The evening times., 1899-06-20
TUESDAY. JUNE 90. 1899.
Preparing for Action.

II ANYTHING were needed to jolt the Au-
ministration out of its palsied Philippine
policy the Manila news of yesterday should
do il, and the indications are that Ii did.
The situation of Otis and his command.
as disclosed in the dispatches. is serious,
if not desperate. He has plainly loosened
the press censorship that his countrymen
may know the true condition of affairs and
no longer depend upon SUCH Information
as il NAV suit the political interests Of
the administration to manufacture.
The attack upon Wheaton. north OF linus.
which is only twelve miles from Manila in
stead of twenty as the inspired organs are
misrepresenting it, and his narrow escape
from annihilation. may be taken as suffi-
cient evidence that the backbone of the re-
bellion is not broken. Our forces rallied
as usual and made a gallant fight. finally
driving the Malays back and occupying the
village which is not regarded as worth
holding That, of course, Is War Office
euphemism for ''impracticable to hold ."
Wheaton must keep on the move and keep
the enemy on the move. or ne would quick
ly have all he could do to get back to his
DdSe- Ne appear 10 nave ictiieu
in good order after their fight at linus,
for they are reported in force at Buena
Vista only two miles west of the for
mer. We may be sure that reconnoitring
in that direction will be conducted with
considerable care, and not by small parties.
1t has been observed that linus, where
Wheaton was last reported, is twelve miles
from Manila. 1t is not probable that Otis
will care to push his outposts farther
south. The native tactics are too sugges-
tive of design to draw our flying col
umn on that side as far away from the city
as possible and take it in flank and rear.
Ii the area between headquarters and
Cavite. and the latter place and Laguna
de Bay can be kept open it is quite as
much as anyone need expect or hope. Even
then an attack upon the capital Itself is
always possible, circumstances faror.ng
the enemy.
We should be glad to hear something
concerning MacArthur's position, move
ments. and prospects. At latest accounts
he was at San Fernando and the main
Filipino army under Aguinaldo was be-
tween him and Manila. What. then, of our
northern column? No wonder our war
officials are worried.
If Mr.. Mckinley is, he is able to conceal
it while he makes pleasant little speeches
10 sweet girl graduates. But under
smiling exterior it may be surmised that
he wears an anxious heart and is using the
wires freely in transmitting orders to his
military cabinet to prepare for the inevi-
pears in the programme predicted today
in Administration organs. The admission
is now made by those in authority. that
the President is satisfied the number of
troops in the Philippines is too small This
IL considered a mistake. the entire respon-
sibility for which rests upon Otis. who is
to be made the Administration scapegoat,
and perhaps relieved from command. 1t
is distinctly asserted that, if he had in
formed the Commander in Chief of the
real conditions in Luzon, a much larger
army than he has would now be at his
back. All the blame is to be laid on Otis
who will have to grin and bear 1t under
penalty of losing his commission.
The President will also attempt to dodge
the Algerian lion in the path of the pro-
visional army. He will not call upon the
States for volunteers and thus give impo-
lite governors and others a chance to de-
mand the removal of Alger. He will in
struct the Secretary OF War to enlist SO
and so many regiments of United States
volunteers, and all officers will be commits
stoned by Alger In advance Of the fact we
will not now indulge in any extended re-
marks on this characteristic phase of Mr. |
McKinley's contemplated action. as. in ef-
feet. announced in his favorite newspapers |
Perhaps the scheme may work to his salts |
faction. Both he and We will know more |
on that subject after he tries it on But |
we can assure him that there will be no |
wild and spontaneous rush OF American |
youths for enlistment while Russell A. Al |
ger is Secretary of War. |