The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-02-06
THE NEWS IN WASHINGTON.
Brief Reports From Admiral Dewey
aud General Otis on the Rattle.

Brief Reports From Admiral Dewey
and General otis on the Rattle.
Washington. Feb 6.-Admlral Dewey
yesterday cabled the navy department
that hostuues had begun between the
American army and naval. forces in
and about Manila and the Philippine
insurgents. The insurgents. he said,
had been the agEressors and had been
rcpulsed. The dispatch, dated Sun
day. is as follows:
insurgents here inaugurated gem
eral engagement yesterday night. which
was continued today. The American
army and navy is generally successful
Insurgents have been driven back and
our line advanced. No casualties to
navy"
The news came like a shock. for the
administration. though apprised that
an ugly situation prevailed in the
Philippines had clung steadily to a
hope that by tact and patience actual
lighting might be averted. end even
those public men who felt that hos
tilities would follow should the treaty
be ratified and the United states at
tempt to occupy the island believed
that Aguinaldo would not force the
fighting when the treaty OF peace was
In its most critical stage Some sena-
torlal opponents OF ratification OF the
treaty adhere to their position. but the
general opinion in Washington is that
the news from Manila insures the rati-
ication Of the treaty
The news Of the beginning Of another
war came from Admiral Dewey. No
word had been received from General
Otis UP to that time. 1t seems to be
Deweys fortune always to be able to
report favorable news, and like all OF
his messages that have gone before,
this cablegram told OF the success Of
the American forces in the action. Il
was with great regret, however, that
the administration learned that the in
surgents had forced the issue. 1t had
hoped all along that they could be
brought to see the advantages of plac-
ing their trust in the American people
and relying upon the president to deal
Justly with them. The administration
argued that with the Philippine COM
mission fairly on the sea en- route for
Manila, bringing with them messages
from the president, and with the peace
treaty still unacted on, It was not to
be credited that they would refuse to
wait to learn the purposes Of the Amer
| lean movement.
While this was true the officials here
and the officers In Manila had not
/ been blind to the threat contained In
/ the situation there. and every prepara-
/ ton had been made for Just what oc-
\ Cured. 1t is now acknowledged that
/ fear of an outbreak in Luzon was the
explanation for the much commente1
on failure of General Miller to force a
| landing at Iloilo, on the Island OF
Panay; Otis felt that he wanted all Of
/ the troops at Manila, where was located
| the center OF danger. Part Of Miller's
| force, therefore, was returned to Man
fla, and that general was left with one
regiment of regulars and a battalion
Of artillery, Just sufficient to take ad-
vantage OF any detection in his front,
but not enough to force his way ashore
and hold his own.
1t is believed that 1t was unknown
to the insurgents that some Of the
American warships at Manila were
quietly moved into positions where
| they perfectly commanded the insur-
gent trenches and defenses and could
shell them with effect in case OF an
outbreak This movement was effected
more than ten days ago. and the ad-
ministration has not felt serious ap-
prehension OF General Otis ability at
least to hold his own. The American
position might have been greatly
strengthened. it is said, by judicious
! extension of the lines in certain direc-
tions and also by taking summary
measures to prevent the operations OF
the insurgents in taking up positions
and organizing forces. President Nc
Kinley took the view that perhaps un-
der strict construction of the terms
of the protocol, which still holds good
| in the absence OF the ratification OF
the treaty, he lacked authority to ex-
| tend the field of occupation OF the
Americans. The fact that the insur-
| gents themselves have been the first tc
break the truce probably releases the
| United States government from fur
ther obligations in this respect, so thai
General Otis was unquestionably war
ranted, in the opinion Of the admin
istration officials, in extending his
lines.
f The situation is regarded here as
f rather anomalous from a diplomatic
standpoint Legally the F1lipinos are
still Spanish subjects. Therefore, II
hostile operations continue outside oi
the limits of Manila as laid down iT
the protocol II will amount to a re.
sumption OF the war with Spain, al
least technically.
Officials noted one little flaw ir
Dewey's dispatch, in that he spoke Of
the American army and navy as gen
orally successful" conveying Just the
least intimation that at some point:
the results were not as satisfactory a;
, at others. Every confidence, however
is felt that General Otis is master o.
the situation.
General Otis has In his command
q, ,649 men, and approximately 900
men are on their way to Join him
Besides his soldiers General Otis ha
] at his back in Manila bay, commanding
= the city, a veritable Rock of Gibralta
r in Deweys fleet. No one here know
I the real strength of the insurgents op
posed to General Otis. The accounts o
their numbers are conflicting, and non
Of them comes from reliable sources
Still, the best belief Of the authoritie
J., at the war department is that the.
o number about 10000 men, but they ar
q pot comparable to the American force
A in personnel, discipline or quality o
. arms.
Shortly before midnight dispatche
were received at the war department
from General Otis. The last dlspatc
was as follows:
Insurgents in large force opened at