The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-04
The Philippines Brought to Recognize the
Power of American Arms.
THEY HAVE FIGHTING ENOUGH.
Parties Find Only Small Bands
of
of Yellow Fever in Southern
ing Troops From Cuba-A Funeral Train With
of Soldiers Killed in
Freight to Arlington

WASH / esmfttmgf randnRE
Washington, April 1.-The following
was received at CAB o'clock this morn
ing:
Manila, April !.
"Adjutant General, Washington:
Quiet prevails. Have directed
troops at Malolos and on railroad on
accommodating duty. insurgents. only
in small portions of surrounding coun-
try, who retire on the approach of our
troops. Few of our troops moving to
a new position. Preparing for a con-
tinued active campaign. Army in ex-
cellent spirits. OTIS"
War department officials are very
much gratified at the condition exist
ing in the Philippines 1t is deducted
from the dispatch received from Cen
eral Otis that there is little left of the
army of Aguinaldo and that his troops
do not want to face the American SOL
diers. 1t is supposed that scouting
parties of General Otis army have
been moving about from different
points on the railroad line, and more
especially from Malolos, and have en-
countered the few bands of natives
which General Otis says retire upon ap-
proach of the American troops. @While
the officials here would be glad to
have information of the new, campaign
of General Otis, they are at present
without such knowledge, and he has
not been asked to communicate his
plans to the department. The utmost
confidence is expressed in his ability
to handle the situation and no attempt
will be made to influence him from
Washington.
1t is believed that General Otis de-
sires to ascertain now just where the
forces of the insurgents are located
and in what number. 1t Is thought
very probable that in the advance that
has been made from Manila to Malolos
the insurgents have not all retreated
along the railroad track, but some
have gone off into the rough country
to the right of the railroad, and may
now he lying in wait to set upon small
bodies of American troops, or per-
haps again destroy some of the bridges
on the railroad and for time cut off
communication between the advance
of the American army and Manila.
General Otis will take measures to
prevent anything of the kind, and no
doubt will ascertain the location and
number of insurgents before making
further advance in pursuit of Aguinal-
do and his fleeing army. 1t is evident
that while General Otis reports every
thing ''aH quiet he has had a part
of his army active in accommodating
the country along the railroad line, by
which he has been advancing.
PRECAUTIONS IN BRINGING THE
TROOPS FROM CUBA.
The war department has been advis-
ed that some apprehension exists in the
southern states thai the return of the
troops from Cuba may bring yellow
fever infection. Protests have been
made against the establishment of
camps at Atlanta and the suggestion
has been made that troops should be
sent north early and not mustered out
in the south. So far as the southern
troops are concerned, it is possible to
muster them out only near their
homes. The northern troops, it is in
tended, to bring north 81
1t is stated at the department that
investigation into the plan to estab-
nsh a camp at Atlanta develops the,
fact that the, cost will be considerable,
while there are established camps at
savannah, Augusta and other points
with ample provision for all the troops.
For this reason it is probable that no
camp will be established at Atlanta =
The war department is taking every
precaution possible to prevent infec-
tion and makes no move without con-
sulting Surgeon General Wyman, of
the marine hospital service. The de-
partment is acting upon his sugges-
ton and advice and the whole matter
of protection against infection is in his
hands. If there is the least danger of
infection the troops will be brought at
once to Camp Meade in Pennsylvania
A FUNERAL TRAIN.
The funeral train bearing the bodies
of $50 soldiers who lost their lives in
Cuba and Porto Rico arrived at Ros-
Slyn, Va, shortly fter l o'clock this af-
ternoon, having passed through Wash
ington without stop. The train was
heavily draped in mourning and deco
rated with flags. The remains are en-
cased in Theoretically sealed caskets,
marked wherever possible, with the
name and regiment of the soldier.
These caskets were removed from the
train as rapidly as possible to that part
of the Arlington cemetery where the
final interment is to be made. A large
number of tents have been erected
there for the safe keeping of the re-
mains until arrangements have been
perfected for their interment. There
are about $50 of these bodies to be
buried at Arlington The funeral
train, after discharging at Rosslyn,
will return to New York and receive
the remainder of the bodies 1t is ex-
pected that the shipment will be COM
pleted by TuesC ay afternoon. In case
arrangements can be perfected by that
time the funeral ceremony of the en-
tire number will be held at the ceme-
. terry next Wednesday. There is an i'm
preston at the department. however.
that the arrangements cannot be con-
cluded in time to permit of the funeral
before Thursday. Full military hon
ors will be paid to the memory of the
patriots who lost their lives in the