next month
or not. If he does go, it will have to
be in similar capacity to that which
he occupied at Santiago rather than in
the exercise of such authority as that
with which he was clothed in Porto
Rico, for no idea appears to be enter
tanned by Secretary Root of having
General Otis superseded, notwithstand
ing the popular demand for his recall
to the United States. Under the cir
cunstances it is thought General Miles
tiers of the army in Washington, where
he may exert his influence more effec-
lively in directing the campaign as the
chief military instrument of the Presi-
Gent and Secretary of War.
An encouraging feature of the com
ing campaign against Aguinaldo is the
assurance now given at the War De-
partment that increased responsibility
and authority have been given to the
commanding generals in the field, there
by to great extent enabling Gen. Otis
to devote more attention to admins
trative affairs. which have increased
enormously and will continue to null
tiply as new territory is brought under
his jurisdiction by aggressive naval and
military operations. The plan involves
no marked departure from that al
ready pursued by which Gen Otis has
remained for the last year in the city
of Manila and intrusted the immediate
charge of all expeditions to the subor-
dinate generals, but hereafter he is ex-
pected to rely more upon Lawton, Mac
Arthur, Wheaton, Young, Schwan and
perhaps Wheeler and devote his ener-
gies to sending forward to them men
and supplies at such rate as speedily
to occupy the entire country, at the
same time providing for the prompt es-
tablishment of competent civil govern
ment and garrisons in captured dis
tricts.
Under this scheme it is not proposed
that any town shall be abandoned after
1t is once captured, and with the %
volunteer regiments to depend upon in
addition to the regular forces, the com
ing campaign, it is hoped, will prove
brief and very effective. The date of
beginning this general campaign does
not depend on the volunteer regiments.
but altogether on the termination of the
rainy season, which is already due.
Under the energetic instructions that
Secretary Root has given the general
advance must begin as soon as the con-
dition of the country, and especially Of
the roads. will permit the transporta-
ton of supplies and field pieces.
The volunteer reinforcements will be-
gin to arrive in Manila in about a
month, and from that time on they
will continue to land in steady stream
through the months of October and No
vember, until the available armed force
exceeds 10000. BY that time most OF
the task of pacifcation should be COM
pleted, and Congress will be ready to
consider the form of government which
can be offered to the archipelago.