The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-18

of 1000 miles from our base defended by
regularly trained and acclimated army OF
from 10000 TO $4,000 men inhabited by a.
100000 of people. the majority OF whom
Will regard us with the intense hatred born
of race and religion.
F" Besides If ] am not greatly mistaken
the suggested command is only on paper
as the Fourteenth infantry Is only partial
ly available. My letters of May IS and 10
give the composition and minimum
strength of the regular force | deem nee
essary.
wv. Merritt,
Major General Commanding
at was then referred TO General Miles
for further remark and was Endorsed by
him as follows
Headquarters of the Army, Washing
ton. p. c.. May is. s9S.-Respeatfully
submitted to the secretary of war; The
reference to the Spanish troop is be-
lieved TO be very much exaggerated. No
reports have been received thus far that
there is anything like the number indi-
Gated in the above Endorsement. while the
population OF that territory Is probably
nearer one-ha the number stated The
number of troops already ordered to the
Philippines is three times as many as Ad-
mral Dewey called for. The force ordered
at this time Is not expected to carry on a
war to conquer an extensive territory and
the chief object of the within letter was
to suggest means OF quickly establish
ing strong garrison to command the har-
Dor of Manila and to relieve the United
States feet under Admiral Dewey with
the least possible delay. This, In my
judgment. is of preeminent Importance.
The troops mentioned in the within
letter as available 70 send to that depart
ment number 1925. The Tenth Pennsyl-
vania volunteers ordered today will be
approximately 1000 more. These troops,
| in my judgment are all that it would be
advisable to send to the Philippine islands
at this time. If 1t be deemed advisable to
| send additional regiments they can be sent
| from New orleans or Tampa, but the force
| now ordered to be sent Is, as already in
| dioated. 10000 more than Will be required
| for the purpose.
| II is however, in my Judgment, OF the
| highest Importance that orders should be
| sent to place the SIX higher power guns
| and eight 12-inch mortars with at least
| fifty rounds OF ammunition per gun and
mortar, on vessels mt San Francisco and
| possibly Puget Sound. with the least pos
| sible delay and sent to the harbor OF Ma
| Mia and mounted as speedily as possible.
| II may be advisable to send additional
! guns. These orders should be sent by tele-
| graph and the engineer or ordnance de-
| partments should be directed to expedite
the work by every possible means.
NELSON A. Miles,
"'Major General Commanding United
States Army
st thus appears that there was no con-
| troversy regarding the number OF troops to
! be sent. General Miles, In fact having
designated more than General Merritt
called for, but only difference of opin-
/ ion as to the composition OF the force,
/ General Merritt desiring to have more
regulars than were designated by General
| Miles
"Certain newspapers have attempted ia
show that General Miles did not want more
| than 5000 troops to be sent to the Philip
| pines under General Merritt, but the above
official correspondence shows this Is not
| Tho fact