Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-09-22
THE VERY BEST MATERIAL.
Secretary of War Root Says Gen.
Otis Shall Have the Flower of
the American Army.
IMPORTANCE OF SUBDUING REVOLT.
Gen. Otis Knows That His Military Repu-
tation Depends Upon Successive Is
Rid of All EmbarrassmentsA Associated
With Volunteers-Report That Agon-
cIllo's Mission Was Failure.

Washington, Sept. 19.-There is an
incident in connection with the assign
ment of additional staff officers to Gen.
Otis command which indicates Secre-
tary Roots intention to give Gen. Otis
the very best material which the Amer
lean army affords. The only staff Off
Ger asked for by name by Gen. Otis was
Maj. ]. n. Morrison, of the judge advo-
cate generals department. Maj. Nor.
rison is a Missourian. When Gen. Otis
request for Maj. Morrison's assignment
was received Secretary Root sent for
Gen. Lieber to ask his opinion about
Maj. Morrison's going. Gen. Lieber
strongly opposed it. He said Maj.
Morrison was greatly needed in his
office and he did not feel that he could
afford to be deprived of his serv-
ices. General" said the secretary,
''the very reasons you advance for
keeping Maj. Morrison here have de-
cided me to send him to Gen. Otis.
The greatest business Of the American
army to-day is in the Philippines.
am determined to give Gen. Otis the
very best the American army can sup
ply"
All Embarrassments Removed.
Washington, Sept. 19.-One of the
criticisms of Gen. Otis has been his in
sistence on looking after every branch
Of the service personally, task which
consumed most of his time and inter
fered with those responsible for the
various duties incumb bent upon staff of
ficers. It is reasoned that Gen. Otis
has had this popularity called to his
attention by the administration, with
ia l. l. / l. ID
that finding himself in command of an
army suited to all his purposes he can
afford to drop many things which have
worried him and take his proper posi-
ton in the direction of field operations.
He is rid of all the embarrassments as
ISOLATED with volunteers, whose time
has expired, and is enabled to begin a
campaign with the full power of the
government behind him in officers and
men and supplies which he can use at
will.
Otis Military Reputation at stake.
Washington, Sept. 19.-The impor-
lance of subduing the instruction as
speedily as possible is appreciated by
no one better than Gen. Otis, who I'M
derstands that his military reputation
depends upon success, and he, there
lore, Is SeIulnS ready TO dOdpG n1tnSelI
to the improved situation. While there
are some officials filed with apprehen-
sion that Aguinaldo may be able to
prolong his warfare until another
rainy season arrives, the spirit of the
war department has grown in con-
fdence that the American troops now
in the field and on the way will accom-
plish all that is expected of them in a
fighting campaign that will give the
enemy no rest until he surrenders.
Failure of Agonciilo's Mission.
Washington. Sept. lot is reported
that Agoncillo, the Filipino emissary,
whose mission has been to secure recog-
milton for the so-called republic which
he represents, has gone to join Aguin-
aldo and report his complete failure.
Agoncillo was not only commissioned
to seek recognition for the Tagals as
an independent power, but he was in
structed to intrigue for foreign inter
ference that would comp1icate mat
ters so as to compel the United States
20 make terms with the insurgents.
Every plan of the Filipino leaders has
failed. it is said.